Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 28, 2000
Editor's note: Two months ago, we published a column about Ben and Olesiya Pratt of Country Run. Olesiya Pratt, who came here from the Ukraine, is having trouble returning to that country to visit her mother, who is ill.
--
Editor:
I've received an answer from U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in Tampa in reference to my wife obtaining her resident status. They state that there is still one year or more in the processing time for my wife's application.
It is not important what circumstance; they will not prioritize any application for any reason.
I have extinguished my every avenue for help in this case and have come to a dead end. The embassy abroad will not hear of her mother visiting the United States, whatever the circumstances.
If my wife leaves she is barred for three years from her home and her husband.
I recently received another response to a letter I wrote to the first lady. It was stated that not even the president of the United States or any other official could intervene in the issue of my wife's application for advanced parole.
It seems that no one has any power to do anything against the great INS. My contacts with Rep. Michael Bilirakis and Sen. Connie Mack do no more than forward my letters to the INS. My continued efforts have resulted in putting me no further than I was a year and a half ago.
You cannot know how detrimental this is; not only for my wife and me, but for her family as well. If we truly told my wife's mother that she is not going to see her daughter for another year or more, her hope of seeing my wife would seemingly diminish, as the doctors are surprised she has had the strength to pull through this far. We have not been honest when it comes to the question of when Olesiya will come and visit her. We have always hinted that time may be soon, knowing the cold truth that this day may never come.
Ben Pratt
Carrollwood