My Job

I was thinking the other day that I don't really talk about my job that much here. Possibly because there are days when my job is too frustrating to think about again. (like my current case involving a SAW claim. Google it. And by "google it" I mean look it up on the internet, not whatever else you were thinking that meant). But for those of you that don't know I am an immigration working at  non-profit here in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was recently hired full time which is GREAT for my bank account. But it also gives me more experience in other areas of immigration law. For example I went to court for the very first time by myself in June to argue an asylum/withholding of removal case (again google it if you are curious what that entails). Thankfully, I won and my client gets to stay in the country (the judge said if I had not helped her it might have been a very different situation for her. so that was good!). Normally I do citizenship for elderly refugees. I enjoy helping them but the medical waivers can be a pain in my back pockets. I also sometimes have clients that can be a pain in my back pockets i.e. this guy.
     I certainly have my own opinions on all things immigration but I won't share them right now. :) What I will share with you is one of my favorite stories about a client. This guy was an elderly refugee from Somalia and he was one of the rare clients who took the citizenship exam (FYI to get citizenship you have to speak, read, and write English and answer 10 civics questions, along with some other laws). So this guy was pretty nervous and before we went into his citizenship interview I decided to ask him some of the civics questions. There are 100 questions to study. The officer only asks 10 of the questions and you only need 6 correct. So I was quizzing him before we went in (questions like "who was the Father of Our Country?" "Name one of the longest rivers in the United States." etc.) and he was doing well. He was called to go to the interview and we went in and sat down and the officer went to put the client under oath before reviewing his application. So the officer said "please raise your right hand." My client yelled, "GEORGE WASHINGTON!!". The officer and I were in shock and I tried really hard not to laugh. And the officer was nice enough to say he'd start with the questions instead. So for the rest of the day I went around just yelling "George Washington!". :) My client passed with flying colors though and I was proud of him. Thankfully my job has a lot of positives and only a few sad negative stories. Usually situations where I can't help. But I love what I do and I love where I am working. I'm getting great experience and get to help people. :) Well everyone that's my soapbox. Peace out!

P.S. I recently discovered Instagram for my phone. I'm a fan.
P.P.S. If you are curious what HB 497 is go here.