tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634066653187042542024-03-05T06:56:03.137-08:00Ring-a-Ding-DingRachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-82471517872518534972019-01-03T16:28:00.000-08:002019-01-03T16:28:14.756-08:00There IS justice! Finally!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J64CO2P6Kh23e_5iIHWEOrVCBXFEI3feCIzCQJ3MlEpPA2o-i0nHWw5VbL_3AhTwNUvQ7BW4GHUP5jSVGuAj4c7PrHjFhuJQQs4KM2136HojWIr-GVU0Q8DChMekBsg79p4IsVj5mXQ5/s1600/IMG_20190103_112120287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J64CO2P6Kh23e_5iIHWEOrVCBXFEI3feCIzCQJ3MlEpPA2o-i0nHWw5VbL_3AhTwNUvQ7BW4GHUP5jSVGuAj4c7PrHjFhuJQQs4KM2136HojWIr-GVU0Q8DChMekBsg79p4IsVj5mXQ5/s320/IMG_20190103_112120287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is our last picture together as an American/Taiwanese couple! </div>
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Just left to go to Detroit to take his citizenship oath. No cell phones were allowed in the courthouse so most of these pictures are poor quality.</div>
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Here's the outside of the courthouse. We were freezing today.</div>
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First you had to go through security and then give up your green card plus ceremony notice to an officer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0T0EJEasCW24_3LHKniAAzX3EAAPpj0pkdqdU1_qtZQffBRvzwdFhyphenhypheniJWavpR09qAPfFcRzPKsX2hJ3J1f9_5seGlRWxvZDN1XZ1aEUUvD01P0hIzppqw4gqjr5AKfRJXh_fjl9PingcH/s1600/DSCN3168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0T0EJEasCW24_3LHKniAAzX3EAAPpj0pkdqdU1_qtZQffBRvzwdFhyphenhypheniJWavpR09qAPfFcRzPKsX2hJ3J1f9_5seGlRWxvZDN1XZ1aEUUvD01P0hIzppqw4gqjr5AKfRJXh_fjl9PingcH/s320/DSCN3168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was a while to wait before the ceremony began.</div>
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The judge had everyone say the pledge of allegiance, gave a speech, </div>
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and then everyone repeated the oath together.</div>
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Oath-taking</div>
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Each new citizen was called up to receive a certificate of citizenship.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqgD-zNReeF5Aaxj_Lb4D3V19bfHfNqMomOYYTcHyK0AG53mWNhw4YCv2ezMJ8egq-YtHCtvykJJ7H13t1bh2MPlxiyT0npONqR97h7ECNjj_83_GcHaYFJduFTNxiCptLu5q35b7a2BE/s1600/Screenshot+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqgD-zNReeF5Aaxj_Lb4D3V19bfHfNqMomOYYTcHyK0AG53mWNhw4YCv2ezMJ8egq-YtHCtvykJJ7H13t1bh2MPlxiyT0npONqR97h7ECNjj_83_GcHaYFJduFTNxiCptLu5q35b7a2BE/s320/Screenshot+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look at how happy he is!!!</div>
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Then came the mad dash across the street to apply for his passport before the office closed. We didn't want to have to drive all this way again and applying at this specific office was better than through the post office because they don't keep your certificate afterwards.<br />
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We didn't have a chance to take more pictures outside with our cell phones because it was dark by the time we got back home. I'm SO proud of my baobei. It was a long, tough road but we got through it together and finally got the justice we deserved.Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-91175846555230031442019-01-03T16:11:00.000-08:002019-01-03T16:11:06.407-08:00No Lawyer Detroit Interview Experience for I-751 and N-400 (The Good the Bad and the Ugly)Here is the full story of our experience. I wanted to wait until Albert finally had citizenship before posting:<br />
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Our I-751 petition to remove conditions from Albert's green card had been pending for 1 year and 7 months and our N-400 application for citizenship has been pending for 200 days. In mid November 2018 we went to the Detroit USCIS office for his first N-400 interview. The experience was not pleasant for us because I was not allowed to sit in on the interview and during the questioning he felt like the officer was treating him like a criminal. She made him feel uncomfortable that he couldn't remember the exact date he was drafted into the military without looking at his records, for example. Now that seems to me a tiny, unnecessary detail that does not pertain to whether or not we have a bona fide marriage and fulfilled all the requirements (which we have). He passed the civics and English tests with what should have been flying colors, but the officer didn't accept some of his answers even though they were considered correct in the official civics test preparation booklet USCIS had given him. At the end she told him she could not make a decision on his citizenship because his I-751 was still pending.<br />
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Now I was waiting outside staring at the door where he went in, ready to jump up and ask the results or argue against any unfairness. As soon as he came out I saw him smiling and chatting with the officer so I no longer felt so worried. I asked him what happened and the officer hurriedly disappeared before he could tell me that she couldn't make a decision. I wanted to wait until she eventually would come back out and demand for an explanation. Why couldn't she make a decision now on both the I-751 and N-400 together, which is commonly done?<br />
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Eventually we cooled down and decided it was best to leave it be and not aggravate the situation. What followed was a few anxious and depressed weeks of us second guessing the evidence for our case and what was to come. Then we received a letter addressed to both of us for a follow up N-400 interview. We couldn't understand why he didn't just get an approval letter. Was there something wrong with our applications? Basically we prepared for the worst: a Stokes interview where we would get separated and grilled on the same questions to see if we could give the same answers. I even got a consultation with a lawyer, and found out we did indeed fulfill all the requirements and needed to provide evidence from the<b> entire time</b> we were in the US since entering on his conditional green card. That piece of information was really important for us as we were asked to provide all that evidence in the upcoming appointment.<br />
