Hello everyone,
I haven't posted here in a long time, but I felt it was about time that I gave a few updates about my life here in Maryland.
First of all, back in October I passed the two year mark of my officially moving to the United States! I can't believe how quickly two years have gone, especially after the seemingly endless struggle to find a way to make our lives work.
Of course, being here two years also meant that I could apply for the removal of conditions on my green card. This has to be prepared three months ahead of the date of expiry on your card, and the process can take a year. We applied in July, and are still waiting to receive my new card, sans conditions.
In applying for the removal of conditions you are automatically granted a one year extension on your status. You get sent a letter from the government which, along with the expired green card (yes, you MUST still keep AND carry it), provides authorities proof of your legal status in the country. Of course, the letter says you can still work, etc, which is true. It also says you can still travel, however, I want to throw some caution to the wind on this one. Entering the country on a normal basis can be a real challenge sometimes, with the attitudes of some of the officers at the desks, let alone trying to enter with an expired green card! Also, even before you get to immigration officers in the US, you would have to prove to check in agents in the country you're coming back from that you're letter is valid and real. We went to China in September and nearly got denied boarding because the desk agents had no clue about the entry requirements for China. This was at Newark (NJ) airport for a flight that is scheduled daily - yet they didn't know about which documents we needed in order to travel. If that's within the US for a regular flight they operate, I have no hope of convincing foreign desk agents of my validity to re-enter the US!
So, with all that said, I have made the decision to not leave the country until I have my new green card in hand, which hopefully should be before the end of next July. Not being able to travel out of the country from October to July is a bit annoying, but I would rather be in the country and face any challenges that may arise with the conditions removal than not be able to get back in at all!
Aside from the letter making your extended conditions legal, you also have to go to be fingerprinted and photographed - again - at your local USCIS office. This actually happens pretty swiftly after you file the petition for conditions removal. I had my appointment within weeks. It was very easy and nothing to stress about. You literally go to have your fingerprints and photograph digitally captured. As an important side note, remember to take ALL your documents with you when you go. The letter, your green card, and your foreign passport. Incredulously, there were people at the Baltimore office when I attended who were getting up to the desk, being asked for their documents and subsequently being turned away because they didn't have them. Not only is this just plain foolish because that's the whole reason you're attending, but legally, as an immigrant you're meant to carry your proof of residence on you anyway. Who in their right minds turns up at an immigration office without their legal documents?! Mind boggling!
Moving on from the green card, I wanted to mention the shock horror that was the US election. I could write volumes about what I think of the whole thing, but I'll try to keep it brief.
Following the horrible election night I spent two days in shock, disgust and distress. As a gay immigrant, I automatically fall into two two categories of people that the president-elect and his Vice President seem to want to destroy in some way. It offended me, and still does, that, regardless of a percentage here or there, for the sake of argument, half this country thinks that my rights are not worth whatever other cause or agenda that it is that propelled them to vote for Donald Trump. Around half this country stuck up its middle finger and said, "we think your human rights and civil rights come after our gun rights, our religious rights and the right to persecute and deport millions of people." When owning a gun and your personal beliefs come above the rights of people who have fought for decades just to be able to work without fear of being fired for who they are, then you have a problem, and I have one with you.
With all that said, life here continues to be almost exactly as it was when I updated this blog more regularly. I still struggle with people not understanding me when I speak, especially on the phone. In Las Vegas this past weekend some ladies from Iowa thought I was from Italy (that actually had more of a funny story attached to it, but it proves my point all the same). That gives you some idea of how difficult it can be to have an accent here.
I have been trying to become more proactive in the community. We attended a local LGBT meet-up and I spoke to the guy who runs the big local LGBT charity and community events in our county, and so soon I hope to be volunteering and working alongside people from that. When I start whatever work it is they want me to conduct, I plan to update more frequently here, as I think I'll provide an interesting insight; a gay immigrant working with a rural Maryland charity. Has some potential, no?
I still do find Maryland a little quiet, and Jon and I have both seriously considered our options for the post-immigration process. With the east coast sadly voting very red in the election, we are now reluctant to move further south, as had been our original plan. We do think that with the west coast becoming increasingly blue and ever more vocal on human rights issues, that somewhere out there could be our calling. Time shall tell!
If you actually managed to read all of this, I thank you for taking the time.
Peace and love,
Dan.
Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Friday, 13 November 2015
A Year On, My Thoughts
Hello everyone,
Last month Jon and I celebrated a full year of me being in the US. Here we are in November, 13 months after my arrival, and I thought I would share some thoughts with you all.
Having been here for just over a year now, I have a lot more of a deeper perspective on what it means to live here, and indeed survive here. I'm going to just go through a bunch of things that come into my mind, in no particular order, but things I feel are relevant to me.
Healthcare has been the number one point of contention for me so far. When I first arrived here Jon had pre-bought a temporary policy for me, since I would need continuous cover, and the open enrollment for the Maryland Health Exchange not open yet and I would only be able to get full coverage from January. Dealing with the exchange presented its own challenges. Not only were they difficult to get through to, but the policies aren't the best in the world either. I made several posts about that earlier in the year. A lot of people asked why I couldn't go in Jon's insurance, especially with marriage being law on a federal level now. Well, that still wasn't possible, because the SCOTUS decision only dealt with the federal government. Jon's company is based in Georgia, and the insurance they use is Georgia based, too. Georgia was not a full equality state. Of course, back in the summer this year, the SCOTUS heard the case, and subsequently made it legal, for equal marriage to go ahead in all 50 states. With that, it meant full benefits were now offered across the board, not just federally. Jon was finally able to add me to his insurance, but it took several months. Not only that, I had hassle cancelling my existing policy, and at one point my old and new ones were over lapping, when they shouldn't have been. On top of all that, I do have several medical issues, and with the way things work here, even with the best policy you can still pay through the nose for the care you receive - and you have to deal with insurance companies who never seem to get anything right. With all that said, healthcare here, when you can afford it, is exceptionally good. I genuinely feel like the doctors and specialists here have tried to help me, and I really appreciate that. Regular GP appointments here can easily take an hour, which is astounding, especially from my perspective when at home you would be in and out in under ten minutes. Overall, neither system is perfect - I wish the US had more of a balance between both.
This might sound like an odd thing, but my accent also causes me problems here. I refuse to change how I speak for anyone. It's not like I am speaking with a thick Russian accent or some weird dialect nobody has ever heard of. It is part of who I am. I think that I generally speak clearly and concisely (ok, if not a little quietly sometimes though), but nobody can understand what the heck I am talking about! It's gotten to the point of ridiculous, where now I refuse to speak on the phone because no one can ever get my name right, even when I spell it out!
Doors. Just don't even get me started on the doors! I don't know why this one thing still plagues me after 13 months here, but I'll never understand why a store can't just have doors that go both ways. The amount of times on weekly basis I find myself walking into an exit that won't open is astounding. Mind boggling.
Although I obviously have Jon, and we do have some friends, I have found the move across the ocean quite hard on my ability to meet people and integrate. I will fully admit that I have never been the most outgoing person. In fact when I was younger I was deathly shy, but I feel I have overcome that a lot, and as I have gotten older I have become a lot more open about my life and who I am. I am still a very private person, but I have definitely made progress. Leaving virtually everything and everyone I have ever known behind on another continent has been a huge blow to my confidence in the social area. While I don't want to sound like I have no life, or try to gain any sympathy, I do feel somewhat isolated here at times. Maryland isn't the most exciting place in the world, and the few friends we do have in this country aren't in Maryland - some aren't even on the same coast. So that is difficult for me. I have tried to think of ways to get myself out more, but I lack a lot of motivation and I don't really know where to begin, if I'm honest. I'll find something, I am going to work on that, but I have definitely found the friendship aspect hard so far.
I wanted to make this post more about me than my observations of the political situation here, but ultimately that affects me too, and I am a highly political person. Religion in this country is out of control. Or, at least, the right wing Christians are out of control. On an almost daily basis I see and hear things that makes me wonder what is wrong with the world we live in. Why are people getting themselves in fierce rages over coffee cups? Soup commercials? Magazine covers? People in this country need to take a step back, look at their own lives and realise that they don't have it bad at all. Nobody is forcing them to believe something else. No one is coming for their Bible or their guns. They need to chill out and just stop. It drives me crazy, and it worries me on a personal level because you just never know if your neighbor or someone around you will turn out to be some right wing religious crazy person who will start condemning you to hell.
Speaking of guns, that is the one other thing that bothers me a huge amount. Again, on an almost daily basis I hear stories of yet another shooting. A lot of them are accidental too, and for the simple reason that people are morons. Leaving your two year old alone with a loaded weapon on the dashboard of your car is a disgusting thing to do, no matter which way you look at it. It's nothing short of child abuse on so many levels, but for some reason, the right wing crazies seem to think that more guns and less gun control is the answer. How many more innocent people have to die under that policy?
