A Special Announcement

Hello everyone,

Today I can officially make an announcement that I have been wanting to make for a couple of weeks now!

I sent out the following email to our friends and family, and think it just as appropriate to copy that message here, as I think it explains what I have to say quite well.

*

Dear friends,

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that Jon and I will be getting married in Frederick, Maryland, USA on Friday 23rd August this year, at a small private family ceremony.

Once we are married, we are going to (finally!) begin immigration proceedings so that I can move to the US permanently, so we can be together.
We anticipate that this will take anywhere up to a year. We intend to move to near Jon's family in Frederick, Maryland.

This first ceremony is going to be a basic one, because we need to get the ball rolling for immigration, but also because when we have more time and money we would actually like to have a Disney Fairytale Wedding at the Disneyland Resort in California.
We really want to have the time and resources to plan this properly, and unfortunately we can't do that right now.
Of course we'd already be married, but would instead have a commitment ceremony, which would reflect our ongoing pursuit of happiness and being together.
At that point, our extended family and friends would be welcome to join us in celebrating our marriage properly.

We appreciate all of your friendships, kindness and ongoing support.

If anyone would like to send gifts, we have actually chosen a small selection of charities which we feel support worthwhile causes, which you can donate to on our behalf. We have everything we could possibly need already, so your support of an organisation that funds a worthwhile cause means more to us.
The charities we have chosen are included at the end of this email.

Thank you all,

Best wishes, and kind regards,

Dan and Jon.


Our chosen charities:

For our UK/EU friends and family, you might want to consider these...

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/index.php (click the donate online button)
The Fox Project http://www.foxproject.org.uk/ (the right-hand panel has donation information)
Adopt an animal on our behalf from The British Wildlife Centre http://www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/planyourvisit/animaladoption.html (click for details of how to adopt)
Stonewall UK https://www.stonewall.org.uk/what_you_can_do/donate_to_stonewall/default.asp (lots of options for donating)

For our friends in the United States and Canada, you can donate to these...

The DOMA Project http://www.domaproject.org/donate
Animal Welfare Institute http://awionline.org/ (donate is on blue, on the left side)
Siamese Cat Rescue Center http://va.siameserescue.org/ (how to donate on the left)
The Trevor Project http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ (donate in the top right corner)
GLAAD http://www.glaad.org/ (donate in the top right corner)

Step One - Hiring a Lawyer

Hello everyone,

After several weeks of waiting to hear from the lawyer at Masliah and Soloway, we finally had our consultation last night!

As you may recall, their company was the ones who helped set up the DOMA Project, which was designed by the firm's lawyers to challenge DOMA.

After DOMA was overturned, they began offering initial consultations for free.

We applied for this, but only last night did we finally get ours.

Anyway, we spent an hour or so talking via Skype to Lavi Soloway, having a detailed discussion about what happened next, what we should do and the immigration process.

Overall it was very useful. He was able to clarify for us a few questions we had, and we have decided to go ahead and hire them as our representatives through this process.

Their fees seem quite reasonable, and are a flat fee rather than ongoing costs that they bill us for. It allows you to know exactly where you stand.

Lavi informed us that they are very flexible with payments, and will always try to figure out what is best for the clients.

So, to begin with the fee for the filing of the first round of paperwork will cost $1500, which we are paying as three $500 instalments.

For this fee, they sent us a list of everything we need to gather.

We send it all to them, and then they will file the forms on our behalf.

We also have to pay them the fees as required for the I-130 petition. These are currently set at $420.

This is the list and instructions sent to us:

For the U.S. Citizen Spouse - Petitioner:

*Marriage Certificate
*Birth Certificate
*Biographical Page of U.S. Passport

*U.S. Naturalization Certificate (if applicable)

*Document Evidencing Termination of Prior Marriage (if applicable)

*One Passport-style Photograph (requirements: <http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/visaphotoreq_5334.html> )

For the Foreign National Spouse - Beneficiary:

*Birth Certificate (with certified translation if document is not in English)
*Passport(s) (a copy of each page of each passport, including cover)

*Document Evidencing Termination of Prior Marriage (if applicable)
One Passport-style Photograph (requirements for this linked above)

All documents not in English must be accompanied by certified translations. Upon request, we can have any documents translated on your behalf for a small fee. Each translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:

*Translation is accurate, and,
*Translator is competent to translate from that language into English.

