My American magical life

Alright, Anhui, or rather Bengbu.

I should have used Nanjing dialect.

Such small talk can't change the fact that I am just a vagrant, but if done well, it can be somewhat useful.

There's a saying in the overseas Chinese community.

Be wary of fellow townspeople wherever you go; when townspeople meet each other, they might stab you in the back.

It's true, a lot of people in the Chinese community specialize in exploiting their own.

Their main work is to swindle fellow townspeople with information asymmetry.

These people lack the ability to assimilate into a foreign environment overseas and can only leech off the immigrant community.

But there are also good townspeople, and the number is quite large.

After all, when there's a large number of people, a vast variety is inevitable.

Cheng Daqi didn't know exactly what Li Haiping was about.

But his store was named after himself, and the reception was a part-time job for his own daughter.

The probability of him swindling others was relatively low.

Without much hesitation, Cheng Daqi directly started talking about his own predicament.

"Mr. Li, I came from Ludao, but since I couldn't get a visa, I'm considered an illegal immigrant."

Upon hearing Cheng Daqi's words, Li Haiping's expression remained unchanged, simply refilling Cheng Daqi's teacup with tea.

"Before coming to America, all the information I saw was positive, and I always thought that arriving in America would mean living a good life.

Now I realize that's not the case at all, and you probably understand what I mean.

My biggest trouble right now is not having legal status. I'm not expecting a green card.

But I'm interested in applying for a work permit, a driver's license, and stuff like that.

In short, I want to know through what means I can get legal status in California as soon as possible."

After stating his situation and the problems he encountered in one breath, Cheng Daqi didn't add more.

This kind of obvious freeloading consultation—if Li Haiping couldn't help, he needed to find another option quickly.

He looked at Li Haiping, waiting for the mid-aged owner's response.

The bald owner smiled, seemed like he wanted to say something but then went silent for a moment.

"You're just like I was back then. Ah, what's so great about America."

Li Haiping gave a bitter smile and began to educate Cheng Daqi about his own experience settling in America.

"Back then, I spent two thousand dollars to get a California driver's license, and afterwards, my life gradually got back on track.

But in recent years America tightened control over illegal immigration, splitting the driver's license into two categories. The one that illegal immigrants can obtain can't be used for identification purposes, only as a driver's license.

That path has been blocked.

The domestic news that says a driver's license in America takes you everywhere speaks of the license issued to those with legal status; you don't have a visa, no legal entry paperwork, so this path is not for you."

Having said all this, Li Haiping picked up his teacup and carefully savored the tea.

Of course, Cheng Daqi understood what Lao Deng meant.

He took out a hundred US dollars from his pocket and quietly placed it on the tea tray.

"Mr. Li, you have been working hard in America for so many years; you are considered my senior. But I've just arrived and really am strapped for cash, so please don't take offense at the small amount."

The driver's license route had been blocked, but Li Haiping, who specialized in immigrant services, must have ways to help him get legal status.

"Haha, too kind, too kind. It's not easy for anyone when we are away from home."

Li Haiping chuckled as he pocketed the Dollars and satisfyingly continued.

"After all, America is a nation of immigrants, and its immigration laws are generally welcoming.

As long as you have a legal entry visa, there are many ways to stay in America, but given your current situation, the choices are fewer.

For you, there are two simplest paths: apply for asylum or obtain a cancellation of removal status, both of which are services I can help you with.

Applying for asylum is straightforward, but not many people stay using that option, as it means you have no way back.

Cancellation of removal is the main service we provide, which can get you a work permit. This kind of work permit isn't a green card, but we like to call it a 'ten-year green card'."

Once you get this type of work card, in theory, you could stay in America for ten years, and a green card could also be secured within that time.

Besides these two methods, there are a few more processes that are quite complicated such as the victim visa, changing status after marriage, and the special talent work card.

I can help you with these too, but the risks, time, and investment are all relatively high."

Clasping the tea cup tightly, Cheng Daqi silently pondered Li Haiping's words.

NN asylum was out of the question, his body was in America, but his heart was still 'red'.

To choose asylum, he would have to stand in opposition to his motherland.

The victim visa sounded shady from the start, and even if he got it, it would pose risks for the future.

The special talent work card was worth considering, but the expense was bound to be substantial.

Getting a green card through marriage was a good choice, the only downside being it took too long, requiring three years.

After considering all options, it really was just as Li Haiping said, without a visa, one could hardly move an inch.

The original body didn't even have a tourist visa to America, which was really weak.

"Does the process to cancel a deportation order take a long time?"

After much thought, Cheng Daqi decided to focus on canceling the deportation order.

"If it's fast, about a hundred and sixty days, slow could be two hundred days, the duration is a bit long but the success rate is very high."

Pushing up his glasses, Li Haiping explained.

A very high success rate?

So, this means it could still fail?

Why is it so troublesome for an illegal immigrant to get an identity.

Cheng Daqi's current predicament was that he was trapped in the identity of the original body's vagrant.

Unlike other American vagrants, he had no record of default, but getting an identity was very difficult.

"Actually, there is another approach, do you want to hear it?"

Noticing Cheng Daqi's dilemma, Li Haiping offered another new method.

"Please, go on."

"Here's the thing, you could go to Canada or Mexico, then return to your home country, and try to get any kind of visa, any visa would do, with a visa things will be much easier."

Li Haiping has indeed offered a great strategy.

But...

Cheng Daqi glanced at the system task and shook his head with a wry smile.

For others, this method would be completely viable, but Cheng Daqi still had a newbie package to claim.

More importantly, there was the chance to choose an identity recognition from the system task rewards.

This reward was priceless.

For example, being recognized as a native of Saint Rodu, with a birthplace still in America.

It could bring Cheng Daqi entirely new possibilities.

"Let's put this new idea aside for now, Mr. Li, isn't there a faster shortcut to getting an identity?"

I'm tired of trying hard.

Is there a shortcut I could try?

The words of Cheng Daqi amused Li Haiping, the middle-aged bald man teased him in an unkind manner.

"The immigration office isn't a pushover; tackling it isn't something us immigrants could consider.

I advise you to be more realistic, Xiao Cheng, you can file for cancellation of deportation many times, the American legal system is very slow, dragging out the time long enough, the chances of success are quite high."

Leaving Li Haiping's immigration consultancy, Cheng Daqi calmly looked up at the sky of Saint Rodu.

Without legal identity, he had a hard time moving here, but with the system in place, the future was full of endless possibilities.

The journey is long, first return to Red Street.

Stay grounded and continue to beg.