G.A.G.E. coach Vardan Sargsyan has been ordered to leave the country for his native Armenia.
It’s easy to be “tough on illegal immigrants”, … until it’s your gymnastics coach.
… Sargsyan, a gymnastic coach at Great American Gymnastic Express (GAGE) in Blue Springs, has been denied citizenship three times by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officials in California.
Sargsyan has been in the United States since 2003 and came to the area in 2005 to work with GAGE owner Al Fong and Fong’s Armenian-born wife, Armine Barutyan-Fong, a former gymnastics trainer partner of Sargsyan in their home country. …
Vardan must wait one year before he can apply to return.
12 comments ↓
Well, without knowing the circumstances, it seems like he should have tried to do it right in the first place. They reviewed his case 3 times.
Language would be a factor the first try or so? Speaking english doesn’t mean he would’ve been able to read or understand it very well.
I worked as a gymnastics coach in the USA without being a citizen. The work visa process is complicated enough for a person who has english as a first language……that being said, there are people who can assist with it. I don’t know about the citizenship process in the USA as I did not attempt to go that route. As long as you have your paperwork, reference letters and coaching certifications in order, the VISAs to work are not that difficult to get.
Oh well he had his shot they said no so he leaves.
Being in the US is not a right you know.
Was he working legally and paying taxes to the U.S.? If so, I don’t see how a case like that is the problem most people are speaking of when they talk about the “immigrant problem”.
Coming here on a government issued, temporary work visa and trying to get permanent residency through the proper channels is a lot different than trying to sneak in to the country, living off the dole, and hoping nobody notices you have no right to be here.
The process to get a work visa is not as hard as people believe, but the transition to a long term green card is not as easy …(ask Natalia Laschenova)
The fact that his case was denied 3 times means that he doesn’t fill all the requirements that immigration ask for… maybe the decision ir not very popular, but it is follow the law …This is one example more to see that several people suffer several injustices in a life change situation. This is not a problem exclusive for the Republicans or Democrats …but is a problem that they use to get attention when they need votes….
“Immigrant problem”… I wish that the people stop in considered the immigrants as a problem, but at least for me is important that don’t need to carry on my ID when I buy ice cream to probe that I have the right to be here…
Well, true, but…that’s the kind of phrasing designed to tug on heartstrings. It’d also be like saying, “It’s easy to be ‘tough on a homegrown jihadist’,…until you find out it’s your best friend since childhood” or “It’s easy to be ‘tough on a serial rapist’,….until it turns out to be your only son.”
The issue of illegal immigration is a complicated mess. Reform (and enforcement of existing laws) is long overdue.
Reform is just another word for amnesty. Just enforce the laws already on the books.
“AM” asking that the laws on the book be enforced sounds ‘great’ but unfortunately they aren’t very good laws, too many loopholes that don’t address the real issues. Think back to slavery, those in the North providing aid to runaway slaves, would you have said “enforce the laws already on the books” against those Northerners breaking the law? Likely not. The law was ill purposed and rudely designed, as is our immigration laws. This isn’t be a right-left issue, i.e. Reagan (Rep) signed IRCA into law, before 9/11 Pres. Bush touted worker-guest programs. Nothing is static, things change, laws should be amended to take that into account.
We had a coach from our club leave to go work in the US. The owner of the club said he’d make all the necessary arrangements. Six months later, and the coach was given 48hrs to get out of the USA and return to Canada. Turns out the club owner didn’t make the necessary arrangements.
I disagree Ashley. Laws can be amended to speed up citizenship, but people still need to come legally. Many do – but illegal crossing and overstaying a Visa is breaking the law. The law says to deport those here illegally and severely fine companies that hire illegals. It shouldn’t be that hard. Reagan’s IRCA was a disaster and only brought more illegal aliens.
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