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This is a timeline of our journey to Luz's visa to come to
America so we can get married. Before we could even start on a visa we
had to get Luz an annulment from her first marriage. In the Philippines
divorce is not allowed so the only way to end a marriage is either death
or a court ordered annulment. They make annulments as expensive and
difficult as possible in order to discourage couples breaking up. Luz was
married when she was 19 and the marriage lasted 9 years. Her husband was
a heavy drinker and didn't support the family so the marriage fell apart.
Since annulments were only available to the wealthy they just separated.
When Luz and I decided to get married my first task was was to obtain her
annulment. Luz hired a lawyer and began the process. I won't go into the
details of that but suffice it to say it took two years and many
thousands of dollars. Her annulment was final in February of 2006. This
is where our visa story begins. 02-15-2006 Luz gets her final annulment
judgment.
02-25-2006 I get the signed papers from Luz needed for the
petition.
03-01-2006 Lawyer gets all our paperwork.
03-10-2006 Fiancé
visa application is sent.
03-13-2006 Petition received by the Nebraska
service center.
03-14-2006 Petition entered into system and NOA1
issued.
06-01-2006 Case is transferred to the California Service
Center.
06-29-2006 Lawyer received an RFE (request for evidence)
regarding the IMBRA law.
06-30-2006 Sent IMBRA RFE to the CSC via
priority mail.
07-03-2006 Received notice that the CSC got my IMBRA RFE.
09-07-2006 Petition approved by the CSC.
10-10-2006 NVC gets our petition.
10-12-2006 NVC
sends our petition to Manila.
10-14-2006 Manila
gets our case.
01-22-2007 Luz and Robin have the
medical exam.
02-15-2007 Interview day!!!!
02-23-2007 Visas in hand!!!!
04-06-2007 Luz and Robin arrive in America!!
Luz and Robins Adjustment of Status story
Now that Luz and Robin are here we must start on the work
needed to allow them to stay. Luz arrived on a K-1 fiancé visa. Robin has
a K-2 visa, which is a derivative of Luz's visa. In order for them to
remain in the USA legally we must adjust their status from non-immigrant
to Legal Permanent Residents (LPR). Step one is to get married! After
that we file forms to request their Adjustment Of Status (AOS). After the
forms are filed they will be given an appointment for their biometrics.
They will have their fingerprints and pictures taken for the records.
Then we may or may not have an interview. After everything has been done
and it is approved Luz and Robin will get their "green cards" and become
LPR's. Their first card will be good for 2 years after our wedding day.
At that point we will apply for the Removal Of Conditions so they are
permanently allowed to stay in the USA.
04-23-2007 Our wedding day!!
06-23-2007 Luz and Robins Adjustment of Status (AOS) papers are mailed.
06-25-2007 The Chicago "lock box" received our forms.
07-02-2007 NOA1
07-25-2007 Biometrics appointment
11-01-2007 Interview day for green-card! APPROVED!!!!
The interview went without a hitch. The CO said that
everything was fine and we should expect the cards to arrive in the mail
within 2 weeks!! No more USCIS for 2 years when we apply to remove
conditions!!! YAY!!! |
