 The Suman Liberation Front ForumSuman is stuck in India, waiting for his H-1 re-entry visa. These are messages devoted to the effort to get him back for his family and job. To write a message yourself, scroll to the bottom of the page, or click here. Click here to send some emails on Suman's behalf! From Free at last on 7/9/2004, 9:30 am
He's home. All's well!
Val & Kate met him at the airport along with brother Sonny as well as I and the kids. We were running a wee bit late but saw him as he caught sight of the "Free Suman" sign that V&K were holding. Three signs actually it was a flip chart. The second sign was "He's free at last, thank god almighty, free at last" the third was "Free the chicago 7 (crossed out) Free Leonard Peltier (crossed out) Free James Brown (crossed out) Free Suman". Pictures don't do the moment justice. |
From Suman on 7/3/2004, 1:07 am
I arrive in Portland from London on Wednesday evening.
I am happy to be reunited with my family who are more important to me than anything else in life. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your support.
Yet this return is not a liberation. That word implies things that simply are not true. Indeed I, like many others, will surrender freedoms by being in the United States not gain any.
I love America. But today I do not like her.
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From Bob on 6/30/2004, 9:18 pm
Hoo ya! |
From the blushing bride on 6/29/2004, 7:50 pm
Suman has his visa. He has tickets to London on the 4th. He will arrive in US "a few days following".
Thanks for your support. |
From The soon united on 6/27/2004, 4:54 pm
Yesterday Suman called to inform me that he has, at long last received a letter from the American consulate in Chennai telling him the reapplication process that he must now go through. The good news is that it looks as though his file is not lost after all.
He is now in Chennai in preparation to submit the required documentation on Monday morning. When this process is completed he is going to contact me with an update. |
From The birthday Mom on 6/25/2004, 10:48 am
In this morning?s phone conversation with Fran, she determined for certain that I was a U.S. citizen. Clearly there were a few points that she needed setting straight. The fact that Suman was the biological father of our children, the children?s age, the length of our cohabitation in relation to the recent date of our civil ceremony.
She began the call by filling me in on their firm?s position on this case. The case was transferred to them from the SAS office. They are immigration specialists with direct connections in the state department. She said that since this application was applied under the ABC Technologies H1-B approval, they were reticent about proceeding with SAS involvement. Even though SAS approval also exists. It was Fran?s opinion that it was better for them to go through North Carolina?s Senator Edwards office, since SAS institute has vastly more influence within the power structure of their state than I might have with Senator Wyden as a resident of Oregon. The weight of their involvement would insure more urgent action. If Fran hasn?t heard anything by Monday the 28th, she is contacting the SAS office for them to initiate their involvement with whatever contact they are able to unearth.
The impetus for the call was my conversation with Senator Wyden?s aide who told me I might want to pursue the I-129F visa. This, Fran assured me was something I would not need to do and that our marriage status would in no way effect the screening or outcome of Suman?s visa application The H1-B is one of the few that allow dual intent.
Then she went on to describe the H1-B filing process. In the case of a flagged application such as this, it has to go through 15 separate government agencies in the process of clearing. They have had cases going as long as two months. None have gone this long, not being from one of the ?five bad countries?. 100 days as of today, Morgan?s second birthday.
She has contact with the state department and met with heads of state departments several times using Suman?s case scenario looking for contact information. Without specifically asking about Suman?s file, she made a ?what if? inquiry hoping to achieve the correct contact person to reach in Chennai. It always goes back to Chennai. They admitted ?a lot of times these files simply get lost?. This is what her office, as well as that of the state department fear must have happened. Yesterday their state department liaison once again told them to contact Chennai directly. Fran said that they are still trying to find the proper contact person in Chennai.
Their caution and concern is in their, or anyone?s contact with the wrong person in Chennai. As a rule of thumb they have found that contacting the wrong people can make them angry at best and can lose or mess up a file at worst. At this point everyone fears a lost file. We may have already done too much.
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From Unmarried? in West Linn on 6/24/2004, 8:37 am
sent to Suman's lawyer: Fran Morrison
Senator Wyden?s office called this morning to say that they had not heard anything from the consulate in Chennai.