Some other minor things. Mail here is ridiculously slow. Cable and phone bills are extortionate. People who say "could care less" drive me crazy because that is not what they are trying to say at all! The lack of public transport - and the surprising resistance towards it - is detrimental to the environment and to people's lives.
On a more positive side, I will fully admit that generally speaking (though, like anywhere, there can be exceptions), customer service here is excellent. I always feel welcomed into stores and restaurants, and that the people working there want to help. It's nice to be able to have a good rapport with the people in the supermarket that you visit often, or be able to banter with the guy at the comic book store. And like I said above, healthcare, when you can afford it, is exceptionally good (though insurance companies need to get their acts together!).
Finally, despite the fact we went through a grueling immigration process, which took over a year to complete, we are still not done with that. We were married less than three years upon my date of entry into the US (as I imagine many couples are when they go through this too, actually), and therefore I was made a conditional resident. In June next year we have to file a petition that can take up to 8 months, to remove the conditions of my residence. Yes, another 8 months of our lives stressing and worrying, and not being able to travel overseas again (at least I'm already in the US this time, as opposed to the situation when immigrating). At this point I am not sure exactly what will take them 8 months. There is nothing they could possibly need to know about me that they don't already know. It's just another infuriating event in our immigration story timeline that we have to deal with. Of course, by the time that is all said and done and I have full permanent residence, just a couple of months later I'll be allowed to file for citizenship! Perhaps in about 3 years' time we will finally be done with all of this, but for now we have to persevere.
We are now hurtling towards my second Christmas here, and I feel lucky and privileged to be able to share these thoughts with you all. Despite the stresses and worries of insurance and medical care, religious crazies and gun nuts, and further immigration proceedings, Jon and I are still here, still together, and always ready to stand up for who we are, no matter what.
One of my favourite quotes, and one which I had a friend read at our wedding, feels relevant today, for me at least. I'll leave you with it.
Last month Jon and I celebrated a full year of me being in the US. Here we are in November, 13 months after my arrival, and I thought I would share some thoughts with you all.
Having been here for just over a year now, I have a lot more of a deeper perspective on what it means to live here, and indeed survive here. I'm going to just go through a bunch of things that come into my mind, in no particular order, but things I feel are relevant to me.
Healthcare has been the number one point of contention for me so far. When I first arrived here Jon had pre-bought a temporary policy for me, since I would need continuous cover, and the open enrollment for the Maryland Health Exchange not open yet and I would only be able to get full coverage from January. Dealing with the exchange presented its own challenges. Not only were they difficult to get through to, but the policies aren't the best in the world either. I made several posts about that earlier in the year. A lot of people asked why I couldn't go in Jon's insurance, especially with marriage being law on a federal level now. Well, that still wasn't possible, because the SCOTUS decision only dealt with the federal government. Jon's company is based in Georgia, and the insurance they use is Georgia based, too. Georgia was not a full equality state. Of course, back in the summer this year, the SCOTUS heard the case, and subsequently made it legal, for equal marriage to go ahead in all 50 states. With that, it meant full benefits were now offered across the board, not just federally. Jon was finally able to add me to his insurance, but it took several months. Not only that, I had hassle cancelling my existing policy, and at one point my old and new ones were over lapping, when they shouldn't have been. On top of all that, I do have several medical issues, and with the way things work here, even with the best policy you can still pay through the nose for the care you receive - and you have to deal with insurance companies who never seem to get anything right. With all that said, healthcare here, when you can afford it, is exceptionally good. I genuinely feel like the doctors and specialists here have tried to help me, and I really appreciate that. Regular GP appointments here can easily take an hour, which is astounding, especially from my perspective when at home you would be in and out in under ten minutes. Overall, neither system is perfect - I wish the US had more of a balance between both.
This might sound like an odd thing, but my accent also causes me problems here. I refuse to change how I speak for anyone. It's not like I am speaking with a thick Russian accent or some weird dialect nobody has ever heard of. It is part of who I am. I think that I generally speak clearly and concisely (ok, if not a little quietly sometimes though), but nobody can understand what the heck I am talking about! It's gotten to the point of ridiculous, where now I refuse to speak on the phone because no one can ever get my name right, even when I spell it out!
Doors. Just don't even get me started on the doors! I don't know why this one thing still plagues me after 13 months here, but I'll never understand why a store can't just have doors that go both ways. The amount of times on weekly basis I find myself walking into an exit that won't open is astounding. Mind boggling.
Although I obviously have Jon, and we do have some friends, I have found the move across the ocean quite hard on my ability to meet people and integrate. I will fully admit that I have never been the most outgoing person. In fact when I was younger I was deathly shy, but I feel I have overcome that a lot, and as I have gotten older I have become a lot more open about my life and who I am. I am still a very private person, but I have definitely made progress. Leaving virtually everything and everyone I have ever known behind on another continent has been a huge blow to my confidence in the social area. While I don't want to sound like I have no life, or try to gain any sympathy, I do feel somewhat isolated here at times. Maryland isn't the most exciting place in the world, and the few friends we do have in this country aren't in Maryland - some aren't even on the same coast. So that is difficult for me. I have tried to think of ways to get myself out more, but I lack a lot of motivation and I don't really know where to begin, if I'm honest. I'll find something, I am going to work on that, but I have definitely found the friendship aspect hard so far.
I wanted to make this post more about me than my observations of the political situation here, but ultimately that affects me too, and I am a highly political person. Religion in this country is out of control. Or, at least, the right wing Christians are out of control. On an almost daily basis I see and hear things that makes me wonder what is wrong with the world we live in. Why are people getting themselves in fierce rages over coffee cups? Soup commercials? Magazine covers? People in this country need to take a step back, look at their own lives and realise that they don't have it bad at all. Nobody is forcing them to believe something else. No one is coming for their Bible or their guns. They need to chill out and just stop. It drives me crazy, and it worries me on a personal level because you just never know if your neighbor or someone around you will turn out to be some right wing religious crazy person who will start condemning you to hell.
Speaking of guns, that is the one other thing that bothers me a huge amount. Again, on an almost daily basis I hear stories of yet another shooting. A lot of them are accidental too, and for the simple reason that people are morons. Leaving your two year old alone with a loaded weapon on the dashboard of your car is a disgusting thing to do, no matter which way you look at it. It's nothing short of child abuse on so many levels, but for some reason, the right wing crazies seem to think that more guns and less gun control is the answer. How many more innocent people have to die under that policy?
Some other minor things. Mail here is ridiculously slow. Cable and phone bills are extortionate. People who say "could care less" drive me crazy because that is not what they are trying to say at all! The lack of public transport - and the surprising resistance towards it - is detrimental to the environment and to people's lives.
On a more positive side, I will fully admit that generally speaking (though, like anywhere, there can be exceptions), customer service here is excellent. I always feel welcomed into stores and restaurants, and that the people working there want to help. It's nice to be able to have a good rapport with the people in the supermarket that you visit often, or be able to banter with the guy at the comic book store. And like I said above, healthcare, when you can afford it, is exceptionally good (though insurance companies need to get their acts together!).
Finally, despite the fact we went through a grueling immigration process, which took over a year to complete, we are still not done with that. We were married less than three years upon my date of entry into the US (as I imagine many couples are when they go through this too, actually), and therefore I was made a conditional resident. In June next year we have to file a petition that can take up to 8 months, to remove the conditions of my residence. Yes, another 8 months of our lives stressing and worrying, and not being able to travel overseas again (at least I'm already in the US this time, as opposed to the situation when immigrating). At this point I am not sure exactly what will take them 8 months. There is nothing they could possibly need to know about me that they don't already know. It's just another infuriating event in our immigration story timeline that we have to deal with. Of course, by the time that is all said and done and I have full permanent residence, just a couple of months later I'll be allowed to file for citizenship! Perhaps in about 3 years' time we will finally be done with all of this, but for now we have to persevere.
We are now hurtling towards my second Christmas here, and I feel lucky and privileged to be able to share these thoughts with you all. Despite the stresses and worries of insurance and medical care, religious crazies and gun nuts, and further immigration proceedings, Jon and I are still here, still together, and always ready to stand up for who we are, no matter what.
One of my favourite quotes, and one which I had a friend read at our wedding, feels relevant today, for me at least. I'll leave you with it.
“If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”
~ Harriet Tubman
Dan.
