Coyote

[[You|He]] left your country and decided to folow your dreams and study abroad, you are not wealthy but worked hard to save some money and make the arrangements to go and pursue your education in the U.S You got admitted to the school you wanted and now you are required to pay three semesters in advance in order to get your [[I-20]] You found the way to pay the international student deposit and your father offered to sign as an sponsor and help you pay for your education. [[Go get his visa]]

The Form I-20 (also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students) is a United States Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), document issued by SEVP-certified schools (colleges, universities, and vocational schools) that provides supporting information on a student's F or M status.

Your name is Ramon, you were born in north Mexico. During the last three years, war on drugs and organized crime have created a very unstable environment, there is a lot of violence and people live with fear. One of your best friends was walking with his family one morning and found himself in the middle of crossfire between the army and a drug cartel. His mother sister and father died, he survived. Your cousin was kidnapped that same year, because the drug cartel thought he was someone else, the police found his body decapitated one month after his disappaearence . You are a hard working man, yo were 21 when he first moved to the United States, you were trying to escape from the violence, insecurity and economical hardships of your country.

You payed almost $300 in order to get an appointment at the consulate, you know that the appointment doesn't guarantee a visa and if you are denied one, all the money you have spent (almost $500) will be lost. You drive almost 24hr to get to your appointment at the consulate in Mexico City . The consulate is a scary place, the security procedures are insane, you have to take off your belt and empty your pockets, this is all very new to you. The security guard takes all your things and leaves them in a plastic tray. While you are waiting in line you can see many people get their visas denied, some of them were almost in their knees begging the consul to reconsider, they left defeated with tears in their eyes. You start sweating, you have no idea of what the consul will ask... "I hope they approve my visa" The electronic board marks your number, it's your turn. [[go to the interview]]

The counsul has a straight face, the first question he asks is: -do you speak eglish? "Yes" -why do you want to go to the United States? [[You try to speak english but you can't, your nervousness betrays you]] [[You answer the best you can and try to keep calm]]

The consul notices your nervousness, your hands are shaking and it is hard for you to answer any of the questions, the consul starts questioning about your [[TOEFL]] results, but you forgot to bring those documents. [[Olvide traer esos documentos]] [[I dont have them but I got admitted to the school because I proved I'm proficient enough]]

After a some other questions in regards your finances, the counsul says: Your visa was approved, you will receive the document in 10 days. [[Go to U.S|Land of the Free]]

Your visa was denied, try again. [[Go back|Go get his visa]]

"Ok, do you want me to speak spanish instead?" the consul says "I'm just a little nervous, this is my first time doing this. But we can keep speaking english" After some other questions in regards your finances, the counsul says: Your visa was approved, you will receive the document in 10 days. [[Go to U.S|Land of the Free]]

F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. There are various programs available for F-1 students to seek off-campus employment, after the first academic year. For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official Basically: -No work off campus unless aproved under certain circumstances and for a limited period (No more than a year) - Work on campus must be limited to 20 hours per week.

You have been in United States for 3 years, you have been a good student and even had some job opportunities on campus, besides all the [[Employment Limitations]] you managed to live confortably, but not without [[the help of your sponsor]]. You have been dating Marian for a while, you are deeply in love with her and it seems like she feels the same way. The next step is clearly to proppose, but you don't know how you will both make it if you are living as international students. One of your friends offers you a great job opportunity, you can make a lot of money doing something that you love. This is not on campus employment and you know you are not allowed to work off campus, however you have [[all the documents they require]] and you really need that extra money. [[Take the offer]] [['Maybe later, I'll think about it"]]

You feel you have been working hard but there is no way for you to feel completely independent because your father has to pay for your tuition. You see your friends start to get great job opportunities, get married and become self reliant. You know you can't do that because of your limitations as an international student, however you love to be in this country and believe that there is nothing for you back at home.

