Immigration update

[Enchantra]

For those of you who have sen this on Google+ or Facebook this will be old news..

So we have good news...
The Immigration interview for Peter's Green card is July 28th.  And Immigration did something unexpected - they moved our interview locations and changed it to Phoenix instead of making us go to Seattle.  Peter and I both got relief in that.  One less plane flight to worry about.

Then Peter got in the mail his US Employment Authorization Card that will allow him to work anywhere.  So Peter is on his way now to being an authorized "permanent resident alien."  This card also shows him as authorized to finally leave the country and re-enter, which means we can go see his family in Canada now.

So this process is almost done.  Amen! 

Apparently all the extra paperwork we sent them was enough to make them realize he didn't need a sponsor.  Originally they were denying him his Green Card till he could prove he earned enough as I currently don't have a job, and if he didn't earn enough he had to have a sponsor.   He's here legally on a work visa, paying taxes to the US Government and married to a US Citizen and they were still going to deny it to him simply because I am not working...Can you believe that?   

Thankfully that is all taken care of now.  Now that we know the Immigration Interview is July 28th, Peter is going to see what he is pre-approved for in a mortgage and then we can finally buy a house.   

[itsandbits1]

congratulations for the good news!!!
hope it is allmost done...

[liz]

That is wonderful! I pray that the interview goes well and everything you've hoped for comes true.

liz

[Charles]

Great news . Glad to see it moving along. I know both of you will be glad when it is over with.

[Ajo]

I am so glad that things are coming along. Good luck with the interview. I am sure it will go well. Eric(Ajo)

[mehoose]

Awesome news! 

[lithicbeads]

Very good news. Now you can get on with your life. Have fun!

[Enchantra]

Thanks everyone.
Yes it is a relief for Peter.  When we got the notice of the interview I watched him visibly relax and he took a deep sigh.  This whole immigration mess has had him on edge now for months.  He was so afraid that they were going to deny him his greencard and tell him he had to return to Canada.  No amount of trying to assuage his fears has helped until that letter came through.  Granted he still is worried about the whole matter, just not as much as before.  Now that we see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's been a lot less stressful.  It's certainly helped our married life too.  He's been more affectionate since getting the notice.  It's like he was afraid to get to close out of fear of what might happen with the whole process.   

He has lawyers he works with through his employer that help him with immigration matters.  We had an appointment back on Thursday morning via the phone and the lawyer had a conference call that ran over time with another case and the receptionist lied to us and said she was out of the office.  So the lawyer rebooked the appointment and we tried again Friday morning, and this time the receptionist (who I don't have a high opinion of) had us on hold five minutes and then said to us, "The lawyer is unavailable can I take a message?"  Peter and I just looked at each other as we had a scheduled appointment for a conference call.  So we're trying this again on Monday I believe.  The reason for this conference call is to rehearse and learn the questions we will be asked in the immigration interview and learn the responses we should give.  What upsets Peter about these missed appointments is that both days it caused him to go to work late.  The lawyer's office hours are 11AM - 7PM EST.  Our appt on Thursday was for 8AM (11AM EST)and on Friday 8:30AM.  Peter often works till 5PM, which means it would be 8PM EST.  So these are the only times he can do these appointments are in the morning.   

I'm going to give the lawyer a piece of my mind regarding her receptionist too.     The receptionist when you are on the phone with her, speaks to fast to be understood half the time, isn't exactly polite either on the phone.  I understand it's a lawyer's office, but there's no need for abruptness and certainly no need to lie either.  All she had to say was, "The lawyer is currently on a call with another client.  I will let her know that you have called in for your appointment and I will have her contact you as soon as she is done with the current client."  Simple, easy, no lies, no excuses.  What doesn't help is we don't think the messages the receptionist is taking down are getting to the lawyer in a timely fashion either. 

[Bentiron]

In my mind lawyers a  one step below used car salesmen, not they are not nice people at times but they work on a whole different level of ethics than the rest of society. They are not like normal folk when it comes to interaction with the world. Remember good old Bill C., "I did not have sex with.....", they look at every word and see how it applies to the law, say "good morning" to one and right off they are looking for a legal definition of "good" and the one for "morning" and then the two words together and what the implications are if they answer "yes" or if the answer "no" and if there is a law suit in there and a chance for them to make money with billable hours. They are just strange folks, really strange.

[Enchantra]

I don't have a high opinion of lawyers either Bentiron, but right now if they can help us nail the immigration interview I'm going to go with it.  I don't want to end up separated from the man I love.  Granted I don't understand the problems we've been having - he's not here illegally, he's not from some country known for terrorist activity, he's not wanted by Interpol for anything, he isn't a militia member, he's not trafficking drugs/people/stolen goods.  He's a law abiding hard working person.  Criminy, just give him his Green Card...

[Bentiron]

See! That's the problem, he's radical, he works hard! What is this country coming to, letting in hard working individuals, this will never fly, ship him back to where  he came from so that company can hire a lazy person and then fire them so they can go on unemployment for a year or so. Geez, what is the matter with him, working hard, that'll never fly here!!!

[Enchantra]

Or Bentiron, I could rant a bit but I don't feel this forum is the place for ranting.  I've been so frustrated and stressed by this whole immigration process on top of my illness, dealing with Peter's depression as well, and health problems with family members I just want to sit down and cry at times.

[Rockoteer]

Bentiron, I could rant a bit but I don't feel this forum is the place for ranting.

I don't think it is either.  I have two very good friends that are "Lawyers" and are extremely nice. 

Sorry....lost my head.....

[Alvin]

it is good to hear that good things happen to good people. wish you the very best.

[Enchantra]

Thanks Alvin.   

Gary - I was going to rant about the immigration system and how screwed up it is.  However I just don't feel this forum is the place for it.
The fact we need a lawyer for the immigration process just shows how messed up it really is.