Question Hi,
I am concerned about my friend who though he lived here for 27 years never got citizenship. 3 Years ago he got involved with drugs which led to a robbery attempt. So he went to prison over 3 years now, and is currently awaiting deportation.
He is a womderful man, despite what he got mixed up in, and he only knows America`s way of life.
What will happen to him there? I think he is going to Serbia. Will he be an outcast? What is life like there? Can he leave there to another country or will this charge follow him? He wants to get to Holland to see his family.
Aren`t there nice places in Yugoslavia?
I guess the bottom line is when he goes what should he do first thing? What can he expect?
I know nothing about Yugoslavia except that it is in turmoil.
Thanks for your time,
Kathlene
Answer wow Kathlene - sorry about your friend. My family is from former Yugoslavia - Macedonian in particular. He will have it a bit rough because of the way he is returning and his police record. Cops there are corrupt. His charge and deportation will follow him so it will be tough to ever get a visa. Also I believe this means he cannot get a return visa to the US. The Dutch are usually pretty liberal so maybe after a few years he can see his family but first he must be landed immigrant back in Serbia and then after some months wait before he can apply to visit anywhere. I am saying he would have it rough because he left so long ago (E. Europeans are big on seeing this as being a traitor) and his record. If and when he proves himself though - people there will do anything for him totally unlike America. It will be a culture shock because it is poor compared to here, no McDonalds, no grocery stores, no gas stations, etc. It is really rough since the US bombed a lot out also. It is still a warzone. Your friend is probably being targetted more harshly by the US if he is Serb because the US is all pro-Muslim and pro-Croat and anti- Orthodox Serb. Sad but true. It may be tough to find an apt. because it is a premium in big places - I recommend staying with some family friends or family if he has any and to relearn to ropes before trying to make it on his own because he will be hustled otherwise. Not much I really can add.... sad situation though but I have seen even worse cases with Indians (My fiance is Indian and I love intl. law) where there is no prison record even just an expiration of visa for professionals. In some cases they marry an American hoping to dodge it but that is also a tough road. Best wishes to your friend - it all depends how you look at it - I mean that IS where he came from, right?
