Permanently Temporary: Waiting for the US work visa in 2021
When the University of Washington offered me a position as a tenure track assistant professor position in March 2020, I was thrilled beyond measure. I knew that as an international student in the US, my transition from Ph.D. candidacy to full-time employment won’t be possible without a work permit granted by the federal government — -also known as the H1B visa. I was aware that acquiring an H1B would be a challenging process. Ten months later, I admit that I never prepared myself for the possibility of losing healthcare, several months of income, and possible deportation. As I encountered endless bureaucratic delays, I began compulsively checking all the digital tools at my disposal. For example, the case tracker from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) for following updates on my specific case, or checking Trackitt, a forum for individuals going through similar visa processes. Intellectually, I know refreshing the sites every five minutes does not result in divine intervention but it’s the only thing I feel I have control over in my life anymore. I am a semi-privileged academic with a wonderfully supportive department and a team of attorneys by my side but that does not make me immune to the harassment caused by a dysfunctional immigration system.
I am aware of all the immigration atrocities this country has faced under the Trump administration — believe me, I organized, taught entire classes, and pleaded and fought for an end to all of it. I wish the transition to the Biden administration meant the process for seeking legal status in this country would be less painful and confusing. However, his predecessor left behind a xenophobic judicial system– which is actively fighting against any stay of deportations. The previous administration also manufactured several lawsuits that while being unsuccessful in achieving the worst, did, in fact, slow down the immigration infrastructure significantly that now leads to ordinary individuals seeking visa statuses being in endless waitlists toward any meaningful resolution. I wish the Biden administration was a magical solution to these everyday realities of xenophobic infrastructures, but I also remember the lack of coverage or public outcry during the Obama administration’s notably higher rate of deportations and I’m not sure if I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
For me, being a professor would involve teaching the next generation of computing students to think critically about systemic injustices built into technical systems of power that govern our lives. The reality is, I am writing this article not as an academic but as an individual seeking legal status. The transition in presidential power does not alleviate the need to fundamentally change the United States’ immigration system. Not every inhumane policy change makes the headlines but I am grateful for journalists like Dara Lind, who emphasize immigration reporting matters even more now, as public pressure has decreased. Universities claiming the mantle of “Diversity and Equity” must provide meaningful legal and strategic support for international academics in practice. This immigration system is broken, leaving us permanently temporary.