This gives you the perfect opportunity to become self sufficient and the job came just in time because your Dad is no loger able to pay for your education.Mexican peso has devaluated almost 30% in the last year, and it keeps going down. The job promised to be all you were expecting, you can now buy a car and the idea of getting married seems less imaginary and more realistic. Marian clearly wants to get married and she is getting very anxious because she knows you want the same thing. [[Buy a ring for Marian]]

You are aware that the Mexican peso has devaluated almost 30% since you started shcool and it keeps going down. Things are hard at home, your dad calls you and tells you that he will not be able to pay for school in full until the economy gets better. You know it is time to do something: [[leave everything behind and go back to your country]] [[Take the offer]]

Shool is going great, you have a lot of friends, a nice apartment and life in the U.S has been great. You have perfected your english and started working on campus. Heck! you even got a credit card, you feel you are an adult. The best thing that happened was meeting Her, Marian. She is a beautiful girl who just like you, left her country and decided to built her future in the United States, you have been friends for a while andnow you want to take the next step and take her her out on a date: [[you ask her out]] [[maybe later]]

She said yes! The first date was amazing, you have been friends for a while so it wasn't weird at all. You instantly connected and had a great time. You know that she feels the same way you feel. what are you going to do now? [[Kiss her]] [[tell her how you feel]]

Really? come on dude!!! Ask her out, she has been waiting for you to do it. [[you ask her out]]

As much as you hate being chessy, you have to admit that it was the most pleasant exprience you ever had. She kissed you back and told you that she was waiting for you to make a move since you started being friends. Your life with Marian as your girlfriend is almost dreamlike...you are in love. This is your [[American Dream]]

Your sweaty hands and shaky voice made things hard for you, but you managed to overcome all those restrictions and decided to tell her how you feel about her. She says she feels the same way and that she has been waiting for you to say it since you first met. Marian becomes your girlfriend and makes your life very dreamlike...you are in love. is this the [[American Dream]]?

Are you really going to leave everything you have? Do you want to leave Marian? of course not, [[Take the offer]]

"Marry me" [[Marian said YES]] [[Marian faints]]

Altought you now have some credit card debts, the wedding was amazing, friends and familiy where there and you had a great time. You are just a lucky man and your hard work payed out, the company gave you a trip to Bahamas! [[Enjoy your honeymoon|Paradise]] (you don't really need any other choice)

Someone called the ambulance, you have to pay the hospital bill but [[Marian said YES]]

You had a great time but now it's time to go back. You are in the airport and Homeland Security officers ask for your documents, you have everything in order but your wife has to fill out some [[documents]] before she can continue. The officer ask you to go back and wait with your wife, while you wait he starts asking you questions. "Why are you travelling?" "How can you afford a trip like this?" [[Answer each question and avoid mentionig that you have a job in the U.S]] [[You accidentally mention that you won the trip because of your hard work]]

Student Visas have some limitations, one of them is that you can't enter the country more than 30 days before school starts. For Mexicans this means that if you have a tourist visa, you can use that one, if you don't have a tourist visa you have to wait. For residents of other countries (Europeans for example)there is a visa waiver program that allows them to enter the country just by getting a special authorization before boarding.

The officer get suspicious and starts going trough your luggage, you have some job related documents in your suitcase and when he finds them he ask you to give him your cellphone. [[You give him your cellphone]] (like you have any other choice...he has a gun and a bad temper)

He asks directly: " Are you working in the U.S without authorization?" [[Yes]] [[Try to talk your way out|Answer each question and avoid mentionig that you have a job in the U.S]]

He finds out that you have been working in the U.S without authorizatiom, you admit it and end up losing your visa. The only option you have is to go back to your country. Oh yeah, and you will have to find another flight that doesn't stop in the U.S because you can't step foot in the country until you get a visa. Your wife will go back to U.S and try to figure out what to do... [[you go back home]]

They take your visa and forbid you to go back to U.S until you get another one. You have to find another flight home because now you can't even set foot in U.S Your wife will enter the country and try to figure out what to do. [[you go back home]] (Is either that or start a new life somewhere else)

After a long trip, you are back in Mexico. Because you were working [[illegally]] you are not able to get another visa, you left your wife, car payments, rent and credit card debt in the U.S You spent a few months working in Mexico in order to pay the visa interview and it was denied. Because the Dollar has become so expensive this last year, it is almost impossible to get enough money to pay your debts in the U.S, your wife is working (without authorization) and she is trying to pay the debts you aquired while also sending you some money. This are your two options: [[bring your wife to Mexico]] [[Cross the border]]

People who is working "illegally" pay the same amount of taxes, knowing that they will not get anyof the benefits. Employers know that they are hiring people that is not authorized to work and because of that they pay them less, or treat them bad, knowing that those employees can't complain.