Wyden?s aide went on to tell me that she believes that our marriage status would likely ?red flag? the H1-B visa application. Her recommendation was to call an immigration lawyer regarding the filing of an I-129F ?K?. The aide, Elsa described the latter as a fairly recent version of the I-130 immigrant visa that expedites the return of a spouse.
Looks like the I-129-F petition has to be filed within the consulate in the Country where the marriage took place. Suman would rather not go through Chennai again for anything. One suggestion is to file the petition in the US and have our local civil ceremony upon his return.
When I asked Elsa if my filing this application might cause further problems,
A knotting of the already tangled red tape, she again said I?m better off
Getting an immigration lawyer. At which time she graciously offered to speak with any representation we might secure.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue. Awaiting your advice prior to the filing of this petition.
Sincerely,
Kate LeGault-Misra
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From Elsa's update on 6/23/2004, 10:42 am
Elsa from Senator Wyden?s office called this morning to say that she had not heard anything from the consulate.
She went on to tell me that she believes that our marriage status would likely ?red flag? the H1-B visa application. Her recommendation was to call an immigration lawyer and file an I-129F ?K?. Elsa described the latter as a fairly recent version of the I-130 immigrant visa that expedites the return of a spouse.
When I asked her if my filing this application might cause further problems, knotting of the already tangled red tape, she again said I?m better off getting an immigration lawyer. At which time she graciously offered to speak with any representation we might secure.
Now she?s saying that her office will typically wait anywhere from two weeks to one month for a response from another agency such as this.
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From Senator Ron Wyden to Ms. LeGault-Misra on 6/21/2004, 5:32 pm
Thank you for contacting me regarding your spouse Suman Sambit Misra's case with the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, India.
I have asked Elsa Rosales, a caseworker in my Portland office, to assist you. Please be assured that I will contact you as soon as I have additional information. In the meantime, if you have additional information I will need to process your case, please call Elsa at (503) 326-7525.
again, thank you for advising me of this situation. I appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Ron Wyden
United States Senator
RW/eer
kl |
From "Mama"Catherine on 6/21/2004, 11:03 am
This message from Ireland should bring a measure of comfort:
Dear Catherine,
Our prayer will certainly be with you for a speedy favourable response to your grandchildren's question. I hope to update the feedback page before the end of this week and plan to put your appeal in it for "a broad prayer-base". In the meantime, as you put it so well in your poem, "We range about in this strange land
and pray someday to understand".
God bless you and yours.
Sincerely,
Fr. Gerry
Gerard J. Bourke, S.J.
Jesuit Communication Centre,
36 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2, IRELAND
http://www.sacredspace.ie
----- Original Message -----
From: Catherine Legault
To: feedback@jesuit.ie
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 8:09 PM
Subject: Where is My Daddy?
Because of the universal scope of this Sacred Space, I seek is broad prayer-base upon which to build a prayer to answer my little grandchildren's question, "Where is my Daddy?"
Detained in India and awaiting renewal of his visa, my son-in-law has suffered for over three months, without explanation, this absence from his Portland, Oregon family. No one knows where to turn for help. Perhaps prayer may provide an answer. |
From growing indignation on 6/21/2004, 10:48 am
INS gave me the number for the National Visa center in New Hampshire. They only deal with permanent residency issues.
Yet another dead end.
Nobody's in at Hooley nor Wyden's offices this Monday morning. Suman said he's been hearing about these cases going on as long as six months!! Sorry, I can't let Rose sleep in our bed that long, and I don't think the lawn can take that much neglect. The fence is going to have to be addressed prior to that time and the window screens have to get put back in so we can get some air circulating in this heat. Looks like I'll have to learn how to run the barbeque afterall, and I may end up taking the beer out of the fridge. |
From Bob on 6/19/2004, 8:16 pm
Shazam, Suman! 35421 -- Sue will not like this. (c; |
From Su Daddy on 6/18/2004, 12:21 am
Downloaded Snood. Haven't played in years. Just scored 35421 on Evil. |
From Senator Wyden's office on 6/17/2004, 11:15 am
This is what we faxed Wednesday morning since the email at the Consulate in Chennai is unattended. I will contact you when we receive a response.