Friday, 21 November 2014
What this new immigrant thinks of Obama's immigration executive order
Hello everyone,
As a newly arrived immigrant to the United States, immigration is a topic that is very close to my heart. I have been through the system and experienced the constant delays, bureaucracy and red tape, filled in a thousand forms and been subjected to interviews and medical examinations. It wasn't pretty - and I went about it the perfectly legal way!
Of course, being a fair and reasonable human being, even if I wasn't an immigrant myself, I would still think the same things I am about to discuss. It's just that given everything I've been through, it all means a little more to me that it did before. I am by no means an experienced political writer, but I wanted to at least share my thoughts on what just transpired.
Many Republicans and right wing supporters are currently up in arms about President Obama's speech last night, and his executive order to make some allowances to illegal immigrants in the United States. Many of the right wing supporters are saying this is illegal and that it's undemocratic. Well, we can't forget that two years ago Obama pledged to reform the immigration system, with a bill finally passing through the Senate on 27th June 2013, with a vote in favour, 68 to 32. However, when it got to the House, Speaker John Boehner refused to allow the vote on it! (There are hundreds of articles on the internet documenting this, just Google it, but for reference linked to just one.) The House didn't even get a chance to vote on immigration reform because one person, one, did not want it to happen - and now that person, Mr Boehner, is threatening action against the President.
First of all, if the Republicans really wanted a say in the matter, they should be demanding that John Boehner allow them that vote. Second, it was made clear in the speech that that isn't a way to allow millions of criminals to stay in the country, but in fact a way to allow millions of people who want the chance of a better life to "come out of the shadows" (as Obama said) and start to rebuild their lives in a country that they believed would give them the chance - otherwise, why would they have come here? Human compassion should be at the forefront here, not the right wing trying to make a point. An illegal mother who wants the best for her young children, who wants to work and pay taxes, should not be deported and given a criminal recored for trying to better herself. Young people who came here as children who were either brought here by others, or escaped here because they didn't know where else to turn, should be allowed to prove themselves now as adults, and be allowed to get on with their lives without fear of persecution. In my head, it simply doesn't make sense. Why would anyone want to stop these families from improving their lives? These people came to this country because they believed it could offer them more. They believed in America. Yet all the Republicans want to do is show how nasty and vindictive they can be. Thirdly, commentators are saying this could affect up to 5 million illegal immigrants. Let's be realistic here, the population of the United States is more than 316 million people. 5 million is just 1.58% of the entire population of the US. There are more people than that in New York City alone. Spread out across the nation, I doubt anybody who isn't directly affected by this order will notice a single change.
I'll leave it there, as I could go on about this all day, but one thing is for sure, Obama cannot be accused of inaction on this one. A bill was sent to the Senate, it passed. The bill went to the House, and it was blocked by one person. The President had to take action on this, and I absolutely believe he has done the right thing.
Dan.
As a newly arrived immigrant to the United States, immigration is a topic that is very close to my heart. I have been through the system and experienced the constant delays, bureaucracy and red tape, filled in a thousand forms and been subjected to interviews and medical examinations. It wasn't pretty - and I went about it the perfectly legal way!
Of course, being a fair and reasonable human being, even if I wasn't an immigrant myself, I would still think the same things I am about to discuss. It's just that given everything I've been through, it all means a little more to me that it did before. I am by no means an experienced political writer, but I wanted to at least share my thoughts on what just transpired.
Many Republicans and right wing supporters are currently up in arms about President Obama's speech last night, and his executive order to make some allowances to illegal immigrants in the United States. Many of the right wing supporters are saying this is illegal and that it's undemocratic. Well, we can't forget that two years ago Obama pledged to reform the immigration system, with a bill finally passing through the Senate on 27th June 2013, with a vote in favour, 68 to 32. However, when it got to the House, Speaker John Boehner refused to allow the vote on it! (There are hundreds of articles on the internet documenting this, just Google it, but for reference linked to just one.) The House didn't even get a chance to vote on immigration reform because one person, one, did not want it to happen - and now that person, Mr Boehner, is threatening action against the President.
First of all, if the Republicans really wanted a say in the matter, they should be demanding that John Boehner allow them that vote. Second, it was made clear in the speech that that isn't a way to allow millions of criminals to stay in the country, but in fact a way to allow millions of people who want the chance of a better life to "come out of the shadows" (as Obama said) and start to rebuild their lives in a country that they believed would give them the chance - otherwise, why would they have come here? Human compassion should be at the forefront here, not the right wing trying to make a point. An illegal mother who wants the best for her young children, who wants to work and pay taxes, should not be deported and given a criminal recored for trying to better herself. Young people who came here as children who were either brought here by others, or escaped here because they didn't know where else to turn, should be allowed to prove themselves now as adults, and be allowed to get on with their lives without fear of persecution. In my head, it simply doesn't make sense. Why would anyone want to stop these families from improving their lives? These people came to this country because they believed it could offer them more. They believed in America. Yet all the Republicans want to do is show how nasty and vindictive they can be. Thirdly, commentators are saying this could affect up to 5 million illegal immigrants. Let's be realistic here, the population of the United States is more than 316 million people. 5 million is just 1.58% of the entire population of the US. There are more people than that in New York City alone. Spread out across the nation, I doubt anybody who isn't directly affected by this order will notice a single change.
I'll leave it there, as I could go on about this all day, but one thing is for sure, Obama cannot be accused of inaction on this one. A bill was sent to the Senate, it passed. The bill went to the House, and it was blocked by one person. The President had to take action on this, and I absolutely believe he has done the right thing.
Dan.
Monday, 10 November 2014
Departing the UK and arriving in the US
Hello everyone,
In my last post I talked about receiving the visa package and the passport back from the embassy, so let's take a look at what happened next!
We booked my flight, and I spent my final 2 weeks in the UK getting my affairs in order and packing. I was able to check in for my flight with United 24 hours beforehand, which I attempted to do. While checking in I hit a bit of a brick wall. So, when you check in online with airlines, the U.S. requires advanced passenger information. The options are usually fairly limited, and I'm assuming United's system is probably not all too dissimilar from other airline check in systems. The options were for US Citizens, US Permanent Residents, US Visa holders or visitors. First of all, I wasn't yet a U.S. permanent resident, since I hadn't yet landed in the US and been admitted with the stamp in my passport. Second, I won't just be visiting, and of course third, I am not a citizen. So what do you chose? I decided to go for permanent resident at first, however, it asks for a green card number, which of course at this point I didn't have. The only other option I was willing to chose was visa holder. A screen pops up and the example visa it gives is actually an immigrant visa. Great, I thought! So I entered the information from the visa in my passport, which matched what it was asking for. I proceed to check in, and it tells me I can't as I need to present my documents and proof of onward travel at the airport. At this point I gave up. I did not need proof of onward travel. I had a visa in my passport that allows for the indefinite right to remain.
The following morning, after an emotional farewell to my family, I got to the airport and proceeded to the self service check in. I knew exactly what would happen, but it was a step I had to take. Same thing happens. Cannot check me in as I am a British citizen and they need proof that I will leave the U.S. with an onward flight. I called an agent over and was taken to a desk to see another agent who would manually check me in. She goes through the motions. She can clearly see the visa in my passport that I have presented to her. She follows exactly the procedure she should (she was actually very knowledgeable, for which I am grateful), and the same thing happened! It would not allow her to check me in because I have a British passport with no proof of residency (no green card) or proof of a return flight. At this point I was panicking slightly. How can their system be so stupid?! Anyway, this lady was what I would respectfully call "old school" and she obviously knew her stuff. She told me she was going to exit out of this current system and open up an old program that they used to use that was DOS based, not Windows based. She said that she knows that their old system never used to ask that sort of information and that it would check me in. She logs in, enters all my details, and voila! It worked!
At this point I have some observations about how ridiculous this setup is. So it would seem that anyone who has a visa to enter the US but is entering for the first time, and therefore does not have any proof of address, residency or otherwise, could be denied check in. I had a valid passport and visa. I would be entering with the right to remain, but it was my first entry, therefore I had no green card or otherwise at this stage. So what am I meant to do?! I surely cannot be the only person in the history of the world to enter the U.S. with any sort of visa that either gives them the right to stay, or is at least valid for some period that extends beyond the flight booking horizon. What if I'd been a student who was coming to study for two years? I would have had a valid visa, but you cannot of course book flights that far out. So then what? How do you prove that you won't outstay your visa? Needless to say it caused me more stress than I wanted on what was already a stressful enough day. As if leaving your family behind to move to another continent isn't enough to cause you to have panic attacks, being told you can't check in is about the limit. So, be warned. If you are entering the U.S. as a new immigrant you could face some difficulty checking in.
