I had been attacking for decades in order to inhabit my personal country using my Canadian wife, although Protection sexy Espagne filles away from Wedding Work (DOMA) are clogging myself regarding my personal to pursue happiness within this way. Even with creating emails to each and every senator and every presidential candidate two times around and you can popular stars, such Ellen DeGeneres, contacting immigration attorneys therefore the ACLU, and talking-to anybody who carry out listen, it checked one to my personal dream is actually no closer to getting a facts. That’s until when abruptly DOMA decrease, shortly after are declared unconstitutional. Mindy and i renowned in soul with tens and thousands of other bi-national gay lovers global merely looking forward to the easy straight to return home. The thing is a pile out of papers.
The first step – Filing new We-130 Petition
I experienced so you’re able to travel from our house in the Chiang Mai, Thailand down to Bangkok to help you file new petition to help you sponsor Mindy just like the Western Consulate in Chiang Mai will not handle immigration states. Truly around the regarding the American embassy is the Homeland Safety workplace. Apart from paying the $420 filing percentage at the American Embassy, the complete petition procedure taken place into fifteenth flooring away from Tower A couple of Sindhorn Building Advanced.
Immediately following submiting the newest petition means therefore the help files, make payment on filing fee and fixing an error I’d generated when filling in the form (I became maybe not produced throughout the 1800’s), I was expected basically you will definitely stand a small stretched while the the “officer desires to speak with me personally”. Not sure exactly what which designed, We waited patiently with enough time before my personal return airline in order to Chiang Mai.
Within ten full minutes I happened to be summoned with the window and you will requested to raise my right-hand and you will swear in all honesty. Shortly after gazing from inside the awe during the a huge yellow “approved” stamp through the glass while i verified the details of your own function lower than oath, I was informed you to definitely my personal petition is recognized. In treat and you can appreciation that administrator got turned into exactly what typically takes 1 month toward a matter of minutes, We thanked her for expediting the process. She checked out myself rectangular regarding attention and you can told you, “You may have waited long enough”. I almost cried immediately in the Homeland Safeguards office since the this was for the first time one my relationships are accepted by my very own authorities and you may my personal strive is confirmed. I left the office using my acceptance letter in hand and you may my personal hand kept filled with victory.
Next step – Package step 3
The joy reduced even though shortly after waiting for two months rather than hearing anything. I finally inquired in the Industry Place of work for the Bangkok as to our very own second step in order to read that they had delivered away an instructions letter singular week immediately following my personal petition got come recognized but i never acquired they. Really!
However, at the least we were right back on course. It turned out your step two from obtaining a green cards were to complete Packet step three, which inside it an online part (Mode DS 260) additionally the filling out off an Affidavit (Setting We-864) personally, demonstrating (and you will swearing) that we you may financially support Mindy. There were enough supporting data needed for that it, for example income tax ideas, proof of domicile, evidence of a job etcetera. Mindy and additionally expected a back ground seek the nation she had lived in because sixteen yrs . old. Which intended we called for criminal record checks for Canada, Germany and you may Thailand and undoubtedly the second two would need is technically translated to the English.
