Lets "Keep The Faith" - SMU Fan Needs Help

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

There is a loyal and dedicated Mustang Football Fan & PonyFans.com poster that needs help, quickly.

Many of you may know Faith Suzuki and many of you have seen Faith on the SMU Football sidelines for the last several years when she worked with the SMU athletic training staff. Faith is a huge SMU football fan, has attended almost every home and away SMU football game for years and traveled to Lubbock this year to cheer on the Mustangs as a new alum.

Faith is from Japan, attended and graduated from SMU last Spring.

The problem is Faith in December must return to Japan because of her immigration status now that she has graduated from SMU. Faith loves Japan, but she would like to stay in Dallas and be close to the school she loves SMU.

Faith is currently teaching in the DISD. She has already contacted the DISD legal department about an H1-B visa and they said the DISD only considers H1-B for bilingual in Spanish, math and science.

So the reason I am posting this is to see if there are any SMU affiliated attorneys that can help or point Faith in the right direction as far as if anything that can be done that would allow her to stay in the United States?

Without venturing into politics or controversy isn't it odd that here is Faith legally here in the United States, wanting to become a US citizen the right way, a college grad, a teacher helping students in the DISD and the United States is sending her away? That doesn't seem right or even good for our country. And certainly not good for the Mustangs. But enough with all that.

If there is anyone that has close contacts with an immigration specialist that could help Faith with this issue please PM me and I will pass along the information or get you in touch with Faith. Being a recent college grad Faith doesn't have lots of money to spend but any "SMU connection" help would be greatly appreciated. Time is of the essence because Faith will have to leave the United States in December unless something is done.

Lets Keep The Faith! We need her in the stands at Ford Stadium for many years to come.

[Cadillac]

Someone needs to take one for the team and marry the girl.

-CoS

[Mestengo]

If my wife would let me......

[DiamondM75]

I would, but my wife would bring me bodily harm, and we don't need any more geldings at SMU.

[jtstang]

Unfortuntely that's not my practice area.

[ponyboy]

This immigration law is ridiculous. Do we really want to run off smart, college educated people who would be loyal, law abiding citizens? What's the thinking?

[jtstang]

She should call the Legal Clinic at the SMU School of Law and see if they would be able to help her pro bono.

[Dooby]

She should call her congressperson, too.

[Mustangsabu]

Also being an immigrant, and one who worked as a teacher following my time at SMU, I can tell you that Faith should not give up hope. DISD have that policy but it is not dictated by the USCIS but rather by the district. I got a job as a music teacher for Irving ISD. She should contact other school districts in the area. I'm not sure what type of teaching position she would be eligible for and that will make a difference, but it is important to reiterate that the USCIS standards for H1B visa's (and there are other types of visas too that might come into play) are not the same as DISD's criteria for application.

I am now an attorney and, while I don't practice immigration law, I have had 9 different US visa's over the last 20 years and I do my own paperwork. I also know a couple of immigration attorneys, and would be happy to help as much as I can.

[Harry0569]

A good friend of my from Lithuania is running into the same problem. Unfortunately, in order to get successfully hired/get a visa, a foreigner must prove that he or she is more qualified than an American citizen. It's sad, and hopefully she as well as my buddy can get help before time runs out.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Yeah, let's run out the educated, employed, tax paying producers, that want to become citizens and assimilate in our country. All of the illegals that are financially draining our country dry, with all of the criminal activity to boot, you are welcome to stay.

[RednBlue11]

if she applies for citizenship, can she stay while the process takes place?

[rlm1951]

Sometimes our country's policies just amaze me. There has to be a way around this and I hope mustangsabu can help her.

[cutter]

not an expert here, but I've had a number of foreign friends over the years.
a temporizing measure might be to consider grad school. I believe, that will kick her back into a 'student visa' status. that could buy her time to remain here, while other avenues are being explored.
and, grad programs can often provide greater financial support than undergrad; but, more often in PhD programs than MS.
just another thought.

[malachi896]

if she applies for citizenship, can she stay while the process takes place?

She can't apply for citizenship because she is here on a student visa. In order to apply she would have to be a permanent resident of the U.S. with a Resident Card. People in the U.S. on student visas are not considered permanent residents. Her only option is to get permanent resident status through a job or apply through family (ex: marry someone from the U.S.)