I'm still recovering from the accident. I now can move around the apartment a bit with my cane, but no way i can get outside yet. Can sit up for like 15 minutes before my hip protests. Even though i am still hurting, at least i see there is progress. I will get better. Thank you all so much for the well wishes. My hubby read them all to me and they really gave me some needed support.
So what's happening now? Well if you have been following my blog for a while now you will know that me and my husband we're in a 7+ year long distance relationship before we got to the point of getting married and filing for my visa to be able to finally be together here in NY. It was a long road to travel, but being here now makes it worth it. The last i told you all about was that i had to apply for a renewal of my greencard since we hadn't been married for over 2 years before i moved here. Again that process asked a lot of us, sending in proof that we are actually a loving married couple living together. We sent in everything we had, utility bills, our apartment lease, photographs, affidavits of people that know us, joint health insurance, joint tax returns, everything. It's a humbling experience, but if that is what it takes, we'll do it. We know we're legit so what could happen right?
Well, wrong. Yesterday i got a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The evidence submitted with your form is insufficient. ... The evidence you submitted with your petition does not establish that you and your spouse have entered into a legitimate marital relationship. ... may result in the termination of your conditional resident status and your possible removal from the United States.
This is not my week. I can still not believe it. It's one of those things. We try to do everything the right way. We work hard to make a living, we try not to bother anyone, we do everything the system asks of us, and they just tell us they don't believe us.
Again they have sent the list of documents they think would prove a loving marital relationship. We've been through that list and everything we had we have sent.
Sorry that we weren't lucky enough to have already conceived a baby together.
Sorry we are not rich enough to own a house and have a mortgage. Or own a car, vacation home or time share.
Sorry we don't have any debts and thus loan papers to show.
So what's next? After the sadness, frustration and anger its now on to more action. I have already printed out all the blogposts i have written throughout the years about our process, about our love. The interview my husband did for the Heart Handmade blog as part of the Other Half series. We will send them even more photographs of the two of us together. I will send them a copy of my book where there is a special note to thank my loving husband, we will ask everybody that know us for a affidavit letter testifying that they know us and know our love is real. How many people didn't tell us over the years that because of seeing us together they believe in true love again? Apparently the CIS doesn't feel that.
I will step over any pride i may have left and ask for help.
The US government doesn't believe us? We will have to make them believe. They have never met us, didn't come by on an unannounced visit, didn't do an interview, just went through our paperwork and decided they think we are not legitimate.
I woke up this morning thinking for a split second this whole week was a bad dream. Until i felt the burning pain in my hip and saw the blue letter laying on my desk.
We need to be strong now and get this done. We are for real. We are.
Now only to convince the system of that.
That's horrible! I am sure everything will be straightened out. Sometimes I just don't understand how this gov't works.
OMG! I am SO SORRY to hear this! I had no idea what was going on! I have been through this with immigration too. We had more luck with it... but please let me know if I can help at all! I hope you feel better soon... sending lots of love! x liz
So sorry this is happening to you. The US administration is one of the most opaque and kafka-like I can think of. Don't worry, though, I am sure it will be sorted out as soon as a "real" person handle the case.
This is so sad, I am so sorry!
I am very surprised they didn't do a face-to-face interview. Those were the only kinds we ever had (my husband is from Spain). I would try to request that if at all possible!
I hope this works out for the two of you. :(
I love my blog. Better said, i love my blog readers. Your comments really do strengthen us. We must keep faith in a happy ending since its the god honest truth and nothing less of that.
The worst that i thought that could happen was that they indeed might have asked us to come in for an face to face interview. But they didn't. Some unnamed person just decided that he or she didn't trust us.
Wow, this is absolutely ridiculous! :( I hope that the new things you will be sending in will be good enough for them. Grrrrr.
Good luck!
Man, this is grim... How much more proof do they need? I heard about the horror stories but it never seems real until it affects someone close...
I'm really sorry to hear this, it's like someone/something is testing you this week. Keep your chin up dearie!!! don't let them get to you. 'Just' do what they ask and show them your perseverance.
Hugs for both of you! (ps glad to read you're hip is healing!)
sorry to hear about this :(
I hope everything works out though
Jeez. I'm so sorry! Hard not to take something like this really personally... I can only think they have to be such hardasses because there have been fake applications. I hope that this is just something they do to weed out fakers as a 'first round' or something and that the evidence you send through will be looked at by someone with a bit of intelligence.
You would think anyone would only have to see the sweet music video your fella made to get you featured on etsy to know you guys are the real thing! Hope you feel better soon!
All your comments really make us feel better about this whole ordeal.
I think CIS won't know what hit them when they get our 'additional proof'. We will send them everything we have in our names on our address, all the photographs we have of us together, a bunch of affidavit letters of friends, family and coworkers, all relevant blog post printouts, cd with homemovies. Everything we can think of basically.
Who would have thought it was so good that i kept furniture receipts with our name/address from when we just moved into our apartment?
Having been through this, I strongly suggest digging up any photos of you two *together with other people* at recognizable holidays or occasions - Christmas, Halloween, birthdays and so on. The more people in the picture, the better.
Best of luck.
good luck! I can't believe that someone thinks you aren't a legitimate couple- there's so much evidence for that here on your blog- they just need to subscribe to it for the proof!
Over here employers use the likes of FaceBook to spy on potential new employees, why can't they follow your blog & tweets? Problem solved!
Good luck with it all.
Maaike
I'm so Sorry to hear that, It always seems like everything hits you at the same time from all directions. My advice, Get well and don't worry about it, exerting yourself is only going to make the recovery slower. Then carry out your plans. (: I'm sure everything will work out FABULOUSLY! Happy Halloween!
I really hope everything works out in your favor. I know when you are down and feeling bad and in pain, any bad news becomes intensified. Try not to think about the bad and keep thinking, "We will fight this thing and WIN!" Stay positive!
I am sadden by your blog post Ismoyo but I am sure that things will turn around for you and your partner for the better.
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post "No teme" in your blog with the link to you?
that really cheeses me off!! we have been declined for loans because we have no credit debt, we get penalised for paying cash or going without the item if we dont have the cash. i know that is no comparison to your ordeal but systems can be so narrow minded... sending you (((good luck))) vibes
%*_*% rosey
Ok, I don't know how I missed the last blog post and this blot post - when it rains, it pours huh?
I wish there was more I could say or do that would help - except don't lose your optimistic cheerful spirit! I'm crossing my fingers for you! Focus on getting better after your accident and then you can handle this immigration thing head on. They'll see what you guys are really made of
And send them the Ismoyo song! I mean, for God's sake if they don't fall in love with that, I don't know what will work