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So I gathered and organized all of our evidence into the following categories:<br />
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<li>I-751 application materials</li>
<li>N-400 application materials</li>
<li>Evidence that we've lived together for the entire time</li>
<li>Evidence that we joined our finances</li>
<li>Evidence of a bona fide marriage</li>
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Then we collected a bunch of sample Stokes interview questions and practiced them together like we were cramming for a test. Despite the fact that we have a bona fide marriage some of the questions were ridiculous and you can't expect every couple to pay attention to the same details. For example, we never needed to count the number of doors and windows to our house before this and we got different answers the first time we tried because one of us forgot a door. We also don't pay attention to the color of each other's toothbrushes enough to remember whose is whose unless we look at them. Not every couple is cookie cutter, which seemed contrary to the officer's expectations during the interview as well. </div>
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So we arrived for the follow up appointment and thankfully I was allowed to enter the same room as my husband this time to overhear/participate in the interview. Although I still found her to be unpleasant we both agreed she seemed to treat us much better this time. She first asked for evidence that we have lived together and I pulled out each document for her. For some reason she couldn't properly read the time period on one of my bank statements and questioned it as being the latest one, even though it was clearly stated on there. She then asked us individual questions next to each other. This is what I can remember:</div>
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<li>How did you meet?</li>
<li>Did your parents attend your wedding?</li>
<li>When are you going to have kids?</li>
<li>What is your annual income?</li>
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The last question was directed at me, and I am mathematically challenged and (thus) do not handle the finances. So I tried to calculate it out loud for her since we have multiple sources of income. She easily became frustrated in my lack of ability to convert how much I get paid an hour to how much I get paid a month and asked what was on our tax records. I had to explain to her that it was not time to file for taxes this year. (Did she not know that?) "Tell me your income for last year," she said. Since I'm not the one who files our taxes I said I'd have to look at my records. "Well I can just pull it up too," she shot back at me. So I said, "I'm sorry I don't want to guess" and told her that Albert would know. Then she literally tsked at me in exasperation. (The nerve!) So I apologized again and defended our choice to have him handle the finances. </div>
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Then she asked for evidence of our marriage BEFORE entering the US on his conditional green card. This is definitely not normal practice according to the lawyer I had consulted with and also confirmed with after the interview. The officer also said we have a harder burden of proof since we are applying for citizenship after 3 years (which is recommended for spousal citizenship) instead of 5 years (for other modes of citizenship). NOT TRUE AGAIN according to my research, the USCIS website and the same lawyer. I didn't call her out for that but I did contradict her on asking for proof of our lives before the US. "If I had known I would have gathered even more evidence for her," I said. Albert also did a good job of pointing out that that evidence would have all been in Chinese anyways. Luckily, I brought our collection of pictures that we had already submitted with our I-751 (had she not looked at them already?!) along with albums of our weddings plus guestbooks from the receptions. She seemed to really accept this evidence more readily than the documents I gave her for the rest of our case. I had my hair cut short at the beginning of our relationship and she said it helped to see it grow longer. She also pointed out that she could tell we were much younger in the earlier pictures. Not a compliment but I was willing to suffer that insult for our cause. </div>
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She asked us a few questions about the pictures- like "Who is this?" etc. Then she said she would look over all of our evidence in detail and make a decision later. I really wanted to offer to sit with her to answer any questions while she does go over the evidence and hear her decision in person, but I didn't. She said we would get a notice in the mail and that <b>if </b>we were approved we would get an invitation for an oath ceremony. Then a few sentences later she said casually, "You<b>'ll</b> get an invitation in the mail." Hoping that was a Freudian slip, we were confident upon leaving and she chatted with us on our way out like we were friends. Maybe that meant she wasn't such an unpleasant person in real life, or maybe it was a tactic to avoid any backlash if we were unsatisfied with the experience. I wonder what happens when an applicant knows they failed the interview- how do they walk out with the officer then? </div>
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The rest of the day and for the next few after that we felt angry and resentful at being interrogated and having to defend our relationship. I was still smarting at her attitude to the income answer. I kept looking up more peoples' experiences and found an app that will check our case status four times a day and give you alerts when it changes. Despite setting it up on my phone I kept compulsively checking every day manually. A little over a week later his N-400 showed that an oath ceremony is being scheduled, and a few days after that his I-751 showed that it was approved. We received a letter confirmation of his green card being made soon after and are still waiting for the N-400 notice. </div>
