The purpose of this interview is to let you know some of the immigration process and what it’s like being a legal immigrant in the U.S. The immigration process can be consuming and devastating, which is part of the reason why there are illegal immigrants in the U.S. The participant Shaolu McLaren is an immigrant from China. Chinese is one of the most difficult groups of people to move to the U.S. Lots of Chinese immigrants were not satisfied with Chinese government and job opportunities, so they moved here. It shows why immigrants have determination to move here. Even if they get rejected by the American government, some of them will still stay here. The interview is recorded in text below.
The Interview (text)
Are you a legal immigrant?
Yes, I am.
How long have you been here?
I moved here from Beijing, China in 2004, so I’ve been here for 16 years now.
What was the reason for you to move here?
Well, I met my husband in China in 2002 when he was traveling there, and I got married to him the following year. So, I guess the main reason for me to move here was because of him. Also, at that time, Chinese government was controlling people’s voice and rights, which I absolutely hated. I was really active in protests and fighting for people’s rights, because I was only about twenty-something years old. I got into trouble once, like I literally went to the police station because of a protest against minimum wage. I knew right away that China was not for me. It was also around that time I met my husband, so...
Wow, I admire you for the protests you attended, also, such good timing, I’m glad you were ok and got to meet your husband. From what I understand, the immigration process definitely takes lots of time and effort, do you remember some of the process?
Yes, I do remember some. So I actually held a working VISA the first several years, then I got a green card around 2009, and I got my real American identity in 2016. Emm...for my process, I just had to submit all the forms the immigration office required. You can find those online, it’s like getting all the required documents when applying a license. I remember some forms were IDs, passport, proof of address, proof of income, and such. After you submit these forms, you’ll get a call back, and basically if you “passed,” you’ll have to do an interview, it’s similar to a job interview. These were the major steps, I just remember that the process was long. Most of the time was just wait time. The office will also constantly ask you for more and more documents, and you just have to keep providing them since I mean, you know, what can you do, right? But yeah, after I finally passed everything, I got a green card, which means I still wasn’t an “American,” I could only live here. So while I was holding my green card, I had to apply for the real identity. It was the same process all over again. So like you said, it was in fact so time-consuming. I felt desperate sometimes during the process. There were also several other meetings. I finally got my American identity in 2016, can you believe it? So yeah, I’m happy that I’m done with this process.
Wow, I can already feel some of your desperation by just listening to it. I hope everyone who helped you in the process was nice. My next question is that was every step reasonable (for example, if they need you to prove that you have enough money to support yourself and do a background check on you)?
Emm...let me think. Well, I think every step was reasonable, but since there were just too many documents I had to submit, I did wonder why it was necessary to submit some documents that seemed unnecessary. But I mean, it was reasonable for them to ask anything really.
Ok, so was every step, such as the interview comfortable for you?
Oh definitely not. It's funny as I’m thinking about it. You know, I was eligible to apply the green card because I got married to an American man. The immigration office doesn’t want you to fake a marriage to get the green card, so I remember that a couple of officers actually came to visit our home to see if we are actually married and living together. I had several interviews before and after getting the green card. The interviewee asked me so many private questions, I don’t feel like sharing since you are putting this in your class project. But I mean, those questions made me uncomfortable because I felt like they were invading my privacy, you know. But once again, what can you do, right?
I’d never know this kind of stuff if you didn’t tell me in this interview. I don’t think you’ve prepared for the questions and house-visits since they were private, right?
Right, I never knew, and what it says on their website and calls is different from the reality, you know? I felt offended and very uncomfortable.
I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad everything’s good and you get your citizenship. But did you have a plan if the immigration process fails?
It’s ok, I hope the process is getting more comfortable for others. To be honest I didn’t plan anything since there was almost no possibility for me to fail since I’m married to an American. I also held a job, so the worst situation could only be holding a work VISA, which also lets me live here, so... yeah
Great. So what’s your job?
I’m a teacher. I teach Chinese to both middle and high school here in Nashville (Tennessee).
Was it easy for you to get a job here?
Actually, yes, there wasn’t a lot of Chinese the time I moved here. And our school wanted a Chinese teacher, my friends sort of introduced me here. I just got the job after the interview.
Do you think there’s a difference if your job is taken by an American, or what about you that’s special for this job?
Well, yes, I think so. I think it’s obvious that a Chinese will teach Chinese (the language) the best, right? If an American had this job, she could still do it, I think. But she might not be the best option. I don’t want this to sound rude, but that’s how it is.
Are you treated any differently than the local American employees at work?
If I’m being honest, yes. Some students think I don’t speak fluent English because I teach Chinese, so they would say disrespectful things and think I don’t understand. I’m also not that strict, so some of them can get lazy in my class. But they are just at that age, so there’s not much I could do other than telling them to stop.
Being a middle and high school teacher is definitely not easy. So how do your co-workers treat you?
Oh, they are all very nice. I don’t fit in very well, but they are, you know, nice and polite. We just don’t have deeper connections or become friends after work. I think if I make the move, we can, but sometimes, I just don’t feel like going that far with co-workers.
Ok, we have three questions left. These are about illegal immigrants. What’s your opinion on illegal immigrants?
Well, I’m not sure. First, I think it’s not fair when people like me are going through legal process; submitting forms, doing interviews, and paying fees, illegal immigrants are doing nothing. They can still live and work here. But I mean, I think there’s a reason behind everything, so I can understand them. I actually have friends that are illegal immigrants. They have their reasons, and the U.S. government is not doing any help.
Can you elaborate on how the U.S. government is not doing any help?
Well, from what I know, I don’t think there’s a process for illegal immigrants to become legal. I’m not sure though, just from what I know, not many people can apply and become legal. But I’m not an expert on this, you can do more research on it.
Ok. What do you think about this comment: illegal immigrants steal jobs from Americans?
I don’t like the word “steal” when it comes to immigrants. I think it’s ignorant when people say it. But if it’s an illegal immigrant, I can understand this statement, since they are not supposed to work legally but they are taking other’s place. But again, there’s a reason behind everything. It’s not that simple when it comes to illegal immigrants. If they live here and already have children there, I think it’s reasonable for them to get a job and feed the family. But they are taking other’s place. So yeah, it’s complicated. But also, I think most of the illegal immigrants work at like restaurants and places that are provided by their people, so they are not really taking opportunities that are on the market, you know?
Yes, I agree that there’s a reason behind everything. In your daily life, have you been treated differently because you are an immigrant?
Well, I’ve been treated differently because I’m a Chinese, I don’t think most local people see us as immigrants, or American citizens, they still see us as Chinese, you know, an individual race group. But yeah, I’ve been treated differently, both negatively and positively before. So yeah.