I'm curious to know what will happen once the DOS system isn't available anymore. Or what would happen if that agent hadn't have ever used it, or remembered how to use it, or couldn't log in for some reason. Then what? I sent an email to United about this and they apologised and said would forward it on to the appropriate department. How much good that will do I have no idea, but I did get 500 miles as way of apology from United, which is better than nothing.
After checking in and proceeding through security, I boarded my flight and was off to my new life! While on the flight they usually ask if up need to fill out a white entry form for visa holders. Although you will have a visa, arriving as an immigrant nullifies this. The only form you need to fill out is the customs form. Fill it out as though you were a U.S. resident already.
Upon arrival at Washington Dulles airport in Virginia (which incidentally is one of the most inefficient places I've ever had to fly through, which sadly I've had to do many times when visiting Jon), I headed to the immigration hall to find out what I had to do. The lines of course were huge, as always. The information person told me that even though I was entering on an immigrant visa, because I had not yet technically entered and got my stamp, I had to stand in the non-US line. Joy. After nearly two hours I finally got to the front of the line and I handed over my sealed envelope and passport to the officer. I have to say, she was very nice, which in brutal honesty made a refreshing change! She asked a couple of questions about who Jon was, but only very generic questions that anybody could have asked. She did the usual thing of scanning my fingerprints (which every visitor has to do entering the U.S. anyway. They probably have my prints a hundred times over by now!) and the usual photo. She opened the envelope, flicked through it, and didn't really say much about it. She told me I now had to go see a second officer who would process the documents and take more fingerprints. She stamped my passport through October 2016 (as I was entering under the CR1 category), and wished me luck and sent me on my way. I headed down to the end desk that she had directed me to, and only had to wait I literally a minute for the officer to be done with the guy in front of me. I was called up and have handed over my documents again. He again asked a few basic questions, but nothing taxing. I had to provide one physical ink print that would apparently be on my green card, and sign a form. That was it, I was good to go!
Exiting the immigration area I picked up my luggage and went to stand in the customs line. The one thing you must know is that you must go through a separate line for customs is you're an arriving immigrant, at least at Dulles. I didn't know this, and stood in the regular line, only to be told once I got to the front that I needed to go to another room. Luckily this day the line was very short, which for Dulles is amazing, but normally it is half an hour long (I've done it many times!), and so this would have annoyed me greatly if I'd waited a long time only to be told that. The secondary room has luggage scanners. Put your suitcases on, hand over your form, and if all is ok, collect your things on the other side of the scammer belt. Then that's it! You are finally free to go!
Jon and his family were waiting for me on the other side, and it was amazing to think I was finally standing there as a legal permanent resident!
Dan.
Thursday, 16 October 2014
Post-Interview Steps - Immigrant Visa Package and Fee
Hello everyone,
Following my approval at my visa interview in London on the 26th September, I had to wait for my passport to be returned to me. I was initially informed that this would take up to two weeks, however I found myself in great disbelief when I had an email from the Department of State a few days later informing me that my documents had been passed to the courier already! They will provide you with a tracking number in that email so you can see where your package is online at the website they send you. I'll be honest, I'm not exactly sure how it works if you chose to collect your documents from a depot (which is the default option unless you chose home delivery), however I would imagine you still get emailed with the specifics, otherwise there would be no way of knowing they were ready for collection.
So, my documents were delivered less than a week later, and I was now able to book my flight! Your documents will be sent (or handed over at the depot) to you in a plastic courier bag. You can open this bag, and inside you will find your passport (with the visa printed in it) along with information about how to pay the immigrant visa processing fee before arriving in the US. There will also be a large envelope in the package which contains other documents about you. This envelope states clearly on the front that you must NOT open it or tamper with it in any way. It is only to be opened by the immigration officer at the border, upon entry into the US.
As I said above, before you can travel to the US, you must visit the visa service website to pay for the processing of your immigrant visa. Only you, the immigrant, can do this. The fee is currently $165, which once converted by my bank was around £105. You can find out more information here.
Once that is paid for and you have booked your flight, you are free to travel to the US before the expiry date printed on your visa.
I'll make another post later about checking in for your flight and arriving at the US border, as there are some points worth mentioning with those.
Dan.
Following my approval at my visa interview in London on the 26th September, I had to wait for my passport to be returned to me. I was initially informed that this would take up to two weeks, however I found myself in great disbelief when I had an email from the Department of State a few days later informing me that my documents had been passed to the courier already! They will provide you with a tracking number in that email so you can see where your package is online at the website they send you. I'll be honest, I'm not exactly sure how it works if you chose to collect your documents from a depot (which is the default option unless you chose home delivery), however I would imagine you still get emailed with the specifics, otherwise there would be no way of knowing they were ready for collection.
So, my documents were delivered less than a week later, and I was now able to book my flight! Your documents will be sent (or handed over at the depot) to you in a plastic courier bag. You can open this bag, and inside you will find your passport (with the visa printed in it) along with information about how to pay the immigrant visa processing fee before arriving in the US. There will also be a large envelope in the package which contains other documents about you. This envelope states clearly on the front that you must NOT open it or tamper with it in any way. It is only to be opened by the immigration officer at the border, upon entry into the US.
As I said above, before you can travel to the US, you must visit the visa service website to pay for the processing of your immigrant visa. Only you, the immigrant, can do this. The fee is currently $165, which once converted by my bank was around £105. You can find out more information here.
Once that is paid for and you have booked your flight, you are free to travel to the US before the expiry date printed on your visa.
I'll make another post later about checking in for your flight and arriving at the US border, as there are some points worth mentioning with those.
Dan.
The Visa Interview!
Hello everyone,
So following my ordeal at the medical exam, a whole month passed and I found myself at the big day finally! Visa interview day!
Prior to attending the interview you will be required to log on to the visa service website and accept the interview and confirm the delivery option for your documents. You can chose to have them held at a specific depot "near" your home, or you can pay extra to have them home delivered by courier. I chose the courier option, as it only cost me £18, and my depot was miles away. It probably would have cost me nearly that in travel and fuel.
Jon and I had agreed that given it was such a huge day, and the fact I was likely to be a nervous wreck, that he should be in the UK. So, he booked a flight a couple of weeks before to be with me on the day. We already knew however he wouldn't be allowed in the embassy with me, but at least he could travel to London with me (which is an ordeal in itself), and be with me in line at the gate, and be waiting outside once I'm done. Then we could celebrate together, too right?...
Back to that morning, and we got up ridiculously early having not really slept well through anticipation. We got to London Charing Cross and walked the rest of the way. You have to understand, Charing Cross is at least a half hour walk at my own brisk pace (everyone always tells me I run along rather than walk), but we chose to do this in fear of getting on a tube and it breaking down or being delayed. Cautious yes, paranoid, maybe a little - but better safe than sorry, right?
We found ourselves in Grovesnor Square at about 7.15am, a full hour and fifteen minutes before my interview time - but we weren't the first ones there! There was already a line, and it started to get long after we arrived too, so bear that in mind. I'm glad we got there when we did.
A little while before the embassy opened for the first appointments of the day staff started to trickle out and set everything up. They will organise the queue line into different sections depending on your appointment time. We had to stand in a separate, second line, since my time was not until 8.30am - apparently appointments begin at 8am, so they let all those people through first. The staff at the front of the line will ask to see various documents which you must have with you. You MUST take with you:
• Your appointment confirmation - whether that is an email printout or an actual letter doesn't matter.
• Form DS260 confirmation page from the DOS website (it has barcodes on it that they scan)
• Your confirmation of your accepting the interview printed out from the visa service provider website. This is the page that basically states how your documents are to be delivered. If you have chosen home delivery it is imperative you print this page, as they will ask for it inside in order to ferry your documents once all is said and done.
Of course, any other documents may also be required, and these are specified in your appointment letter from the NVC. We had already submitted everything, and we didn't need anything else, but be aware that you may be required to take originals and/or copies of any other document, such as birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, photographs etc. Of course, you also need your passport, too, but I would assume that goes without saying!
Once the guard has admitted you to the embassy you pass through airport style security checks. You are allowed to take your mobile phone, but NOT laptops or tablets. You should definitely avoid any unnecessary hassle by minimising the items you take with you on the day. Luckily I had Jon who would wait outside, so he could take everything I didn't need. Unless agreed by special arrangement prior to your appointment, you will NOT be allowed to take anyone - even your US spouse - into the embassy with you. While waiting in line we saw several people be told that they would not be allowed entry.
Once through the security checks there are signs telling you to proceed around the side of the building. You go up some steps and enter a lobby area. Present your documents again, and the person at the desk will give you a ticket number. You'll then be directed up the stairs to the waiting area.
The waiting area basically looks like any other waiting room - it could be a hospital for all it's worth. There is a large screen that displays the ticket numbers and which window to attend to. It took well over an hour for my ticket to be called, and there were a lot of people that morning.
