We 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. :)

But the main thing is that we passed!!!! He only asked 7 questions:

How long have you been married?
How did you meet?
What are your jobs?
What do you plan to do in the US?
How long have you been in Taiwan?
How do you like it?
+one question about a visa change Albert made in the past

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!!!

So happy it's finally (almost) over!

Our 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.

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?

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.

Who's Twiddling Their Thumbs?

So my Christmas wish did not come true. No interview yet and it's March already.

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.

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?

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!

I'm praying for some good news soon!

Please 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.

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.

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?

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.

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!

From our trip to Macau this fall

PS- We've been married for a year already! So grateful! :)

Green Card Update

So 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.

Oh well... at least the first big step is over and went well. On to gather plane tickets, receipts, call logs, and pictures!

Ok, 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!

(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! ;) )

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.

On the way to the courthouse

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.

First we had to sign and stamp our Chinese names.




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




We had to bow to each other three times.

Then we exchanged rings.



And we got to kiss!

This is me having no idea what's going on!

Yay! We get some kind of important document!

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.





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...

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)

Yay! We made it! Next stop, Michigan!

I paid the US government $50 to tell me that I'm single

So 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.)

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!!!!"

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

It shouldn't be that expensive right?

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 ;)

I'm so happy! I'll put pictures up of next Friday!