[nfbwatlk] I need your opinions please

[Mike Freeman]

Humberto:

Several of us have written to you both on-list and off giving you general 
advice on your situation.  I don't how to put this gently but you don't seem 
to "get it".  So I'll write this once more.

First, NFB is *not* qualified to advise you on immigration matters.  Repeat! 
NFB is *not* qualified to give you advice on immigration matters.  WE deal 
*strictly * with blindness-related matters.  Repeat!  WE deal strictly with 
blindness-related matters.

Second, therefore, your best best is to consult an attorney dealing with 
immigration matters.  Repeat!  Your best bet is to deal with an attorney 
dealing with immigration matters.  Perhaps I can ask Scott LaBarre to see if 
he knows anyone in this area that fits the bill.  I do not.

Third, you would only be eligible for a NFB scholarship if you were to take 
the option of going to college here in the United States or were taking part 
in an exchange or visitation abroad program sponsored by a U.S. college or 
university.  Therefore, a NFB scholarship would be out-of-the-question were 
you to go to school in Mexico.  And, in general, NFB scholarships require 
that you actually attend school (undergraduate or graduate) in the fall of 
the year you received it.  So if you got a NFB scholarship in 2011, you'd 
have to actually go to school here in the U.S. in the fall of 2011. 
Registration here and going back to Mexico wouldn't cut it.

I know this sounds rather bleak.  I doubt immigration reform will pass 
anytime soon, given the recent election.  So your best bet is to talk with 
an attorney specializing in matters concerning "illegals" who wish to obtain 
U.S. citizenship and/or go to school here.  The attorney may not give you a 
free consultation; you may have to pay for the time.  Should this be the 
case, please write to me privately at k7uij at panix.com and we'll consider 
possibilities.

Mike Freeman, President
NFB of Washington

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Humberto Avila" <hum4avila_71 at fastmail.fm>
To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <hal.grove at gmail.com>; <jrs3147 at comcast.net>; <NFBLink at nfb.org>; 
<sswyatt91 at gmail.com>; <villagers at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 4:59 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] I need your opinions please


> Hello, this is Humberto again.
>
> this year I am repeating the twelve grade again because I didn't and
> couldn't graduate out of high school for one or more of the following
> reasons.
> I recently had an I E P meeting at my school in which my parents were
> present and my teacher of the blind, Dr. Denise Robinson. at the meeting, 
> we
> discussed about my plans and about how I am going to go about to start
> college. I found out that I can apply for scholarships to go to college,
> maybe every year to support my financial needs, and make it that way. I 
> will
> have connections with the national federation of the blind as well in 
> order
> to do this. however, as soon as I hit graduation from college and start my
> career (job), I will not be able to work because of the issue about not
> being legal here in the United States. I will need a social security 
> number
> in order to work, just like you all know.
> they told me some suggestions. I could do the following:
>
> 1.  After I graduate this year from high school, and depending on my
> scholarships and if I win or not, I can get back to Mexico (which I don't
> know how interesting that would be...or successful), and then apply for a
> student visa which will bring me back to America with legal status. I 
> would
> have to start college there. then come back with my visa and study to get 
> my
> bachelor's degree and start working here and earning a very good living,
> which I want. But before going to Mexico, I would apply to the university 
> or
> college and get admitted here in the US first.
>
> 2.  Other option is that I could go to college here in the United states,
> earn my degree here, but since I won't be able to work, I would go back to
> Mexico and start working so I can get a work visa then come to the united
> states of America to work and earn my living, which I think it will be 
> kind
> of interesting, maybe even harder depending on how the long run goes.
>
> 3.  Another option is to just wait to see if the so called "dream Act" 
> will
> pass, if it does so, I am on my way to glory, but otherwise, I am not and 
> I
> will have to wait till things do happen with immigration laws... (I don't
> want to get deeper into this one...) - I understand that the laws are 
> laws.
>
> I apologize to discuss these things on this list, I am not sure if this is
> appropriate, and I'm sorry that I always bring out my "legal" speeches, 
> but
> I need your opinion. what should I do? what other options do I have? does
> the National Federation of the Blind have any connections with this kind 
> of
> people or options that they can provide? Do you know of any organizations
> that can give me support trying to pursue either option 1 or 2 above so I
> don't get into "much risk" filing for legal entry? Are there other
> organizations that can help?
> I am currently applying for the NFB national scholarship and I'm looking 
> at
> other scholarships from the American foundation of the blind, and American
> counsel of the blind, and others they offer at my high school here in
> Yakima. My long-term goals is to either get a career in the field of
> Information Technology, or be a teacher of the blind with specialties on
> adaptive technology for the blind. I heard there are about five thousand
> teachers of the blind short in this country and in the world, so I thought 
> I
> would work being one.
> Please, any opinions, comments, questions, concerns are very appreciated 
> and
> I'm looking forward to hopefully reach my goals of going to college, 
> working
> and earning a good living, and making America my permanent home.
> Sincerely, Humberto
>
>
>
> P.S. Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
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