Elsa
-----Original Message-----
From: Rosales, Elsa (Wyden)
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 11:28 AM
To: 'chennaic@state.gov'
Subject: Visa for Suman Sambit Misra
Dear Consulate Officer:
I am writing on behalf of Katherine M. LeGault-Misra regarding her spouse Mr. Suman Sambit Misra. According to the information sent to my office, Mr. Misra is in India awaiting his visa to return to Portland, Oregon. As of today, they have not had any information on the status of his case. Ms. LeGault-Misra and her children are now home but are waiting for him to come home too. His information is: Republic of India passport number A1641378 and his visa application is 280220040490.
I would appreciate any information that you can provide to help Ms. LeGault-Misra learn the status of her husband?s case. Thank you in advance for your prompt response to this matter.
Elsa Rosales
Office of Senator Ron Wyden
700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 450
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 326-7525
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From update from Congresswoman Hooley's office on 6/17/2004, 10:50 am
Called Miguel regarding 48hr required response time. He has not received anything at this time. He said he will contact Elsa at Senator Wyden?s office to coordinate their efforts.
Essentially I told him to throw me a bone. He assured me that he would, should he find one to throw. |
From phone transcription of Senator Wyden's aide on 6/16/2004, 8:30 pm
They were unable to call or email the Consulate in Chennai. They determined that their email "is no longer being monitored"?
They submitted a fax to the consulate general and have a policy of allowing TWO WEEKS for a response. At which time they assured me that they would contact me. |
From the wife in exile on 6/15/2004, 10:09 am
Yesterday I had dropped off a letter of permission to congresswoman Hooley?s office and one to Senator Wyden?s office. Along with a summary of what is (not) happening with Suman?s visa.
Last night I spent a full two hours in a continuous loop on the phone with the Consulate in Chennai. During which time I was either on hold, in a prompt queue or getting dropped. The only times I did talk to a person they would simply put me back into the same evil loop. At one time I could hear the phone receiver getting picked up then put back down; a blatant hang-up. A few times I got a message that the person I needed to speak with was unavailable.
This morning I got a call from Hooley?s aide Miguel Elias, who?s in charge of visa and immigration. He?s handling a similar case at the moment, has had to deal with this sort of thing in the past and is familiar with the process.
His action thus far was to send and inquiring email to the Consulate General at the American Embassy in Chennai, India. Miguel said that we would hear back from him within a couple days, as the embassy is required to comply with a 48hour response time.
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From Bob on 6/14/2004, 3:24 pm
OK Suman, time for a break from seriousness. Sue's current high score on Evil level is 33,618. You're still playing Snood, right?
Cheers,
-Bob |
From Sam & Marlene Misra on 6/12/2004, 7:54 pm
We are torn to see our son put to so much hardship -
what with being separated from his wife and family -
frustrating when u cannot do anything except try to be
there for him - if we could, would trade places with him
but that's wishful thinking.
Feel that letters to be press may have an adverse effect
on his case. Just have to be patient and pray. |
From Val forwarded from Bink on 6/11/2004, 9:08 pm
For what it's worth, hand written letters carry more attention getting impact than email. I'm probably not going to do this, but if you want someone's attention, write a letter by hand, hand address it and stick a commemorative stamp on it. Put it in a colored, card sized envelope. It will get noticed. Leigh probably has the perfect card stock and envelopes. It's hard to throw out a hand written letter, but I delete at around 100 emails a day and Oprah's assistants delete more. Remember love letters?
Just a thought.
-Bob
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From Val on 6/11/2004, 9:02 pm
Senator Ron Wyden works specifically with H1-B visas.
You can email him at: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/ and under "subject" go to "social issues" and choose "Immigration/H1-B visas." |
From Suman on 6/10/2004, 1:12 pm
I noticed that the email from the congresswoman mentioned the dept. of immigration
and citizenship. Just so we're not barking up the wrong tree, inform them
emphatically that this is an H-1B visa which is a non-immigrant (work) visa when you
call or email them. The problem is specific to the consulate in Chennai.
Su Daddy
|
From Congresswoman Darlene Hooley's aide Miguel Elias on 6/9/2004, 10:02 pm
"Thank you again for contacting our office. I am writing you today, to
obtain more information regarding your case with the office of U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services. Please provide Congresswoman Hooley
with any information pertaining to your husband's case example; processing
dates, case numbers, A#, etc...
"This information will help our office track and monitor the status of your
case.
