Q: Can you tell me about yourself and your journey coming to the U.S.?
A: I was born in Mexico in 2003 and have an older sister. I arrived in the United States in 2008 with my parents on a visa. My parents worked, paid taxes, and did everything the right way. Unfortunately, one of our visas expired and could not be renewed.
Q: Is it correct that you pursued a master’s degree?
A: Yes. I attended college, following my older sister. I earned my undergraduate degree in accounting and completed an accelerated master’s degree program as well.
Q: Prior to your H-1B approval, did you have DACA?
A: No. I missed the DACA deadline by about a year. My parents looked into it, but it wasn’t an option. I remained undocumented after my visa expired in 2008.
Q: What was it like to be left out of the DACA program while peers might have had it?
A: I didn’t personally know anyone in a similar situation. I was aware DACA was an option and missing that cutoff was frustrating, but I just had to accept that I missed the deadline.
Q: When did you first consider pursuing a work visa or legal status?
A: My family and I always talked about it. My plan was to get my undergraduate degree and master’s. I knew companies sponsored people in my position. My sister was born here and tried to sponsor residency for my parents, but the process took longer than anticipated. We couldn’t submit my paperwork until after I turned 21, which would have taken much longer, so I focused on the work visa as the best path.I became set on the work visa as the most viable way forward.
Q: Were there any misconceptions you had about the process before going through it?
A: I had many unknowns. Everything was new to us. While my employer had lawyers, there were many variables regarding being undocumented and being able to obtain an H-1B. It was confusing, but Path2Papers helped significantly.
Q: How did you first get connected with Path2Papers?
A: My parents consulted various law firms. Most weren’t familiar with my specific case and in a sense it was unique because of my status. My mom did some research and eventually found the website for Path2Papers, and I messaged one of their attorneys for a consultation.
Q: Did you feel you lacked answers until your consultation with Path2Papers?
A: Yes. My employer’s lawyers handled the H-1B application, but they couldn’t help with the details of being undocumented, the waiver, or the consular appointment. They advised me to seek outside counsel, which is why I reached out to you.
Q: Did your company offer sponsorship automatically, or did you have to petition for it?
A: It was included in my offer letter; the company stated they provide immigration help if needed. Since it is a large, worldwide accounting firm, they already had a streamlined process in place.
Q: What helped you understand the risks, such as the 10-year bar, and how did you decide to leave the U.S. to process your visa despite those risks?
A: Attorneys at Path2Papers explained that even with an H-1B, there was a risk of denial and a 10 year bar. However, they supported me by sharing that they had seen successful cases like mine. They noted that because I had no major immigration bars in my case and was returning to my home country for the appointment, the process should be smooth.
Q: How did you ultimately make the decision to go through with it?
A: It felt like a no brainer. This was my only chance to fix my papers and I didn’t want to be undocumented anymore. I also knew that if things went wrong, my company has an office in Mexico where I could work near my family.
Q: What was it like to go back to Mexico for consular processing after so many years?
A: It was a surreal and great experience. I was too young to remember Mexico, so returning felt nice. The process in Tijuana was mostly smooth. The same day I arrived I had to do my photo and fingerprints and a week later I had my consular appointment and I just expected them to stamp my passport after doing the interview but when I spoke with the agent at the front desk he said I was under administrative processing due to the 10 year bar and I didn’t expect that to happen so I left with a couple of questions. I reached out to Path2Papers and they advocated on my behalf and about 2-3 weeks later, my visa was approved.
Q: How did you feel when you re-entered the U.S. with your approval?
A: It felt good to be back home. I was a bit nervous about customs since I didn’t really know what it would be like and what questions they would possibly ask me, but Path2Papers had prepared me for the possibility of being taken to a separate room for document review. Everything went well.
Q: How has your life changed since returning?
A: My parents always told me not to feel lesser because of our situation, so I lived a relatively normal life. However, the peace of mind is the biggest change. I don’t tense up when a police car is behind me anymore, and officially getting a license was great.
The peace of mind is the biggest change. I don’t tense up when a police car is behind me anymore
Q: What advice would you give to others in a similar undocumented situation?
A: Don’t feel less than others because of a label or a lack of paperwork. Stay positive and keep your head up. The process is long and can feel never-ending, but if you stay on the right path, you will get your opportunity.
Stay positive and keep your head up.
Q: What does the long-term future look like for you?
A: I plan to stay with my current company and renew my visa after three years. After that, I want to go through the green card process and continue my journey here.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey?
A: I found out about my situation in 8th grade. Living with that knowledge for eight years involved some very low points where I didn’t see a way out. Staying positive, my faith, and appreciating the sacrifices my parents made helped me stay focused and reach this position.