Helping Someone from Syria

SHE needs to hire an immigration attorney.

You can direct her to the Immigration website - it will translate to her native tongue for her as well - there are many language options available.

Personally? I would NOT sponsor someone from Syria right now. That's what she might mean about in "invitation" - you sponsor the person, help them get a job, etc. I don't know the specifics - but I do know it's sponsorship. which would hold you accountable for actions, etc.

Have her talk to an immigration Attorney.

Good luck!

If you aren't an immigration attorney, what does she expect you to do for her? She mentioned invitation? She means sponsorship.

She needs to hire an immigration attorney. Do NOT sponsor someone you have never met. If you did, you are responsible for them financially and legally. This person is not family related. I thought to sponsor someone you had to be related to them. Again, immigration attorney would be able to answer those questions.

As for him coming over and then seeking asylum, I wouldn't do it. Not from Syria. Again, this is something an experience immigration attorney could answer.

I would never sponsor someone I have never met personally especially from the middle east.

They need to get their own lawyer and figure it out from there.

My husband is an immigration attorney. He said that a visa is needed in order to travel to the U.S. and the boyfriend would need to go to the U.S. consulate there to apply for one. He'd need to prove that he plans on returning to Syria (family, ties to his country). Right now, no one's believing that anyone is going to return to Syria and if boyfriend says his reason for coming here is to visit girlfriend then they will assume he's going to marry her and then not have to return to Syria. He can apply for asylum only once he is in the U.S. It's getting to the U.S. that's the hard part. My husband said that it's extremely unlikely he will be able to come here. He said that if her boyfriend wants to seek asylum he should consider going to the consulate in Turkey. He still wouldn't be able to come to the U.S. but he would be safer. I'm so sorry :o(

I have no idea but I would let your son's girlfriend deal with this, it's HER mother not yours.
I understand that you want to help but really these people are all adults and know how to use the internet and telephone every bit as much as you!
Really, why isn't her daughter helping her mom anyway?

My only suggestion is help her find an immigration lawyer. As you have seen, the US immigration process is incredibly complicated, and even more so when the would-be immigrant comes from a place with military conflict. Your connection to these folks is far too distant and you wouldn't have any standing (legal right) to assist them in the process. I will say that I suspect the only way he will be able to get here is as a refugee or seeking political asylum. That's the only way that non-family of US residents/citizens can get permanent residency. If he can get hired by a company to work in the US, then the employer could file the application for a visa. Again, a lawyer would be their best source.

how heartbreaking. and as one can see from the answers, now EVERYONE from the middle east is defaulted into the 'terrorist' category.
i have no clue how to go about this, hon. but i wish you lots of luck. i don't know what to suggest other than an immigration attorney, which ain't cheap.
khairete
S.

Go to the AILA website and find an immigration attorney in her/your area. Many offer a free consultation and can answer these questions for you.

My heart breaks for the peace loving men,women and children that live amongst this terror daily. I am sure this man is feeling the pressure building from all sides and wants out. I would too! Those poor people.

I don't know how you help someone seeking to live in the U.S. But, I bet it is going to be VERY difficult right now to help this man get out. Hyper alert status is an understatement for a man trying to leave Syria to go live with non family. He is a boyfriend...none of the people you have mentioned are even married. So, it lends to another level of suspicion.

I wish you the best but I personally would not sponsor a "stranger" coming from the Middle East. I am sorry :( I know you want to help..that is so kind of you. But,please think of your safety.

It breaks my heart to know that these poor people are living in terror daily while I sit in the comfort of my home, tuck my kids in bed each night without fear of me and my daughter being raped by Muslim radicalists or that our heads will be slowly shredded off of our bodies to make a statement to the Western nations. There is evil brewing and we need to wake up that this is not ending any time soon.

I don't know what else to tell you other than tell your son's girlfriends mother to talk to an immigration lawyer.

I agree with others that she needs an experienced immigration attorney and should NOT try to do this herself or with your help.

I wanted to add: Getting asylum status is difficult and complex. He would have to prove clearly that he is in real danger of losing his life if he stays because he is being personally targeted or is a member of a group (ethnic, religious, racial, etc.) that is being directly targeted. Just saying, however justifiably, "It's dangerous here and I want to move out" is not grounds for asylum. He and she need to understand that up front. They really, really need a lawyer. If she can't afford one, she needs to ask about sliding scale fees or pro bono legal services, etc.

Good for you for trying to help. They need an immigration lawyer. I cannot believe that Assad has murdered 200,000 (yes, two hundred thousand) PEOPLE and people on this site think you should not get involved.

Contact Catholic Charities and/or the Salvation Army. They are more equipped to handle this.
I feel the same as those who have said I would not sponsor anyone form the Middle East especially if I did not know them.

Just stay out of it.
Your son's girlfriend's mother can Google an immigration lawyer as well as you can.
What are you going to do when your son breaks up with this girlfriend?
You don't know these people and have you considered everything you hear about it might be a complete lie?
There are scams out there.
Just step back and stay out of it.

Ummm...doesn't the website have a Syrian button they can push so they can read it in a language they understand?