Once your number is called you go up to the post office style counters and the officer will proceed to ask you a series of questions and ask for some of your documents. It was here that I handed over my document delivery confirmation page. I'll be honest, I was not at the window probably even 7 or 8 minutes. The officer asked how I knew Jon, what Jon does for a living and one or two other very minor things that didn't seem that important in all honesty. He took my passport and I was told to sit back down and that I would be called again shortly.
I literally sat back down, text Jon to let him know I'd been called up, then my number was called again! This time I had to go to the next window along. The officer there informed me that this was my actual visa interview. I was told to raise my right hand and swear that I would tell the truth. I said I would, and he proceeded to ask a couple of similar questions to the first officer. Again, I was there only minutes, and the questions were nothing taxing; all very generic, "how long have you known each other", "where is Jon right now?", etc.
After the officer was apparently satisfied he turned to me and said, "Your visa application is approved. You'll get your passport back in two weeks. Good luck!" And that was literally it! I was approved! I thanked him, gathered my things and walked away from the desk in a daze! All the panic and worry that I had caused myself over this day, wondering what it would be like, what they would as, say or do - and now it was over in 10 minutes flat!
I ran outside and met with Jon, and we spent the rest of the morning wandering London having fun, in celebration of the most excellent news!
My advice to anyone is literally, do NOT panic. I got myself into such a state over this interview and it was so easy. You have to remember that you have already been approved, you have already had the medical, you have already given them everything they could possibly want about you - this is the final part so they can just meet you and check everything over one last time before giving you the visa. I know it's easy to say that in retrospect, but my lawyer kept telling me this over and over, yet I still got worked up over it. Providing you are genuine (and I hope that anyone reading this would be), then you have no reason to worry.
I'll be making another post later about the final steps after the interview, as there are a couple more things that you must do.
Dan.
So following my ordeal at the medical exam, a whole month passed and I found myself at the big day finally! Visa interview day!
Prior to attending the interview you will be required to log on to the visa service website and accept the interview and confirm the delivery option for your documents. You can chose to have them held at a specific depot "near" your home, or you can pay extra to have them home delivered by courier. I chose the courier option, as it only cost me £18, and my depot was miles away. It probably would have cost me nearly that in travel and fuel.
Jon and I had agreed that given it was such a huge day, and the fact I was likely to be a nervous wreck, that he should be in the UK. So, he booked a flight a couple of weeks before to be with me on the day. We already knew however he wouldn't be allowed in the embassy with me, but at least he could travel to London with me (which is an ordeal in itself), and be with me in line at the gate, and be waiting outside once I'm done. Then we could celebrate together, too right?...
Back to that morning, and we got up ridiculously early having not really slept well through anticipation. We got to London Charing Cross and walked the rest of the way. You have to understand, Charing Cross is at least a half hour walk at my own brisk pace (everyone always tells me I run along rather than walk), but we chose to do this in fear of getting on a tube and it breaking down or being delayed. Cautious yes, paranoid, maybe a little - but better safe than sorry, right?
We found ourselves in Grovesnor Square at about 7.15am, a full hour and fifteen minutes before my interview time - but we weren't the first ones there! There was already a line, and it started to get long after we arrived too, so bear that in mind. I'm glad we got there when we did.
A little while before the embassy opened for the first appointments of the day staff started to trickle out and set everything up. They will organise the queue line into different sections depending on your appointment time. We had to stand in a separate, second line, since my time was not until 8.30am - apparently appointments begin at 8am, so they let all those people through first. The staff at the front of the line will ask to see various documents which you must have with you. You MUST take with you:
• Your appointment confirmation - whether that is an email printout or an actual letter doesn't matter.
• Form DS260 confirmation page from the DOS website (it has barcodes on it that they scan)
• Your confirmation of your accepting the interview printed out from the visa service provider website. This is the page that basically states how your documents are to be delivered. If you have chosen home delivery it is imperative you print this page, as they will ask for it inside in order to ferry your documents once all is said and done.
Of course, any other documents may also be required, and these are specified in your appointment letter from the NVC. We had already submitted everything, and we didn't need anything else, but be aware that you may be required to take originals and/or copies of any other document, such as birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, photographs etc. Of course, you also need your passport, too, but I would assume that goes without saying!
Once the guard has admitted you to the embassy you pass through airport style security checks. You are allowed to take your mobile phone, but NOT laptops or tablets. You should definitely avoid any unnecessary hassle by minimising the items you take with you on the day. Luckily I had Jon who would wait outside, so he could take everything I didn't need. Unless agreed by special arrangement prior to your appointment, you will NOT be allowed to take anyone - even your US spouse - into the embassy with you. While waiting in line we saw several people be told that they would not be allowed entry.
Once through the security checks there are signs telling you to proceed around the side of the building. You go up some steps and enter a lobby area. Present your documents again, and the person at the desk will give you a ticket number. You'll then be directed up the stairs to the waiting area.
The waiting area basically looks like any other waiting room - it could be a hospital for all it's worth. There is a large screen that displays the ticket numbers and which window to attend to. It took well over an hour for my ticket to be called, and there were a lot of people that morning.
Once your number is called you go up to the post office style counters and the officer will proceed to ask you a series of questions and ask for some of your documents. It was here that I handed over my document delivery confirmation page. I'll be honest, I was not at the window probably even 7 or 8 minutes. The officer asked how I knew Jon, what Jon does for a living and one or two other very minor things that didn't seem that important in all honesty. He took my passport and I was told to sit back down and that I would be called again shortly.
I literally sat back down, text Jon to let him know I'd been called up, then my number was called again! This time I had to go to the next window along. The officer there informed me that this was my actual visa interview. I was told to raise my right hand and swear that I would tell the truth. I said I would, and he proceeded to ask a couple of similar questions to the first officer. Again, I was there only minutes, and the questions were nothing taxing; all very generic, "how long have you known each other", "where is Jon right now?", etc.
After the officer was apparently satisfied he turned to me and said, "Your visa application is approved. You'll get your passport back in two weeks. Good luck!" And that was literally it! I was approved! I thanked him, gathered my things and walked away from the desk in a daze! All the panic and worry that I had caused myself over this day, wondering what it would be like, what they would as, say or do - and now it was over in 10 minutes flat!
I ran outside and met with Jon, and we spent the rest of the morning wandering London having fun, in celebration of the most excellent news!
My advice to anyone is literally, do NOT panic. I got myself into such a state over this interview and it was so easy. You have to remember that you have already been approved, you have already had the medical, you have already given them everything they could possibly want about you - this is the final part so they can just meet you and check everything over one last time before giving you the visa. I know it's easy to say that in retrospect, but my lawyer kept telling me this over and over, yet I still got worked up over it. Providing you are genuine (and I hope that anyone reading this would be), then you have no reason to worry.
I'll be making another post later about the final steps after the interview, as there are a couple more things that you must do.
Dan.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
July Updates
Hello everyone,
I apologise for the lack of updates recently (again!). Life seems to be very busy and times moves too fast, and before I know it, it's the end of July and I haven't made any posts recently! Not that there is a lot to post about, sadly.
I had good intentions of posting a 4th entry, since this was the first year I was married to my American husband, which sort of in my mind made the holiday more "real" to me. As always though, it slipped my mind!
In my update from the 24th June I said that all our forms had been submitted and that we were now waiting to hear further details about my medical and interview. Since then we received some rather nondescript letters that, according to our lawyers, are standard mail-outs from the the government.
The first was a letter to say that they had "updated" my application. That's pretty much all it said, but at least they received all our documents and there were no issues. The next letter was one that I received, which was basically a printout of my details and our case number, which again, is just some standard thing they seem to do. It doesn't necessarily get us any further along, but it's some small consolation at least that someone, somewhere in the government, has looked at our file in order to generate these automatic letters.
We spoke to our lawyer yesterday, as we are growing increasingly frustrated with this epically long process, and as far as anyone knows, we should hear from the government regarding my interview "soon"... How soon that is is anybody's guess, but let's hope it's at least in the next month or two.
Once I have more, I'll be sure to update you all.
Dan.
I apologise for the lack of updates recently (again!). Life seems to be very busy and times moves too fast, and before I know it, it's the end of July and I haven't made any posts recently! Not that there is a lot to post about, sadly.
I had good intentions of posting a 4th entry, since this was the first year I was married to my American husband, which sort of in my mind made the holiday more "real" to me. As always though, it slipped my mind!
In my update from the 24th June I said that all our forms had been submitted and that we were now waiting to hear further details about my medical and interview. Since then we received some rather nondescript letters that, according to our lawyers, are standard mail-outs from the the government.
