I was born in Leningrad, Russia and immigrated to USA with my family, via Israel, when I was 11 years old. Living in America was very hard for all of us, but I tried my best and graduated from New York University with a degree in finance and computer information technology.
After graduating NYU, I was not able to find a suitable job because of an economic downturn, so I decided to come live in Japan with my new Japanese wife that I have just met in New York. We both came to Japan, I thinking of working as an English teacher and my wife not really knowing what she was going to do. By sheer luck I brought with me Gutamala friendship bracelets which I wholesaled at Harajuku for one usd each. After that I decided to start an import company, which I ran and managed for 10 years.
We were doing really well and saved up some money and even thinking of coming back to live in the USA, but one day when we went on vacation to Hawaii the USA immigration took away my American green card. They told me that because I spend most of my time outside America I cannot have a green card. Both my parents became neturalized American citizens, but because I was over 18 years of age at the time of application I did not become American citizen automatically but had to apply on my own, which I did not because I was busy running my business in Japan.
Now everytime I wanted to go to America I had to get a visa, which I was granted but had to come up with a lot of paper work. During that time, my father died at the age of 65 and I was not able to attend his funeral. My brother died from cancer at the age of 46, and I was not able to attend his funeral. I was not able to attend both their funerals because I did not have a valid visa at the time.
Four years ago, after living in Japan for 14 years, I’ve tried getting a USA visa so I can visit my mother who is 78 years old now and lives all alone, and the USA consulant in Osaka, Japan refused my visa, saying that I cannot prove intent of not wanting to immigrate to USA. My mother is sick and she does not have any living reletives who can help her. A few times when I called her I found her in a hospital on her death bed. God help me, for American is wrong! She is an American citizen and I her son cannot visit her. America claims it is fighting for freedom and democracy, but meanwhile it does not respsect its citizens human rights and The US Bill of Rights
Ninel Berger, Kayo, and Igor
Mr. Uyama, Atsuko, Kayo, and Igor
My old Iggy’s accessory shop in Osaka, Japan
My, Igor Berger Israeli Passport
Igor Berger Japanese Permenent Residence
USA Goverment says No to Igor Berger visa request
My mother died October 20th 2008. I was not able to say goodbye to her, so I did it in this post.
Goodbye to Ninel Berger!