"In the meantime, if you have any additional questions or information to
assist your case, please contact the Congresswoman's West Linn office at
21570 Willamette Drive, West Linn, OR 97068 or by calling 1(888)-446-6539
_____________________________________
Miguel Elias
District Aide
Congresswoman Darlene Hooley
21570 Willamette Drive
West Linn, OR 97068
(503) 557-1324 fax (503) 557-1981
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From Suman's case Number on 6/9/2004, 11:41 am
Reference (Receipt) Number: 280220040490 |
From Suman on 6/8/2004, 10:05 am
RE: To the Family RE Appeals regarding Suman's visa
Thanks to all of you for your support. I've just sent another email to the consulate
in Chennai framed as an appeal on humanitarian grounds. Maybe that will get things
moving. Maybe it won't. Beauracracy likes to preclude humanity.
In any event, I could do much worse than being here in Bangalore with my parents and
the friends I grew up with. And, like the man said, "every day above ground is a
good day." ;)
We'll catch up soon.
Suman
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From Steph on 6/6/2004, 11:00 pm
Posting this to get people started:
Regarding Suman's visa:
Our mother also suggested going to the news with Suman's plight. He could try Margie Boule (email: marboule@aol.com) who writes for the Oregonian. For examples of her columns see:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/margie_boule/
Margie does serious "human interest" stories. Stories of desperate cases and human triumph, and of the lone man fighting the bureaucratic machine.
He can also try Willamette Week which LOVES getting the goods on bureaucracy, it's more "left" leaning than the Oregonian. He can email directly to:
John Schrag
Managing News Editor
rogue nominations
jschrag@wweek.com
Nick Budnick
Staff Writer
nbudnick@wweek.com
Zach Dundas
Staff Writer
zdundas@wweek.com
The Nose
Writer
thenose@wweek.com
Also, their Congressional Representative is Darlene Hooley. Website is:
http://www.house.gov/hooley/
Her email is under "Contact." Also look under "Serving You" for other contacts. She tackles "human" issues as well as infrastructure issues.
Our senators are Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith (go with the latter) and their info is at:
http://www.senate.com/state/or.html
For help with FEDERAL AGENCIES see Smith's site:
http://www.senate.gov/~gsmith/help.htm
Just to update you on our Suman-retrieval efforts:
Kit has sent emails/letters to Representative Darlene Hooley, Senator Ron Wyden, and Senator Gordon Smith.
Mom has sent emails to Smith, Wyden, and Oprah Winfrey.
I've sent emails to Smith and Wyden.
The correspondence has been variations on the following:
"I am writing to you in desperation because my husband's return-visa from India has been indefinitely delayed, and this is causing severe hardship since we have two children, ages almost 2 and just-turned 3, and I cannot yet work outside the home to mitigate our financial situation. Our home, as long as we can afford the mortgage payments, is in West Linn.
"The situation is this: Last February my husband (Suman Misra) and I flew with the children to India to visit his parents there for the first time, and to have a traditional Indian wedding ceremony for family and friends there. My husband planned on staying for only two weeks because his position in the United States could spare him no longer.
"Now, however, three months later, my children and I have returned, but my husband waits - most impatiently - in his parents? native land. He is in peril of losing his very fine job and imperiling the well-being of our family.
"Additionally, I have discovered that this is a much broader problem than concerns just our family: "Continued visa delays for business travelers, especially from India, China and Russia due to security reasons after the 9/11 attacks has resulted in the loss of more than $30 billion in the US corporate profits, a survey has found ."
http://in.rediff.com/money/2004/jun/03us1.htm
"All other contacts that my family have made have been to no avail. The consulate keeps telling him to be patient. Whatever attention you could bring to this matter would be greatly appreciated by many more than just this worried mom who's babes keep asking. "Where is Daddy?" "
There's so much "Where is Daddy?" correspondence floating around, it's bound
to be a movie.
----------------snip----------
Just now received this email from Oprah:
"Dear Catherine,
Thank you for your e-mail! Your message is important to us. Unfortunately,
due to the volume of e-mail messages we receive every day, we cannot
guarantee that you'll receive a personal response. Feel free to check out
our Frequently Asked Questions for additional help.
http://www.oprah.com/tows/program/tows_prog_main.jhtml
Thanks again for writing to us!
Sincerely,
The Oprah.com Staff
http://www.oprah.com" |
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