The first was a letter to say that they had "updated" my application. That's pretty much all it said, but at least they received all our documents and there were no issues. The next letter was one that I received, which was basically a printout of my details and our case number, which again, is just some standard thing they seem to do. It doesn't necessarily get us any further along, but it's some small consolation at least that someone, somewhere in the government, has looked at our file in order to generate these automatic letters.
We spoke to our lawyer yesterday, as we are growing increasingly frustrated with this epically long process, and as far as anyone knows, we should hear from the government regarding my interview "soon"... How soon that is is anybody's guess, but let's hope it's at least in the next month or two.
Once I have more, I'll be sure to update you all.
Dan.
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Update on our progress
Hello everyone,
Two weeks ago I sent off for my police certificate using the premium service (£80). Documents I needed for the police certificate were a copy of my passport, two letter addressed to me and a recent passport photo endorsed by a friend I've known for more than 2 years. The certificate came back within the week and I then sent it to our lawyers in Los Angeles.
Once the lawyers received it they then forwarded it to the National Visa Center (NVC). However, I didn't know until after the fact that I'd also need a copy to take to my medical interview eventually, so the lawyers scanned a copy and sent it to me, which I printed out.
Around the same time Jon had to fill out all the forms for the I-864 Affidavit of Support and send those along with the supporting documents to the lawyers also. Documents he needed for this included evidence of income and federal tax returns statements and IRS transcripts.
Now that everything has been submitted to the NVC, our lawyers tell us that it's literally a case of waiting for the embassy in London to contact me now with interview details!
After all we've been though in this long process, I cannot believe we are finally at the stage where I am just waiting for my medical and interview!
Once we hear any more I'll of course update here.
Dan.
Two weeks ago I sent off for my police certificate using the premium service (£80). Documents I needed for the police certificate were a copy of my passport, two letter addressed to me and a recent passport photo endorsed by a friend I've known for more than 2 years. The certificate came back within the week and I then sent it to our lawyers in Los Angeles.
Once the lawyers received it they then forwarded it to the National Visa Center (NVC). However, I didn't know until after the fact that I'd also need a copy to take to my medical interview eventually, so the lawyers scanned a copy and sent it to me, which I printed out.
Around the same time Jon had to fill out all the forms for the I-864 Affidavit of Support and send those along with the supporting documents to the lawyers also. Documents he needed for this included evidence of income and federal tax returns statements and IRS transcripts.
Now that everything has been submitted to the NVC, our lawyers tell us that it's literally a case of waiting for the embassy in London to contact me now with interview details!
After all we've been though in this long process, I cannot believe we are finally at the stage where I am just waiting for my medical and interview!
Once we hear any more I'll of course update here.
Dan.
Thursday, 5 June 2014
DS-260 submitted! Welcome to June!
Hello everyone,
Well it's now June and I can't believe how the time has flown by! I started this blog late last June when DOMA got thrown out, so it's been nearly a year now!
In that year you've seen me planning for our wedding, getting married, submit our initial petition, wait forever to get approved, followed by finally get approved and now here we are at what is nearly the end of this part of my journey!
The week before last, our lawyers filled out the DS-260 for us based on the information we had provided to them previously. We went through it and amended as necessary, and last night our lawyers informed us that it had been submitted to the government on our behalf!
Of course, last time I wrote here, we were waiting for a case number in order to submit the DS-260. What is strange is that our lawyers didn't actually inform us when we had gotten our case number, and the first we heard about it was when they emailed last night to simply say the forms had been sent. The department of state website says that the DS-260 can only be submitted with a case number, so we assume that's what's happened. I don't know why the lawyers failed to be forthcoming on this part, but so long as the job gets done then I guess it's all good!
So right now, based on a fairly good educated guess, we think we have a case number, which means that we are well on the way to the final stage of this infuriatingly long process.
At some point the lawyers will need to send in Jon's affidavit of support to the government, and once that is done then my application will sent to the US consulate in London where they will contact me with a date for my medical and my final interview. Phew!
There is one thing I need to do here in the meantime. You may recall a while ago I was worrying about police certificates for when I have my interview. Well, seeing as we are now in the final stages, today I printed out from the UK police website the form I need to send, wrote the cheque and prepared to send it. I need to get my passport photocopied though and enclose that, as well as a passport sized photo signed by someone I know.
I'll be sending it all early next week hopefully, and it should take about 2 weeks to come back to me.
One final thing. You may notice I've changed the address of this blog. It seemed to fit better in my mind, so if you have it saved anywhere remember to update your bookmarks.
Ok, I think that's everything. As always when there are further developments I'll post them here!
Dan.
Well it's now June and I can't believe how the time has flown by! I started this blog late last June when DOMA got thrown out, so it's been nearly a year now!
In that year you've seen me planning for our wedding, getting married, submit our initial petition, wait forever to get approved, followed by finally get approved and now here we are at what is nearly the end of this part of my journey!
The week before last, our lawyers filled out the DS-260 for us based on the information we had provided to them previously. We went through it and amended as necessary, and last night our lawyers informed us that it had been submitted to the government on our behalf!
Of course, last time I wrote here, we were waiting for a case number in order to submit the DS-260. What is strange is that our lawyers didn't actually inform us when we had gotten our case number, and the first we heard about it was when they emailed last night to simply say the forms had been sent. The department of state website says that the DS-260 can only be submitted with a case number, so we assume that's what's happened. I don't know why the lawyers failed to be forthcoming on this part, but so long as the job gets done then I guess it's all good!
So right now, based on a fairly good educated guess, we think we have a case number, which means that we are well on the way to the final stage of this infuriatingly long process.
At some point the lawyers will need to send in Jon's affidavit of support to the government, and once that is done then my application will sent to the US consulate in London where they will contact me with a date for my medical and my final interview. Phew!
There is one thing I need to do here in the meantime. You may recall a while ago I was worrying about police certificates for when I have my interview. Well, seeing as we are now in the final stages, today I printed out from the UK police website the form I need to send, wrote the cheque and prepared to send it. I need to get my passport photocopied though and enclose that, as well as a passport sized photo signed by someone I know.
I'll be sending it all early next week hopefully, and it should take about 2 weeks to come back to me.
One final thing. You may notice I've changed the address of this blog. It seemed to fit better in my mind, so if you have it saved anywhere remember to update your bookmarks.
Ok, I think that's everything. As always when there are further developments I'll post them here!
Dan.
Sunday, 30 March 2014
The nest step in the process and police certificates
Hello everyone,
Last night Jon and I spoke with our lawyer at Masliah and Soloway, and went through what will be happening next in the immigration process.
I want to document it all here so that we can have a clear outline of what to expect after an I-130 petition has been approved by USCIS.
Our lawyers had emailed us in the early hours of the morning, UK time, on Thursday to inform us that our approval had came in "moments ago". It was around 8pm California time, which seemed odd anyway, but it was an electronic notification, and not a postal one. Since then we have spoken to our lawyer, and he said that the postal one may not arrive for several weeks yet. This makes me wonder, had we not used a lawyer, would we still be none the wiser now? Or if we had done it ourselves would there have been an electronic notification option for us, too? All I can say is, I am glad they got notified before the paper version came!
So now we have our approval, and we can move on to the next stage with the National Visa Center. First of all this involves us filling out a worksheet for our lawyer, with all the relevant information, which will then be transferred on to the actual document. The document in question is the DS-260, which is all about me.
The process should happen something like this, providing I understood it all correctly:
Jon and I fill out the DS-260 and pay our lawyers their fee and the government fee for the National Visa Center (NVC). The current government fee is $318 (US).
In the meantime our case is being transferred by the USCIS from them to the NVC. Once it is transferred, the NVC give us a case number and requests the fee from our lawyer, and the DS-260 is submitted also.
Once the NVC has received all of this, they process it all, and in due course we will get more forms to fill out, which at this stage I understand is to do with finances for the sponsor (Jon) with an affidavit of support to say he will support me. Tax returns for the past 3 years are also required, including a tax transcript which can be obtained easily from the IRS.
When those forms have been filled out, and we have our case number, we just wait to hear from them again.
To get the case number takes up to about 8 weeks currently, according to our lawyer. Once we have the case number have submitted the second round of forms in this stage, they will let us know when they move it to the consulate. Finally, we will hear from the consulate in London, which can take from 1 to 3 months.
I know that all sounds a bit confusing, but I tried to make as clear as possible. Unfortunately, as is the nature of anything to do with the government, nothing is simple, therefore explaining it can be tricky!
At some point during all of this, though, I have to request a police certificate to take along to my interview at the end of the whole process. Getting one in the UK is simple, but last night when we spoke to the lawyer, I almost had a heart attack.
