Hi everyone,

I have a story to tell you, and I hope that someone also can help me further in my life. I lived in Beograd (Serbia) for 26 years of my life, ten of which were spent suffering like everyone else under the dictatorship of Slobodan Milosevic. It was during these ten years that mafia activity dominated all business and government in Serbia. I have scars all over my body from being beaten in the streets for not being a member of a mafia or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, like a lot of other people. No one had money and if anyone did, they worked for the mafia (unfortunately). I trained and served against my will in the Serbian military during the Bosnian and Kosovo Wars. My military commander was so corrupt and he had me beaten on a regular basis he said "to toughen me up". I learned that this was standard procedure. When it came time for us to go the front to fight in Bosnia, I told my commander if he made me go to the front to kill innocent people that the minute his back was turned on me that he would be the first person I would kill. So, I was left behind because my commander could not trust me. But my friends were not as fortunate and many did not come back. I lost several friends during the wars.

I always had a dream to go to visit the United States. So, all my life I collected anything I could find related to the U.S. I studied English extensively as you can see my writing perhaps reflects that dedicated study. With my life in the shape it was in with no money or hope for a decent job so I could be less of a burden to my parents, I never thought for a moment that I would actually stand on American soil and breath clean American air. I met some Americans and we kept touch until they offered to pay for my education in the U.S. since they knew my education had been interrupted so many times from bad conditions and sanctions in Serbia. Meeting people like that changed my life! I left Beograd after the sanctions were lifted and went to live in Virginia where I received a college degree in International Business but I could not find an employer who would sponsor me for an H-1B visa and most international companies wanted only American citizens who could get security clearances. I don't blame them. I was distraught knowing I would have to return to nothing in Serbia when my friends offered to pay to help me to finish an Information Technology degree I started in Beograd. Now I am about to finish my second degree and I am faced with finding someone to sponsor me for an H-1B that I may not get anyway because of the visa cap and I have already used up the year of F1-OPT I was granted after my first degree. I heard discussion on C-Span on Immigration Reform where there might a provision to allow a year of OPT after each degree received regardless of the level of the degree.

It is very difficult to immigrate to the U.S. I can understand why this government would want it that way. After all it is a wonderful country and if it was easy, everyone would come to live here. I don't how I will make it in Serbia now with the country falling apart even more with the possible loss of the Kosovo region and its valuable resources which have nourished the Serbian economy. If I have to go back, I will but I have been here for seven years now living in the home of my friends who have been my financial sponsors and have believed in me and given me confidence and love to do what I need to do to make myself a better person against the odds and scars.

These people are my family now and I will miss they terribly. They told me they would help me get to Canada if all else failed here in the U.S. Even if it does, I am thankful for the experience and opportunity to be here in the U.S. as long as I have.

Long live America and the American people!

Alex

Alex I am not sure, but maybe Asylum would be something to look into?? If you do not want to return to Serbia. I am looking into the H2B for my boyfriend. It's not the easiest thing to get a visa. Good luck with everything
J