That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang
~E~
My work involves dealing with immigration for folks who are here on work authorization. For the last 2 1/2 years, we have not been able to file green card applications for anyone due to government restrictions. In mid-May, the restrictions were lifted a bit and we were able to prepare quite a few applications for submission on June 1. We were busy. In mid-June, the new bulletin came out and suddenly EVERYONE was allowed to file for their green card, no restrictions at all, but word was it would be closed soon, possibly at the end of July.
We came up with a plan, divvied up the tasks, decided how much we had to get done each day to complete 130 applications by July 31, and got to work. One big sticking point was that nothing could be sent in without a current medical exam and since the restrictions had been lifted, the clinics were packed and backed up. We got everything else ready so when we had the exams in hand we could stick them in the packet and send them off.
We were on track and doing well. We were happy.
Then on Thursday as I was driving home from work, my coworker called and asked if I could come back. New word was that we had until JULY 1 (four days away, over the weekend) to get in as many applications as we could and the government would not be accepting any more after that. I went back and stayed til 10:30 that night, worked from 6 am to 7 pm the next night, and from 9-2:30 Saturday. We worked straight through, typing, printing, compiling, phoning, getting people in to sign what they needed to sign. It was very hard work, very stressful, and just plain crazier than I've ever had it at work but we did it! We got applications prepared for every person who had their medical exam.
We sent everything out for delivery to the government on Monday. We were safe! We'd see Monday if the restrictions would be put back in place, or if we could continue to send in applications. We worked on them Monday, waiting for the new bulletin. Finally the new bulletin came in. The government was closing the process and all applications received on Monday would be returned.
Everything we worked so hard for was for nothing. Most of the folks we were doing this for didn't get their applications in, they were all very disappointed and we were very tired and let-down ourselves. I'm still a bit numb from it all, but at least I hadn't made or canceled big plans based on what the government had said they would do. Lots of people had.
All we're left with is knowing we did the best we could. We took care of our people, we went the extra mile and more for them, and they do appreciate it. The thanks we've been getting have helped a lot to make us feel better, but unfortunately that doesn't help the folks who were royally screwed and jerked around.
I really don't know what else to say.
We came up with a plan, divvied up the tasks, decided how much we had to get done each day to complete 130 applications by July 31, and got to work. One big sticking point was that nothing could be sent in without a current medical exam and since the restrictions had been lifted, the clinics were packed and backed up. We got everything else ready so when we had the exams in hand we could stick them in the packet and send them off.
We were on track and doing well. We were happy.
Then on Thursday as I was driving home from work, my coworker called and asked if I could come back. New word was that we had until JULY 1 (four days away, over the weekend) to get in as many applications as we could and the government would not be accepting any more after that. I went back and stayed til 10:30 that night, worked from 6 am to 7 pm the next night, and from 9-2:30 Saturday. We worked straight through, typing, printing, compiling, phoning, getting people in to sign what they needed to sign. It was very hard work, very stressful, and just plain crazier than I've ever had it at work but we did it! We got applications prepared for every person who had their medical exam.
We sent everything out for delivery to the government on Monday. We were safe! We'd see Monday if the restrictions would be put back in place, or if we could continue to send in applications. We worked on them Monday, waiting for the new bulletin. Finally the new bulletin came in. The government was closing the process and all applications received on Monday would be returned.
Everything we worked so hard for was for nothing. Most of the folks we were doing this for didn't get their applications in, they were all very disappointed and we were very tired and let-down ourselves. I'm still a bit numb from it all, but at least I hadn't made or canceled big plans based on what the government had said they would do. Lots of people had.
All we're left with is knowing we did the best we could. We took care of our people, we went the extra mile and more for them, and they do appreciate it. The thanks we've been getting have helped a lot to make us feel better, but unfortunately that doesn't help the folks who were royally screwed and jerked around.
I really don't know what else to say.
Comments
What's even more refreshing are the fact the folks who got yanked around with this acknowledge and appreciate all the hard work y'all put in.