He knows that I had spent some time in Canada on a work visa, and he said that I would need a police certificate for there too, since I was there for longer than 6 months. He said it should be as simple as getting one here. Of course, it isn't. When I started looking into it, there are a number of complicated procedures involved in getting a police certificate from Canada.
First off, you have to be fingerprinted. This can be done by local police in the country where you live, and fees can be high, although they are fairly easy to get. You then have to submit them electronically with you application to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. However, they only accept electronic fingerprints! They do not accept paper prints, which is what any police station would give you. Or at least if you get digital ones you must get a print out of them, which effectively makes them paper.
So, in order to get them digitised, you have to use a company authorised to scan the print out, who are based in Canada. Thankfully, they cover all costs, except the visit to the police in your home country of course, and submit your application with the digitised prints, and send the confirmation back to you. One company we looked at charged around $200 (US) total for this service.
Of course, whilst I was having a mini stroke about all this I found myself on the US Embassy in London website, looking at the police certificate requirements.
"Police certificates are required for all countries you have lived in for more than 12 months over the age of 16 years."
Basically, I do not have to get one after all!
I emailed our lawyer back, and he said that it is indeed 12 months. Of course, that was not what Jon and I heard on our call with him, otherwise why would we have put ourselves through this stress?!
My advice here is that, if you have lived in any other country continuously for exactly 12 months or more, be prepared to have to get police certificates for all those countries, and sometimes they are not easy to get. Our lawyer told us of a case where a man had lived in the Caribbean on business for a while, and had to get one from the country he was based in. Of course, being a developing nation they had no other means of doing it except in the country itself! Yes, the man had to travel to the Caribbean to get this document! Thankfully, had I needed one from Canada, I would have just used this authorised company, and paid the $200 for them to do it for me. Not ideal, but better than flying back to Toronto!
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to try and answer them.
Have a great Sunday everyone,
Dan.
Last night Jon and I spoke with our lawyer at Masliah and Soloway, and went through what will be happening next in the immigration process.
I want to document it all here so that we can have a clear outline of what to expect after an I-130 petition has been approved by USCIS.
Our lawyers had emailed us in the early hours of the morning, UK time, on Thursday to inform us that our approval had came in "moments ago". It was around 8pm California time, which seemed odd anyway, but it was an electronic notification, and not a postal one. Since then we have spoken to our lawyer, and he said that the postal one may not arrive for several weeks yet. This makes me wonder, had we not used a lawyer, would we still be none the wiser now? Or if we had done it ourselves would there have been an electronic notification option for us, too? All I can say is, I am glad they got notified before the paper version came!
So now we have our approval, and we can move on to the next stage with the National Visa Center. First of all this involves us filling out a worksheet for our lawyer, with all the relevant information, which will then be transferred on to the actual document. The document in question is the DS-260, which is all about me.
The process should happen something like this, providing I understood it all correctly:
Jon and I fill out the DS-260 and pay our lawyers their fee and the government fee for the National Visa Center (NVC). The current government fee is $318 (US).
In the meantime our case is being transferred by the USCIS from them to the NVC. Once it is transferred, the NVC give us a case number and requests the fee from our lawyer, and the DS-260 is submitted also.
Once the NVC has received all of this, they process it all, and in due course we will get more forms to fill out, which at this stage I understand is to do with finances for the sponsor (Jon) with an affidavit of support to say he will support me. Tax returns for the past 3 years are also required, including a tax transcript which can be obtained easily from the IRS.
When those forms have been filled out, and we have our case number, we just wait to hear from them again.
To get the case number takes up to about 8 weeks currently, according to our lawyer. Once we have the case number have submitted the second round of forms in this stage, they will let us know when they move it to the consulate. Finally, we will hear from the consulate in London, which can take from 1 to 3 months.
I know that all sounds a bit confusing, but I tried to make as clear as possible. Unfortunately, as is the nature of anything to do with the government, nothing is simple, therefore explaining it can be tricky!
At some point during all of this, though, I have to request a police certificate to take along to my interview at the end of the whole process. Getting one in the UK is simple, but last night when we spoke to the lawyer, I almost had a heart attack.
He knows that I had spent some time in Canada on a work visa, and he said that I would need a police certificate for there too, since I was there for longer than 6 months. He said it should be as simple as getting one here. Of course, it isn't. When I started looking into it, there are a number of complicated procedures involved in getting a police certificate from Canada.
First off, you have to be fingerprinted. This can be done by local police in the country where you live, and fees can be high, although they are fairly easy to get. You then have to submit them electronically with you application to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. However, they only accept electronic fingerprints! They do not accept paper prints, which is what any police station would give you. Or at least if you get digital ones you must get a print out of them, which effectively makes them paper.
So, in order to get them digitised, you have to use a company authorised to scan the print out, who are based in Canada. Thankfully, they cover all costs, except the visit to the police in your home country of course, and submit your application with the digitised prints, and send the confirmation back to you. One company we looked at charged around $200 (US) total for this service.
Of course, whilst I was having a mini stroke about all this I found myself on the US Embassy in London website, looking at the police certificate requirements.
"Police certificates are required for all countries you have lived in for more than 12 months over the age of 16 years."
Basically, I do not have to get one after all!
I emailed our lawyer back, and he said that it is indeed 12 months. Of course, that was not what Jon and I heard on our call with him, otherwise why would we have put ourselves through this stress?!
My advice here is that, if you have lived in any other country continuously for exactly 12 months or more, be prepared to have to get police certificates for all those countries, and sometimes they are not easy to get. Our lawyer told us of a case where a man had lived in the Caribbean on business for a while, and had to get one from the country he was based in. Of course, being a developing nation they had no other means of doing it except in the country itself! Yes, the man had to travel to the Caribbean to get this document! Thankfully, had I needed one from Canada, I would have just used this authorised company, and paid the $200 for them to do it for me. Not ideal, but better than flying back to Toronto!
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to try and answer them.
Have a great Sunday everyone,
Dan.
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Approval!
Hello everyone,
At 3am UK time today, Jon and I received an email from our lawyer at Masliah and Soloway, titled' GOOD NEWS'.
As you are all aware, Jon and I have been waiting since September to be approved by the USCIS in order to move on to the next stage of the immigration process. Initially we expected this to take around 3 months, but because of a large government backlog, it has ended up taking SIX. To say we have been on edge waiting for that notification everyday would be a massive understatement!
The email we got this morning informed us that "moments ago", LA time (UK -7 hours currently), their office received our approval notice for the immigration petition! After 6 agonising months, our application has finally been accepted! Of course this doesn't mean it's all over. But it's a start...
From here, our newly approved application is moved from the USCIS in Los Angeles to the National Visa Center (NVC) in New Hampshire where they will assign us a case number. This takes up to 8 weeks. Once we have a case number, we are required to fill out some more forms, and return them. Once the NVC receives these forms, they review our case and forward it to the consulate in the UK.
For now, we have work with our lawyer to gather all the information required by the NVC, so that once we receive our case number in about 8 weeks time, there is no delay and we can submit everything immediately.
At this moment in time that's about all the details I know. Once we start filling out these documents, I'll post more here, continuing my quest to document these procedures, in the hope that it helps someone!
Even if we still have a ways to go yet, to know that after 6 very long months we are finally able to start moving along is a huge relief.
Have a great day everyone,
Dan.
At 3am UK time today, Jon and I received an email from our lawyer at Masliah and Soloway, titled' GOOD NEWS'.
As you are all aware, Jon and I have been waiting since September to be approved by the USCIS in order to move on to the next stage of the immigration process. Initially we expected this to take around 3 months, but because of a large government backlog, it has ended up taking SIX. To say we have been on edge waiting for that notification everyday would be a massive understatement!
The email we got this morning informed us that "moments ago", LA time (UK -7 hours currently), their office received our approval notice for the immigration petition! After 6 agonising months, our application has finally been accepted! Of course this doesn't mean it's all over. But it's a start...
From here, our newly approved application is moved from the USCIS in Los Angeles to the National Visa Center (NVC) in New Hampshire where they will assign us a case number. This takes up to 8 weeks. Once we have a case number, we are required to fill out some more forms, and return them. Once the NVC receives these forms, they review our case and forward it to the consulate in the UK.
For now, we have work with our lawyer to gather all the information required by the NVC, so that once we receive our case number in about 8 weeks time, there is no delay and we can submit everything immediately.
At this moment in time that's about all the details I know. Once we start filling out these documents, I'll post more here, continuing my quest to document these procedures, in the hope that it helps someone!
Even if we still have a ways to go yet, to know that after 6 very long months we are finally able to start moving along is a huge relief.
Have a great day everyone,
Dan.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Our First I-797C Notice of Action Received!