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What I've learned from this experience and suggestions I wish I had from the beginning: (This is not legal advice so don't try to sue me)</div>
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<ul>
<li>Put both of your names on everything you can- bills, leases, etc. even if only one of you handles finances</li>
<li>Make sure you always have joint health insurance, and never get Medicaid</li>
<li>Update all of your accounts every time you change your address (and change it with USCIS on time)</li>
<li> If you can do it, don't move at all from the time you have your conditional green card to the time you take your oath of citizenship. It saves a lot of headache with evidence and you won't have to memorize the exact dates you moved.</li>
<li>Similarly, if you can avoid leaving the US during that time it will save a lot of trouble as well</li>
<li>Take tons of pictures and make sure you change physically somehow throughout that time. </li>
<li>If your case is straightforward you most likely won't need a lawyer (saved a <b>ton</b> of money with that!)</li>
<li>Finally, I wish we had kids to support our case. The officer expected we would have kids in the future, which is an unfair assumption for all couples. </li>
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Things I wish the US would change about the spousal citizenship process:</div>
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<ul>
<li>The costs need to be lowered immensely. We spent over $2,000 in fees to USCIS alone.</li>
<li>The Affidavit of Support financial burden is ridiculous. We were not yet allowed to move to the US and were making enough money with our overseas jobs to qualify, but overseas salaries are not recognized. I can see how some people could take advantage of the system and abuse welfare after coming to the US but since there is a push to reject any Medicaid users for citizenship I doubt many people will apply for any welfare anymore. </li>
<li>If we are paying an agency that much money to consider our cases there should be better service. The waiting times are way too long and you should be able to call the exact officer working on your case. Instead of hiring countless unhelpful phone handlers for the general USCIS line they should hire more officers to actually work on cases.</li>
<li>Innocent until proven guilty should apply to immigration applicants. We provided a plethora of evidence showing we fulfilled the requirements and still we felt treated with suspicion and animosity at our interviews.</li>
<li>Stokes interviews should not use ridiculous questions and expect every couple to be the same. Not everyone is good at memorizing dates and numbers (points to self). If you aren't comfortable with certain information you should be allowed to reference an official document, and you shouldn't be antagonized for saying you don't know.</li>
<li>Finally, the English "tests" should be revamped and improved by someone with an expertise in TESOL or language learning. Asking someone to read a sentence out loud or write a sentence they hear is not a valid representation of that person's language abilities. One chance to get it right is unfair. In addition, officers untrained in TESOL shouldn't be given the power to make a personal judgement of someone's speaking abilities. With that you are relying on someone's intuition, and this is a person who is looking for and perhaps wanting you to fail. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<br />Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-9246080038582936042018-12-17T14:08:00.002-08:002019-01-03T16:06:15.748-08:00Tally of Time and Money Spent on Spousal Citizenship<b id="docs-internal-guid-9ee45591-7fff-f2e8-5c5d-1b56f1ae4397" style="font-weight: normal;">UPDATED***</b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;">I was really curious after my last entry about how much time and money we've been required to spend so far on Albert's path to citizenship. This is what we can remember:</b><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4dd0090e-7fff-c7b5-4cd7-008a5ae62134"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-f4d129bf-7fff-32ba-6200-18dd5594ba22"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-36b8a38c-7fff-4feb-53ac-1bbcd417314e"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; width: 540pt;"><colgroup><col width="*"></col><col width="*"></col><col width="*"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fee (in USD)</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Time Duration</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For the US government </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to check to make sure I </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was single before getting married</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$50</span></div>
</td><td rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 day</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For the TW government </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to verify this check</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$12.50</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I-130 form for green card</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$535</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">6 months</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I-864 form Affidavit of Support</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">~$400*</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 year 2 months</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biometrics</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$85</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 day</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Interview at American Institute</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">0</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 day</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Receiving the green card in </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the mail after entering the