Of course, only a select few things on that list apply to us, but it is worth noting here for people reading this that it does affect.

So, when I am with Jon this week, we will fill out the forms that were attached to the email, get our photos taken, and send both with the fees and copies of our birth certificates to them.

Once we are married we will forward them our marriage certificate.

The lawyers will then send everything needed to the USCIS, and step one will be completed!

Once we have the forms in hand, and we are filling them out, I will document more accurately what you have to do exactly, as so that others can benefit from our experience.

I had mentioned that there was a second fee for the lawyers.

This is the only only other fee we pay them, besides and US government fees which they pay on our behalf when we send them the money.

It just takes away the stress of us doing it, and potentially getting it wrong. They ask, we provide, and we know it'll get done properly!

Anyway, the second fee I believe was $2500.

This will be for all assistance and forms etc after the I-130 has been sent, basically until the end of the process.

So, to recap, here's what we've had to do so far/about to do if not already:

*Hire a good immigration lawyer (Masliah and Soloway are immigration experts, and founders of the DOMA Project).

*Order any copies of birth certificates we don't hold.

*Send copies of these, plus passport photos, all our passport information, and travel information about my visits to the US.

*Provide personal biographical information to the lawyer, such as home addresses, work, Jon's income etc.

*File the lawyer fee and USCIS fee with the lawyers.

*Get married so that the lawyers can file the I-130 petition with the USCIS.

You may have noticed that "get married" was on the list. You may also recall that we haven't done this yet, as I was looking into venues etc.

Well, I am going to update about that probably tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Overall so far hasn't been too painful. Just a lot of waiting. And there'll be a lot more of that over the next year!

I'm actually typing this on my iPhone right now, but when I'm back at my desk I am going to make another update about getting married, what we have done to get that started, and I also will attach the forms we have had to fill out so far, so that you can all see the process exactly as it is (blank copies of course, which then you can print and use as a practice model if you want).

Dan.

Birth Certificate Arrived!

Hello everyone,

As you can tell from the title of this entry, my full UK birth certificate that I ordered 3 weeks ago from the General Register Office (GRO) finally came today!
I am documenting this here so that I have a record of how long this entire process is taking!
Also, others might be wondering where theirs is, or how long it will take, so now we know!
Standard service - expect it to be 3 weeks!

Dan.

Food for Thought - Lawyers, Birth Certificates and Working

Hello everyone,

Just some food for thought this afternoon.

First off, I am still waiting for my full UK birth certificate to arrive. Apparently it is being sent out today! I'll be glad to finally have it in my hands!

Second, I want to mention our experience with the lawyers so far.
As you may recall, Jon and I decided to take up the free offer from Masliah-Soloway. Unfortunately they haven't really proven themselves to be very helpful or efficient so far.
I assume their offer was not only to help same sex bi-national couples, but of course to also drum up business. I mean, a company offers a free consultation, and if you're impressed, you'd hire them, right?
Well, according to their Facebook page so far they have helped over 200 couples on this "offer" and filed over 100 immigration petitions.
I emailed them within the hour they posted about their offer way back after DOMA was struck down.
All we have had so far is some rather vague emails asking if we can Skype during the evenings. And that was well over a week ago.
If anyone has had a better experience with them, please feel free to share it with me, but thus far we are probably going to ditch them and hire a more reliable lawyer.
A shame since Masliah-Soloway are meant to be experts in same sex immigration. Oh well, c'est la vie.

The last thing I wanted to mention was something just bugged me in a conversation I saw online, and actually made me think about my own situation.
When I come to the US I'll probably lose a lot of the benefits that I get now in my adult working life.

Workers in the UK are entitled by law to 5.6 weeks paid annual leave per year (equivalent to 28 days full time; pro-rata for part time). Armed forces get 38 days. Our minimum wage for working adults is £6.19, rising to £6.31 on 1st October this year (that's just under US $10).

As a comparison, the US Federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 ($2 less than the UK), and companies are NOT required to pay you for time off, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
That's not to say whoever I end up working for won't be more generous, and I know some companies are fairly decent, but it's the fact that there is nothing that binds them in law to give me those benefits, whereas here in the UK it's my right.