Hello everyone,
Apologies for the lack of posts recently. Jon and I have both been at work full time, and really, there hasn't been much happening, besides something that arrived yesterday...
Last Monday (8 days ago) we finally filed our petition with the US immigration services. We would have had it filed at the end of the week before, except our lawyers for some reason told us they hadn't received everything (although they had...).
Anyway, despite the short delay of a couple of days, the petition was filed, and yesterday, a week to the day of filing, we received our first official document from the government!
The I-797C Notice of Action arrived to say our petition had been received!
Of course, at this point, it's just an acknowledgement, but all the same, it's exciting to know the ball is now in motion!
I have attached a picture below of the actual notice, blocking out Jon's address, Jon and I's dates of birth, and our receipt numbers and barcodes, for security reasons. Click to view larger image.
We can only hope that the rest of the process goes as quickly now!
Dan.
Apologies for the lack of posts recently. Jon and I have both been at work full time, and really, there hasn't been much happening, besides something that arrived yesterday...
Last Monday (8 days ago) we finally filed our petition with the US immigration services. We would have had it filed at the end of the week before, except our lawyers for some reason told us they hadn't received everything (although they had...).
Anyway, despite the short delay of a couple of days, the petition was filed, and yesterday, a week to the day of filing, we received our first official document from the government!
The I-797C Notice of Action arrived to say our petition had been received!
Of course, at this point, it's just an acknowledgement, but all the same, it's exciting to know the ball is now in motion!
I have attached a picture below of the actual notice, blocking out Jon's address, Jon and I's dates of birth, and our receipt numbers and barcodes, for security reasons. Click to view larger image.
We can only hope that the rest of the process goes as quickly now!
Dan.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Confirmation of applications being accepted
Hello everyone,
Some good news today, as US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano confirmed that with immediate effect the US immigration services were accepting same sex bi-national applications.
Although we knew this had already started, it's good to have official confirmation from the government!
It's also been confirmed (it had been suspected that this would be the case), that couples residing in States that do not recognise same sex marriages will still be able to file, providing they married in a place where the union was legal.
Attached below are two images confirming this news, courtesy of The DOMA Project.
Dan.
Some good news today, as US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano confirmed that with immediate effect the US immigration services were accepting same sex bi-national applications.
Although we knew this had already started, it's good to have official confirmation from the government!
It's also been confirmed (it had been suspected that this would be the case), that couples residing in States that do not recognise same sex marriages will still be able to file, providing they married in a place where the union was legal.
Attached below are two images confirming this news, courtesy of The DOMA Project.
Dan.
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Clarification on the newly approved green card applications
Hello everyone,
Yesterday I posted that same sex bi-national couples have started receiving their approval notices from the US immigration services.
I made the comment that these must have been ones submitted before DOMA was thrown out.
I did some looking around the internet, and I posted in some Facebook groups, and it seems - from what I can tell - I was right.
Now, in the process of me asking around I had some very 'off' replies from people who claimed that they don't see my point, and that they "didn't have anything to lose" at that point when they filed.
I'm no immigration expert by any means, but it was a risk, and they did have something to lose.
When you enter the US on a visa waiver or tourist visa, they ask you if you have ever been denied entry into the US.
I realise this doesn't necessarily translate to "have you ever been denied a green card application?", but I would not want to fly to DC, turn up at the border, and be told to go back home. They can ban you from the country for 5 years for that.
Maybe I'm missing the point. I don't know. But it does seem that these people took a huge risk.
It's bad enough being separated by distances as it is, let alone not being allowed into the country!
If you are currently in a situation like Jon and I, where you are about to file or waiting until you get some better legal advice, just make sure you research all the facts first.
The outcome is the most important thing, and you don't want to mess it up!
Dan.
Yesterday I posted that same sex bi-national couples have started receiving their approval notices from the US immigration services.
I made the comment that these must have been ones submitted before DOMA was thrown out.
I did some looking around the internet, and I posted in some Facebook groups, and it seems - from what I can tell - I was right.
Now, in the process of me asking around I had some very 'off' replies from people who claimed that they don't see my point, and that they "didn't have anything to lose" at that point when they filed.
I'm no immigration expert by any means, but it was a risk, and they did have something to lose.
When you enter the US on a visa waiver or tourist visa, they ask you if you have ever been denied entry into the US.
I realise this doesn't necessarily translate to "have you ever been denied a green card application?", but I would not want to fly to DC, turn up at the border, and be told to go back home. They can ban you from the country for 5 years for that.
Maybe I'm missing the point. I don't know. But it does seem that these people took a huge risk.
It's bad enough being separated by distances as it is, let alone not being allowed into the country!
If you are currently in a situation like Jon and I, where you are about to file or waiting until you get some better legal advice, just make sure you research all the facts first.
The outcome is the most important thing, and you don't want to mess it up!
Dan.
Saturday, 29 June 2013
BREAKING! Same Sex Green Cards applications have begun being approved!!
Hello everyone,
Breaking news across the internet this afternoon is that bi-national couples have already started receiving the official notifications from the immigration services that their green card applications have been approved!
This is quite remarkable since Section 3 of DOMA was only thrown out on Wednesday!
I doubt these are new applications, since that would be way too quick - these are probably ones put on hold that were filed by people before DOMA was thrown out.
It had been in the news that pending the outcome of DOMA, applications were being held, instead of being denied.
Honestly, it is amazing for those folks that this is now happening, but I would not have taken the risk of a visa denial in the event of an unfavourable DOMA ruling.
It's bad enough that Jon and I are in the present situation, let alone being banned from entering the US or something because of a bad visa application!
We've gone through too much to experience that!
So although now a happy result, those people were taking a huge risk!
Just my thoughts.
Dan.
Breaking news across the internet this afternoon is that bi-national couples have already started receiving the official notifications from the immigration services that their green card applications have been approved!
This is quite remarkable since Section 3 of DOMA was only thrown out on Wednesday!
I doubt these are new applications, since that would be way too quick - these are probably ones put on hold that were filed by people before DOMA was thrown out.
It had been in the news that pending the outcome of DOMA, applications were being held, instead of being denied.
Honestly, it is amazing for those folks that this is now happening, but I would not have taken the risk of a visa denial in the event of an unfavourable DOMA ruling.
It's bad enough that Jon and I are in the present situation, let alone being banned from entering the US or something because of a bad visa application!
We've gone through too much to experience that!
So although now a happy result, those people were taking a huge risk!
Just my thoughts.
Dan.
Friday, 28 June 2013
Helpful DOMA Q&A Sheet
Hello everyone,
This extremely useful fact sheet was just compiled and posted online by a collaboration of equal rights groups, including Immigration Equality (a site I had previously recommended).
It may answer a lot of questions you have.
You can click the highlighted links below to go to the full sized page.
Dan.
This extremely useful fact sheet was just compiled and posted online by a collaboration of equal rights groups, including Immigration Equality (a site I had previously recommended).
It may answer a lot of questions you have.
You can click the highlighted links below to go to the full sized page.
Dan.
18, and one more makes 19!
Hello everyone,
I was pondering how many of you out there might be in a similar situation as Jon and I, with being a bi-national same sex couple.
It made me wonder how many lives across the globe were affected by hurtful immigration policies.
To my knowledge (and I could be wrong), but before the historic decision in the US this week, only 18 countries allowed sponsorship for same sex couples. Now, with the death of DOMA in the newly liberated USA, there are 19 countries that allow it.
That really isn't a lot.
As far as I know the countries that allow sponsorship are:
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Israel
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
The United Kingdom
and now the United States
If I've missed a country off of the list, please let me know.
Of course, if you've read my first entry on this blog, you'll know the UK just made it a lot more difficult, not just for same sex couples, but all bi-national couples as a whole.
If at least one of you isn't in one of those countries listed above, how do you cope?
Despite the new financial rules, at least Jon and I had some hope because I am from the UK.
Dan.
I was pondering how many of you out there might be in a similar situation as Jon and I, with being a bi-national same sex couple.
It made me wonder how many lives across the globe were affected by hurtful immigration policies.
To my knowledge (and I could be wrong), but before the historic decision in the US this week, only 18 countries allowed sponsorship for same sex couples. Now, with the death of DOMA in the newly liberated USA, there are 19 countries that allow it.
That really isn't a lot.
As far as I know the countries that allow sponsorship are:
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Israel
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
The United Kingdom
and now the United States
If I've missed a country off of the list, please let me know.
Of course, if you've read my first entry on this blog, you'll know the UK just made it a lot more difficult, not just for same sex couples, but all bi-national couples as a whole.
If at least one of you isn't in one of those countries listed above, how do you cope?
Despite the new financial rules, at least Jon and I had some hope because I am from the UK.
Dan.
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