US</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">0</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 month 2 weeks</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Waiting to be eligible to file I-751</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">0</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2 years</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I-751 form to remove </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">conditions from green card</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$595</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 year 7 months</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biometrics</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$85</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 day</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">N-400 application for citizenship</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$640</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">200 days</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biometrics</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">$85</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 day</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Waiting for Oath Ceremony</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Applying for a US passport </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">at the ceremony</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">0</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">$205</span></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">1 week 6 days</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Total</b></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">$2,492.50</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>5 years 3 months 33 weeks 1 day</b></span></div>
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</div>
<br />
This does not count money spent on postage for each application and gas spent going to biometrics and interview appointments<br />
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<br />
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*I wrote in a previous entry that we had to spend this much but when I checked the USCIS website they said there is no fee if you submit it to the Department of State abroad. Somehow this was not applicable to our case back then.Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-70506948289190025412018-12-17T13:14:00.001-08:002018-12-17T13:14:34.043-08:00Update: I-751 and N-400 approved!Our I-751 petition to remove conditions from Albert's green card had been pending for 1 year and 7 months and our N-400 application for citizenship has been pending for 200 days. In mid November 2018 we went to the Detroit USCIS office for his first N-400 interview. I was not allowed to sit in on the interview. He passed the civics and English tests, and at the end she told him she could not make a decision on his citizenship because his I-751 was still pending.<br />
<br />
After a few weeks we received a letter addressed to both of us for a follow up N-400 interview with the same officer.<br />
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So we arrived for the follow up appointment and thankfully I was allowed to enter the same room as my husband this time to participate in the interview. The officer first asked for evidence that we have lived together. She then asked us individual questions in the same room next to each other. This is what I can remember:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>How did you meet?</li>
<li>Did your parents attend your wedding?</li>
<li>When are you going to have kids?</li>
<li>What is your annual income?</li>
<li>Do your parents (Albert's) want to become citizens?</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Then she asked for evidence of our marriage before entering the US on his conditional green card. Luckily, I brought our collection of pictures that we had already submitted with our I-751 along with albums of our weddings plus guestbooks from the receptions. She asked us a few questions about the pictures- like "Who is this?" etc. Then she said she would look over all of our evidence in detail and make a decision later. A little over a week later his N-400 case status showed that an oath ceremony is being scheduled, and a few days after that his I-751 showed that it was approved. We received a letter confirmation of his green card being made soon after and are still waiting for the N-400 decision notice + oath appointment. We read that it may take up to 5 months get an appointment. Yesterday the I-751 case status changed again and said his case was moved to a local jurisdiction, which I'm assuming means that his permanent green card is being processed there.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
So we are really excited that things have turned out for us and are looking to celebrate once we get the letter for the ceremony! This was the perfect Christmas present for us!</div>
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Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-73151887209290883992018-05-13T13:18:00.002-07:002018-05-13T13:18:27.132-07:00Still WaitingIt's been over a year since we filed Albert's application for removal of conditions from his green card and still no decision or response (besides the notice that they received it). Now it's already time for him to apply for citizenship and I wish we could have gotten a decision on our previous application by now since we had to spend hundreds of dollars for the fee. I mentioned last time there may be an interview but we didn't get called for one. I hope that's a good sign.<br />
<br />