Like I said, some food for thought for you today.

Dan.

Equal Marriage becomes law in England and Wales

Hello everyone,

Today, the final formality in the process of making the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill law happened.
The final stage, known as Royal Assent, was announced by the Speaker in the House of Commons this afternoon.

The new law is quite complicated, and there are lots of amendments and clauses that went into it, before it was finally passed.
Later this week I hope to pick it apart more thoroughly and make a post on here about what it covers, and what it doesn't.

There is one point I want to make clear. The Queen is for the most part a figurehead, and plays no part in politics and the government's policies. The Queen nearly always keeps her opinions to herself, and would never compromise herself or her government by making any potential controversial statements (she leaves that to her husband... *wink wink* for any Brits reading this!).
My point is that she did not give her "approval" or have any part in the debate, despite what the US mass media are claiming. They are simply sensationalist headlines.
If she refused to sign anything into law (and I'm not even sure that technically she even does that these days) I am almost certain that the Conservatives would waste no time in holding a referendum and getting rid of the monarchy altogether!

A move in the right direction for sure, but remember, even though this was debated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, this bill only covers England and Wales. Scotland are likely to pass their own law, and Northern Ireland, well, who knows...

Dan.

I'm still here!

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to make a quick post to say that I am still going to update this blog, it's just that the last week I have been busy with work.
And, in all fairness, I haven't had anything too riveting to talk about!

Anyway, I hope to make some posts this weekend, so watch out for those.

Enjoy the sun, and stay cool!

Dan.

Freedom, and an American London

Hello everyone,

Despite the fact I will be moving to the US to be with Jon, and despite my love for many American things (as I've mentioned several times on this blog), I will never forget my routes and ties with Britain.
Being British is as much a part of me as being American will be.
Having said that, anyone that knows me knows that I am all for dismantling the man made borders of our world; allowing freedom of movement to enable people to live the lives they want to, with the people they want to.
It's not just about love, but about the general principle of freedom.

Sadly though, my ideal of a free and utopian world are far from being realised - but I can dream, right?
Although, thankfully the European Union does embrace this ideal to some extent, and with the freedom of movement granted to all European Citizens, we now have a 27-country zone where we can work, play and live freely. It's a step towards my ideal for sure!

Anyway, seeing as soon I will not only be British and European, but American, thus bringing me one step closer to this "world wide freedom", I thought I would share some pictures with you from my adventures in London with Jon since we have known each other.
In particular, I wanted to point out some very American influences that can be found in London, to show that even with borders and immigration regulations, interests, hobbies, tastes and latest crazes are without borders, and represent the diverse world in which we live.
Brits love American things, and Americans love British things.

So, here's a tour of some of London's most famous landmarks, along with some American influences along the way. There might even be some pictures of Jon and I thrown in, too!

In case you didn't read it already, I made a similar post about the US the other day, which includes lots of photos from my adventures across the US with some very British influences.

Let's start with... M&Ms! An American brand, but one the Brits love. Just don't ask for the peanut butter ones!
Leicester Square in the West End has a huge M&Ms Store, and it is one of my favourite places to visit when ever I'm in the city.
They really made a decent effort with the store. It incorporates some very British icons with those famous American chocolate shells!


Of course, Disney is massive in Europe, as it is world over, and no trip to London would be complete without visiting its numerous Disney Stores. Here's Jon and I at the Covent Garden one, which again (like M&Ms) has some very British influences.
  Peter Pan is Jon's favourite character, and London has many Peter Pan related gems. For those who don't know, James Barrie was Scottish, but wrote Peter Pan from his home in Kensington, just across from the famous Kensington Gardens. There is now a plaque on his former house, and a very famous statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens which was a gift from Barrie himself.

 
Peter Pan has been adapted for stage and screen many times, but maybe one of its most famous incarnations is Walt Disney's Peter Pan - of course American.

Barrie was a supporter of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, and left the rights to his works with the hospital, earning them a profit for their good work, forever more. There is a statue of Peter Pan at the hospital, too.
  The hippie movement was just as big in London as it was in San Francisco back in the day. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am somewhat a hippie at heart. Peace and love, all.
 
