Immigration related uncertainty looks something like this :
- can’t sleep, can’t concentrate on much else, can’t feel joy and excitement.
-check uscis website every two minutes , refresh, refresh , nothing
-look at bank account, nothing coming in but bills got to be paid

support aging parents, kid or kids.
-work =sense of identity, can’t contribute so what good am I?

While labs and economy undoubtedly suffers, the emotional toll can be traumatic on the people involved. Been there. That’s me.

Not to mention standing in long lines in the unbearable heat , sweating out of fear as you walk up to meet the immigration officer. My future , hopes and dreams rest in the mood of the guy behind the counter. How should I act? What should I say?

Go back home in fear, some more waiting. Meanwhile the PI in the lab I’m supposed to join sends multiple messages about when I can start working. Some more waiting and nothing in my control! Don’t they understand?