The naturalization application will also cost quite a lot and perhaps the most strenuous part of it is to remember and list all of the trips he has made outside of the US within the past five years. I'm also wondering what the interview will eventually be like. The last time we had to go to a USCIS center was for his biometrics (which he has to do again later) and I wasn't allowed to stand next to him while he talked to the officer and completed the fingerprints, even though I'm his wife and petitioner. I felt very uncomfortable about that because I've always been next to him at the American consulate appointments in Taiwan, and I worry how he will be treated by the officer. I imagine at his naturalization interview it will be the same, and I feel there will be an opportunity for unfairness during the US knowledge test. Basically, the officer will ask you about ten questions and you have to get most of them right to pass (I forget the exact numbers right now), but they could easily choose what they think are the hardest questions to give to him. They also assess your English ability by how you answer those questions, but it's just by the officer's subjective feeling. I am not worried about that at all because Albert's English is native-like. When I first met him I thought he was American because of his language abilities. I just think that way of assessing English ability would be very unfair and unsound for English language learners who may not be at a high level. This is based on what I learned during the degree I just received in TESOL.<br />
<br />
Still, I'm hoping for the best and that the officers making a decision on our upcoming application will see the truth that we are happily married and that this marriage is in good faith. We've put so much hard work, time, and money towards our efforts to get him citizenship.Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-62653675694161730782017-02-18T12:14:00.000-08:002017-02-18T12:14:05.715-08:00Preparing for Removal of Conditions on ResidenceSince we were married less than a year before re-entering the US, Albert need to go through another hurdle to maintain his green card and eventually get citizenship. We need to file I-751 which is a petition to remove conditions on residence. So far the process seems pretty straight-forward. It's our burden to prove that we have a real marriage so we need to gather a plethora of evidence and prepare for a possible interview. Some of that evidence is to get affidavits sworn by at least two people that they believe our marriage is real. That should be easy for us, but it is still a pain to prepare.<br />
<br />
I didn't post about our second wedding ceremony we held. This time it was in America so that my family could attend. Here are a few pictures:<br />
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Wish us luck on the next step to my husband's citizenship! We are confident that USCIS will see the truth that we are in love and entered our marriage in good faith.Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-58612664633291433422015-07-31T16:46:00.002-07:002015-07-31T16:46:47.290-07:00Thank you, New York! You were very nice!We were able to enter the States very easily and courteously in mid-June. We went together in the non-citizen line and Albert informed me later that it was the easiest time he's ever had with customs. Maybe because I was there? I'm very intimidating you know! JK!<br />
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We explained our situation to the customs officer and handed her our papers. She was very quiet and besides asking us when we got married she gave us the silent treatment. A couple minutes later she stamped our passports and we got in! <br />
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Finally, a few days ago we received the actual green card in the mail. <br />
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So now that this process is done I'm very relieved. We just need to live in the US for three years and then he can apply for citizenship. Then he'll get to take a test about government that I bet most Americans couldn't pass. I know I would get quite a few wrong if I took it now. Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-19814459349165677542015-05-10T23:54:00.000-07:002015-05-10T23:54:50.856-07:00We made it! (Almost)So we had our green card interview today! I was so nervous because I had no idea if it would be casual or if it would be like the movie The Proposal. We prepared photo albums, videos, etc but the interviewer didn't need them- I guess he had no doubts that we are a real couple. :)<br />
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But the main thing is that we passed!!!! He only asked 7 questions:<br />
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How long have you been married?<br />
How did you meet?<br />
What are your jobs?<br />
What do you plan to do in the US?<br />
How long have you been in Taiwan?<br />
How do you like it?<br />
+one question about a visa change Albert made in the past<br />
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One final challenge lies ahead: passing through customs! If they let us in- which they have the authority to kick him out if they think we're a fake couple- we will get the green card mailed to us!!!<br />
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So happy it's finally (almost) over!<br />
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Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-69123077421990424212015-03-17T05:19:00.003-07:002015-03-17T05:19:54.869-07:00Our Application Has Been "COMPLETED!"I just called the National Visa Center, expecting to be told again that they haven't even started to look at our documents, when the lady I talked to told me that our case was "completed" last week. This means that all of the documents need to be sent to the American consulate in Taiwan and we will have an interview with them, where they will decided whether we get the green card or not.<br />
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There's some confusion as to whether we schedule the interview with AIT after the documents get sent back to us, or the National Visa Center sends the documents after they themselves schedule the interview. The latter seems a little illogical because they don't know our or AIT's schedule. Wouldn't it be easier for AIT to schedule the interview of we ourselves are not allowed?<br />
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Oh well! The important thing is FINALLY after 1 year and 1 month our case is eligible for an interview. We just have to wait until then.Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-52286233704887812912015-03-03T06:42:00.001-08:002015-03-03T06:42:51.894-08:00Who's Twiddling Their Thumbs?So my Christmas wish did not come true. No interview yet and it's March already.<br />
