Some things are missing here--why approach a lawyer for a work visa, why not an employer? And why apply for political asylum? Its difficult for me the lawyer could do such a big thing without these people even knowing--read before you sign!
Having said that, it is a sorry tale indeed. For all those who bashed rediff for this story, imagine they had to relocate from one state to another within India instead of one country to another, with their business all set up, their children going to school, etc. Can you imagine how difficult it is to relocate and start life afresh, especially when you have your life's savings and time invested elsewhere? sure, they could've brought their son with them here, but then he would've suffered academically. Remember that he can still be a US citizen even if they brought him with them, so keeping him there cannot be to retain his citizenship.
I wish people would view it a little more sympathetically instead of blindly categorizing it "reap as you sow" or "NRIs are all unpatriotic selfish beings". Simply living in India does not make one more patriotic. In fact if you are living in India and paying bribes to get work done, you're part of the problem instead of being part of a nation-building effort.
RE:RE:RE:sorry story, but slightly biased
by Girish Bangalore on Apr 07, 2007 04:08 AM Permalink
Sympathy for what? For lying to stay in US? For defaming one\'s own country with lies? For not bringing their child back to India when they could have and crying? For the story that their lawyer goofed up? I do not see any reason for showing sympathy. Show sympathy for people who would love to go to US but cannot and do not resort this ugly show. Show your sympathy where it is needed. These folks are lucky to even got to where they are and have this silly story published on Rediff.. they are cheats getting some free publicity courtesy Rediff.
RE:sorry story, but slightly biased
by Amit Shesh on Apr 07, 2007 06:50 PM Permalink
Come on man! What would you do as a parent in this case? Bring him with you just so you don't miss him or let him stay wherever is better for him? He has been going to school there all his life, wouldn't bringing him here for an unknown period of time harm his academic career?
I'm impressed that you think about one's country while lying; I sincerely hope everybody does that. However also remember that you are reading the same article as I am. So unless you personally know these people, your assumption that they are lying and getting only cheap publicity is as good as mine that they are not and they deserve some sympathy.
However certainly the whole story is not being told. The political asylum issue especially sounds very suspicious and I agree to the decision that they were deported. I'm sympathetic simply from a humanitarian point of view.
Like I have replied above, bringing the son to India not necessarily is a problem. There are great schools here. When parents are ready to send kids to other countries w/o any problem.. why the reverse logic does not work. I studied in India and work in US, my education is solely in India... I don't see a problem there.
Probably a little common sense will tell you whether they are lying or not. They seem to know all the right steps to run a motel business, they also didn't visit Indian for 16 years? When did the realisation happen to them that the lawyer goofed up? They knew it from day one and hence they did not visit India (they would not have been allowed back to US if they did). Let's say they came to know after a year or 2 when most usually people would try to visit India. In which case, they could have withdrawn the application. Once you know they started this stuff with a lie, then everything around them has no basis. You don't need to know them personally to know they are cheats.
