Realising the 'dream' takes a willingness to give back

Shine Nissar has run the U.S. immigration gauntlet. She's been through the process as a visitor, a student, a worker, a permanent resident, a U.S. citizen and adjusting the status of her husband.

Nissar, 39, came to the U.S. from Sri Lanka 16 years ago on a tourist visa, to visit her brother who had years earlier become a U.S. citizen and who was living in Palm Springs.

Once here, Nissar legally adjusted her tourist visa to a student visa to attend College of the Desert.

"It had been my childhood dream to go to college in the U.S.," she said. After finishing her associate's degree, a local employer sponsored Nissar's green card application. The employer, who Nissar declined to specify, had to advertise the position to the public, and applicants were screened by both the employer and the U.S. Justice Department to ensure Nissar offered some talent unavailable from American applicants.

"It is tedious work to adjust your status. It's not just easy," she said.

Despite perfect grades and following legal immigration processes to the letter, Nissar's green card took five years to process. The wait was "a very painful time," she said. She could not return to Sri Lanka for visits throughout most of the time her residency was in process.

"The road was hard to ride, even after I got my green card," she said. Nissar worked 60 to 80 hours per week to cover her tuition costs as an international student. Between work and studies, she got about four hours of sleep a night, she said.

Nissar gained a bachelor's degree from Cal State Northridge in 1997; then a master's degree in 2001. She became a U.S. citizen in 2004, taking her citizenship oath in Pasadena.

In July 2005, she married a Sri Lankan man who attended the same Orange County mosque, a marriage arranged by their families, as is customary in her country, she said.

Her husband, Zinnoon Nissar, came into the U.S. on a tourist visa and changed to a work visa with the help of his employer, Shine said.

Shine and her husband then applied to adjust his status to a permanent resident through his marriage to her, now a U.S. citizen. He got his green card within three months, she said.

Though many parts of her immigration journey went smoothly, Nissar also recalled wasted trips to the Los Angeles immigration office where there were too many people in line ahead of her; and years of uncertainty, costs and restrictions.

Immigration officials seemed to give no consideration to Nissar's working in education, contributing to society and getting straight A's in college, she said. The process treated her no differently than an undocumented immigrant who had 'd broken all of the rules, she said.

"They don't really care; you're just another immigrant," she said.

Two sisters who live abroad and their families were, on more than one occasion, denied visas to temporarily visit the U.S., Nissar said. They could not see her graduate with her college degrees, she said. Nissar said when she completes her doctorate degree she wants to return to her home country, but as a U.S. citizen, a diplomat working with UNICEF to help children and families with educational issues.

Nissar now returns to College of the Desert as a lecturer.

"I take so much pride in that," she said. "I feel like I've come full circle."

Nissar said she has sympathy for undocumented immigrants, but believes they must give back to the U.S. and find ways to gain their legal status.

"As an immigrant, I do believe America is the land of opportunities, as long as you contribute to this land," she said.

(Courtesy Desert Sun, California.)