Bringing your wife to Mexico sounds like the best option, although you dont have anything to offer her, you know you will work hard to do what is necessary. [[Bring your wife|The dream turn out a nightmare]]

There aren't many ways to cross the border, one of them is trying to [[make it on your own]] and the other one is by hiring a [["Coyote"]] so, how is it going to be? [[Hire a coyote]] [[I might just try it on my own]]

The border is a dangerous place if you don't know where to go. There is a lot of crime, corruption and if you make it to the other side it is very likely that you will get caught, arrested and being treated as the worst of criminals. There are some vigilante groups that work in the U.S side of the border, they are armed and very adamant to the idea that they are defending their country from invaders.

Coyotes are men or women that help people cross the border, they know the weakest points of the border or simply have the right connections. A coyote usually has connections with cartel and organized crime and they also have some border patrol officers that help them cross. The price is usually between $2000 to $5000 dollars, you pay half in front and the other half when you are in the other side. The money is divided between all of the people involved including the border patrol, police and Drug cartels. There are many risks involved in dealing with Coyotes, sometimes because of their connection to organized crime they can contact you once you are in U.S and ask for money in order to keep your family safe. This is of course if you make it to the other side, half the people that tries to cross survives the trip.

Crossing the cold dessert in the middle of the night is something that never crossed your mind when you were dreaming about going to the U.S to get an education and build a better future for you and your family. You are in the middle of nowhere, starving, freezing and dirty. The only thing in your mind is the moment when you will be able to see your wife again. "Is this my fault for trying to make a living?" "Is the system to blame?" The only thing that matters now is surviving, you hear people talking in the ditance, someone starts running towards you and your group, you hear gunshots. [[Run and find a place to hide]] [[stay there and hope nothing bad happens]]

There is a reason people hire coyotes, they know the way. Because you have no experience you get lost in the middle of the dessert, you ran out of food and water. [[You die in the middle of the dessert.|End]]

You run but feel something burning in your back, you have been shot. [[You die|End]]

It's pitch black, you don't really know if you are in Mexico or U.S you jsut know someting is not right and there is nothing you can do. You feel something burning in your back, you have been shot. [[You die|End]]

You never finished your career, you have no job experience in Mexico and having a wife, no job and debts in U.S is making your life very hard. Some people say that Love is not enough and this time it proved to be true. You never expected having to live this way, all the plans you and your wife had were based on your life in the U.S Maybe you should have thought things better before getting married, what seemed normal to others was simply not for you. Marian decides she can't keep [[living like that]], and you agree that the best thing for both of you is to part ways. You decide to get divorced. [[End]] [[Go back in time!|you go back home]]

English proficiency test required to all international students in order to prove that they have the level required to pursue an education in the U.S It costs aproximately $199

Most international students can get a social security number when working on campus. You can also get a temporry green card (for a year) and a drivers license. Those are the only documents that employers require.

The most common reasons people give for their divorce are lack of commitment, too much arguing, infidelity, marrying too young, unrealistic expectations and MONEY ISSUES.

The End The Saddest part of this story is that it can become the reality of many international students.There are many immigrants who want to do things the 'right way' but life happens and policies become restrictions. We have to obey the law but there are things in life that have no law, things that have no borders, what should we do then?

"Coyote" by Jose Callejas You are about to embark on a journey that might be familiar.This story is based on real life experiences,something that happens very often but it's not always talked about or understood. "Loving you is easy I can do it in my sleep I dream of you so often It's like you never leave... So I'm sending the coyote To bring you back to me" [[Begin|Him ]]