Kensington Palace was the home of Diana, Princess of Wales, who was much loved world over - in particular by Americans. The statue in front of Kensington Palace is of King William III, who was also said to have provided the stylistic inspiration for Barrie's villain, Captain Hook. I'll let you decide for yourself...
  Here's Jon and I being goofy at the Westminister London Underground station!

 
Coca-Cola is another massive American brand that has strong British ties. Anyone who is a Brit reading this will know exactly what I mean when I saw "it's not Christmas until you've seen the advert!"... If a company has the power to influence a different nations view of Christmas, that alone makes is free of the confines of the artificial borders we create.
  For the last American influence I'm going to post, it's a picture of a plaque that marks the London home of Benjamin Franklin - one of the United States' founding fathers, having helped draft the Declaration of Independence. His father was British.
  I'll finish up this blog with some pictures of various London landmarks and famous sights, that do not necessarily have an American story to them.

The Tower of London.
  City Hall.
  Various Royal Guards.
  Pall Mall - leading up to Buckingham Palace.
  Jon and I at the Victoria Memorial in front of the palace.

 
 Buckingham Palace and the memorial.
  Tower Bridge (not to be confused with London Bridge! A common mistake by tourists!)
  The London Eye.
  St. Paul's Cathedral.
  Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
  Part of the Animals in War Memorial.
  The Palace of Westminster, AKA the Houses of Parliament.
  Trafalgar Square.
  Jelly Babies!
  And finally... The Union Flag, more commonly known as the Union Jack!
 
Dan.

Happy Independence Day!

Hello everyone,

Of course today is the major American patriotic holiday of the year - Independence Day (4th July).

I may not be American yet, and despite having never celebrated this holiday (I've never even been in the US visiting when it's the 4th), it is inevitable that in view of my current situation, at some time in the not too distant future I will probably be celebrating the 4th July as an American!

Jon and I have had lots of adventures across the US since we have known each other, so I thought I would share some of those with you here.
(I of course had adventures in the US prior to knowing Jon, but the point of this blog is about my immigration to the US having met Jon, so pictures of my travels with him are decidedly more appropriate!)

Oddly enough, Jon and I don't tend to get pictures together very often, so most of my pictures below are of me that Jon has taken.
If I'm not in them, then I took them.

Here goes!

The first time I ever went to Washington, D.C, it was gay pride! How convenient! I couldn't write a 4th July post on my gay immigration blog, and not have some gay pride pictures!




I also got to visit the White House, and many of the other famous monuments around the capital city.







We've been back to DC many times since. My favourite time of year is Christmas, with the National Christmas Tree, and all the smaller States trees.
Here's a selection of pictures from my various other adventures in DC over the years.








A rare one of Jon and I together, taken by our good friend Louise.
  
We have also visited New York City several times.



We have visited Philadelphia, PA a couple of times.



My all-American tour wouldn't be complete without some of the country's famous theme parks, including Hershey Chocolate World and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.


Then of course there's Disney and Universal. Jon and I visit these parks frequently, and I have literally tens of thousands of pictures. Disney is our life. So instead of re-posting all those here, visit our own Disney website, and take a look at everything Disney (and Universal) we've ever done!

We have also visited Williamsburg, VA and Jamestown, VA to visit Pocahontas's origins.



A random fact for you... I actually live just down the road from the 'sister' statue to the one below, depicting Pocahontas. The one below is of course at Jamestowne, VA.
The statue where I live sadly marks the place she is buried.

 

We have visited to Great Falls, VA.



Luray Caverns, VA is another cool place.



The National Air and Space Museum in VA is neat.


We've seen the bright lights of Hollywood!



We've been to a Renaissance Faire in Maryland.



The MD city of Baltimore, and the MD State Capital Annapolis are nice. Annapolis has old world charm.



We've been to the Civil War battlegrounds in Gettysburg, PA (admittedly not the most heart stopping thing we've ever done, and not somewhere I'd rush back to!).


San Diego is a beautiful city, and somewhere I want to go back to when I get the time.



We have been on many more adventures of course, too numerous to count really. But I thought that those depicted above, summed up our highlights of the last 5 years.
You may have noticed a running theme, that where possible, I tried to include little nods to British things.

Anyway, have a great weekend everyone! Enjoy the holiday and summer fun!

Dan.