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There was a little fiasco with our Affidavit of Support because the number I filled in for my income did not match my tax records. Instead of $0, I needed to put $12. Oh, and my income from teaching here in Taiwan does not count because it's made abroad. That's why it's so little. Otherwise I could guarantee that I could sponsor Albert much easier. Again though, he doesn't need my financial support- he makes much more than I do.<br />
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Also, I had to get a "HARD COPY" of my tax return form, not a printed copy. The funny thing was I filled out my taxes online so there is no such thing as a hard copy. Therefore I had to write a cover letter stating that and asking for the Visa Center to accept my printout from the IRS website. A little ridiculous much?<br />
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Please forgive my frustration. It's been over a year since we filed for a green card (February 2014) and we are told to not expect any news from their end until after March. We resent in our documents for the Affidavit of Support and I just found out from calling them that they haven't even looked at it yet!<br />
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I'm praying for some good news soon!Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-28505234906550745952014-12-16T05:09:00.001-08:002014-12-16T05:09:08.799-08:00Please give us an interview already!!!So after our application was "approved" we had to fill out an Affidavit of Support and Immigration Visa Application (along with "supporting documents") and had to shell out another ~$400 to have the National Visa Agency say that we need to wait 60 days (That's double the normal time) for them to process the documents and send them back to Taiwan.<br />
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First with the Affidavit of Support (AOS) I had to prove that Albert would not be depending on the US government's money to live. If you knew how much money he makes then you would know that wouldn't be a problem. However, I could not use his salary to prove this because the application states that he has to continue the same job in America. Well, he can't very well do a job in Taiwan in America. Then my salary doesn't count because I earned the money outside of America. Lots of little picky rules that make it hard for an honest couple to get a green card. I had to call the National Visa Center many times for help and questions but had to wait an average of 40 minutes per call before I could get an answer. Then the people on the line could not answer my questions directly.<br />
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After that nightmare Albert had to fill out an online application stating, among other things, how many times and where and for how long he has been in America, and all of his jobs since he was 16. A little ridiculous don't you think? <br />
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So anyways we sent everything in and the 30 day mark would be December 26, if the National Visa Center doesn't take it's time. Of course I don't expect it to be during the Christmas vacation. So hopefully after New Years we'll get an interview date. If not, the 60 day mark is in February.<br />
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So my Christmas letter to Santa this year is for an interview in January and of course to get the green card, finally. It's been a long and confusing journey through the paperwork... Oh, and expensive, let's not forget that! Although it's been frustrating at times, we haven't hit any big setbacks yet. We both can't wait for it to be over so we can finally move back to America!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From our trip to Macau this fall</td></tr>
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PS- We've been married for a year already! So grateful! :)Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-78567194942951642452014-08-08T23:42:00.001-07:002014-08-08T23:42:09.258-07:00Green Card UpdateSo our application was approved on July 25th! I thought that meant we're near the end of the process. However, there's still probably about 6 more months to go, according to other peoples' experiences. We'll get sent a package of forms to fill out and paperwork to prepare for more evidence. After we submit them and they're approved we get an interview date. Then if that goes well they apply for a green card and it gets sent here. So that brings our estimated timeline to February 2015 before we can move back. <br />
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Oh well... at least the first big step is over and went well. On to gather plane tickets, receipts, call logs, and pictures!<br />
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Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-32743697886326307232013-07-14T04:46:00.000-07:002013-07-14T04:46:45.417-07:00Ok, it's official!This past Friday (July 12th, 2013) was a typhoon day. Work and classes were canceled starting from 2pm and things were starting to look serious. However, luck was with us and we managed to get married!<br />
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(Don't worry- this was only to make things legal. The Catholic wedding is going to be in Michigan next year once we move back! ;) )<br />
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July 12th was apparently a lucky day to get married according to the Chinese lunar calendar, but that's not why we picked the day. We got up and left the house around 8:40am to pick up our two witnesses and get to the courthouse. Our witness were our two really good friends here in Taiwan and I'm really happy they took the time out of their day to come with us. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to the courthouse</td></tr>
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We were the first and only couple signed up that day to get married. The officiator really liked to speak Taiwanese and I kinda wish he just stuck to Chinese. Then I would have actually understood him. <br />
