Varför jag fick panikattack igår natt...

Såhär stod det i mailet jag fick från Tracy på Office of Global Education, när jag frågade henne om det fanns några restriktioner för när jag kan söka ett nytt visum igen, ett arbetsvisum.

“Exchange visitors who are subject to the two-year home country residence requirement must "reside and be physically present" in their "home" country for an aggregate of two years before being eligible for certain immigration benefits. While they are subject to 212(e), aliens are ineligible for the following benefits:

1. They are not eligible for an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (immigrant/green card) status;

2. They are not eligible for an H visa (temporary workers and dependents), or or an L visa (intracompany transferees and dependents);

3. They are not eligible to change their nonimmigrant status within the United States from J to any other nonimmigrant category except A (diplomatic) and G (international organization) statuses.

… Immigration benefits that are not included in this list remain available to aliens that are subject to 212(e), although they continue to be subject to the two-year home residence requirement until they either comply with it or obtain a waiver. For example, an alien subject to 212(e) remains eligible for all other nonimmigrant visa types, even if subject to 212(e). Only H and L visas are prohibited. Exchange visitors subject to the 212(e) are eligible to leave the United States and apply for visas to return as tourists, or on business, or as F-1 students, if the usual visa requirements are met.

….To fulfill the home residence requirement, the individual subject to 212(e) must reside and be physically present in their country of nationality or last legal permanent residence for an aggregate (i.e., the time does not have to be continuous) of at least two years following departure from the United States after their program ends.”

Ni som inte orkar läsa: Jag måste alltså fysiskt befinna mig i Sverige 2 år efter mitt studentvisum gick ut (maj 2010) innan jag får söka arbetsvisum eller annat visum i USA. Det finns typ inga undantag. Varför i helvete? Alla jobbkontakter som jag fått, hur många har jag kvar efter 2 år? Och hur ska det gå för mig och A? Ja, fortsättning följer...

To A: I was so, so, so mad last night and everything felt so, so, so hopeless... Thank you for always trying to look on the bright side, trying to cheer me up and for still having hope. You're the best and I love you. I see you soon!