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First we had to sign and stamp our Chinese names.<br />
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It was actually a little funny, I agreed to vows that I barely understood. I tried not to look confused and ruin all the pictures. :-P<br />
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We had to bow to each other three times. <br />
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Then we exchanged rings.<br />
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And we got to kiss!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me having no idea what's going on! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! We get some kind of important document!<br />
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Then a few friends from Albert's work surprised us with flowers. These roses were really special- they were striped! And apparently only available in Taiwan.<br />
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Then we had to make a mad dash to Zhongli to register my name under his family to make it legal. I have an official Chinese name now: 林瑞秋. Lin Rui Qiu. Then back to Taipei to apply for my spousal residence card. Unfortunately, it has to be renewed every three years...gr...<br />
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Then finally we got a break. We had dinner with some good friends and celebrated with the rabbits. ;) I'm sure I'm just imagining it, but Pepperpot seemed especially happy that day! (Well, except for the howling typhoon outside that night)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! We made it! Next stop, Michigan!</td></tr>
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Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-82797557021299153242013-07-03T06:35:00.000-07:002013-07-03T06:35:37.639-07:00I paid the US government $50 to tell me that I'm singleSo in order to get legally married in Taiwan, as a foreigner, I need good ol' USA to issue a statement proving I'm single and eligible to be married. So we got up way too early Monday morning and went to the American Institute. (There's no embassy because America does not recognize Taiwan as a country. Why is that? Because that would piss China off and America doesn't want to ruin their relationship. Why would it piss China off? Because, although they never conquered or ruled Taiwan before, China claims it as a part of their country...Okay I'm probably getting put on China's hate-list for writing this.)<br />
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Anyways, I had to wait an hour for them to certify the document. Before the lady signed it she asked me what the document means and what I'm using it for, and I couldn't stop smiling when I said "So I can get married!!!!"<br />
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Fifty dollars poorer, we hustled to a Taiwanese government building to have them certify the document. Guess how much it cost? ~$12.50! Thanks, America! :-P<br />
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It shouldn't be that expensive right?<br />
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So next Friday, July 12th we're going to the courthouse and going to make it official! :D It's too bad it's not July 4th...that's the opposite of our proposal date (4/7/2013). So I guess that makes our Save the Date for the US wedding then... Next year, July 12th? Or maybe the 4th ;)<br />
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I'm so happy! I'll put pictures up of next Friday!Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-16857148097809629912013-06-22T23:12:00.006-07:002013-06-22T23:12:48.704-07:00More pictures... here's Wai-ao beach!<img class="largePrevImg" height="400" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3d803b3127ccef3382b87bc3300000030O00AcsmbJy2cOGgPbz4a/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00408869232920130623055954455.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" width="550" /><br />
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<img class="largePrevImg" height="400" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3d803b3127ccef3391e7ddc0700000030O00AcsmbJy2cOGgPbz4a/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00408869232920130623055939908.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" width="550" />Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-24071020968667216202013-06-22T23:10:00.004-07:002013-06-22T23:10:42.308-07:00The ring!!It's more beautiful than I could have hoped for! 13 diamonds- my favorite number!<br />
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<img class="largePrevImg" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3d803b3127ccef339ad749ccf00000030O00AcsmbJy2cOGgPbz4a/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00408869232920130623055930334.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" />Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763406665318704254.post-18880327884094006892013-06-22T23:07:00.001-07:002013-06-22T23:07:46.907-07:00The question!!<img class="largePrevImg" height="400" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3d803b3127ccef339dccd5de600000030O00AcsmbJy2cOGgPbz4a/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00408869232920130623055857990.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" width="550" /><br />
April 7th, 2013 Albert popped the question and our lives have gone completely topsy-turvy since then. We're going to first get legally married in Taiwan this July, in order to apply for his green card. Then when the United States government says ok, we're going to move back to America and have a Catholic wedding and reception with family and friends!<br />
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Here's a couple pictures of us in Da'an park (the biggest park in Taipei). They came out a little blurry...we need professional help!!<br />
<img class="largePrevImg" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3d803b3127ccef33873083da000000030O00AcsmbJy2cOGgPbz4a/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00408869232920130623055859414.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" />Rachel Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15997647694998724192noreply@blogger.com0