Relationship with undocumented immigrant

[Kris]

Wow! Congrats! I started reading, was getting all invested and then noticed the year and was like, oh, is this a positive update, I hope so! And voila! It is. I can’t even imagine the amount of work you both put into this. Isn’t love grand?

Ditto...PTF

Hope to hear more success as you make your way through the rest of the process.

I had a friend in a same sex relationship move with his bf to the UK.  His bf is a UK citizen and was in the US with a student visa.  His UK visa request package was well over 1000 pages.

I, too, started reading, and then when I realized the OP was long ago cringed as I anticipated a bad outcome.

I’m so please for you that things seem to be working out. That is definitely not a given in the current climate.

It’s wonderful to see a hopeful “love wins!” story!

[diapasoun]

This is super wonderful. Congrats, OP. <3

[ysette9]

Great update. Good luck.

I also had the thought reading the original thread that it would be worth considering other countries (UK, New Zealand, Canada, etc.) since you are both educated and employable. The US can can do harsh with immigration policy.

[SwordGuy]

Please keep us posted.   We all actually care.   We would especially love to hear a happy ending story but, if not, perhaps one of us has an in at an overseas job in a mutually workable country.

[myownpath]

Update: My husband and I are absolutely thrilled that our 601A waiver was approved, without any requests for additional evidence!

The next step is to get him scheduled for a medical exam and for him to attend an immigrant visa interview at the US embassy in his home country.
However, those interviews are not being scheduled right now, due to COVID.  We really have no idea when they will resume scheduling interviews, nor how long of a back-log there might be, whenever operations resume.

It's bitter-sweet to hit this monumental milestone of getting the waiver approved -- but still being faced with an indefinite wait.

[UnleashHell]

@myownpath still all positive news. congrats

[former player]

Splendid news about the waiver - that's the difficult bit done, I think?

A lot of plans have had to go on hold because of the pandemic, but this too shall pass.

[PMG]

So glad things are working out.  Posting to follow. My spouse is still on a conditional green card and we soon must jump through the hoops to get his ten year card. We are well familiar with waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

[Cassie]

Good luck!  My DIL was here on a green card and took the citizenship test as soon as she could.

[Hula Hoop]

congrats!!

[expatartist]

Congrats OP and best wishes during your waiting period!

[anni]

Congrats!

[myownpath]

Hey everyone, I thought I'd just give one final update -  It's great news!

My husband is now a lawful permanent resident!  I can't even describe how happy we are!

This whole process has taken a little over 4 years in total.
- about 1 year to get an I-130 approved
- about a year and a half to get an I-601a waiver approved
- about a year and a half to get an immigrant visa interview appointment scheduled and get the visa approved (I think most of the delay here was due to covid.)

Thank you to everyone who suggested that we hire an immigration attorney.  I'm so glad we did.  We received great advice and were expertly guided through this process.  The packages our attorney prepared (For our petition and waiver) were compelling enough that we didn't have to attend any interview to prove our marriage, and we did not receive any "Requests For Evidence" either.  Everything (that we had control over) went very smoothly.

It now feels like we can finally "get on with our lives!"

[Dave1442397]

Congrats! Now that your husband has his green card, I would recommend applying for Citizenship as soon as he's eligible.

Looks like he meets the 3-year exception:

Exception for People Married to a U.S. Citizen. If you are a permanent or conditional resident married to – and living with- a U.S. citizen for the past 3 years, you may apply for your United States citizenship at the end of those 3 years. Even if you do not have a marriage-based green card, this rule may apply to you. For instance, if you came to the U.S. with an employment-based green card and married a U.S. citizen shortly after arriving, you may apply 3 years from the date of your marriage. You must, however, provide proof of the marriage and you must stay married to your spouse throughout your entire interview process- you cannot divorce, separate, or even move out without losing this exception.

[former player]

Congratulations, and thank you for coming back to the forum with such excellent news.  I hope you and your husband will be happy together for many years to come.

[PhilB]

Congratulations to you both.  Thank you for spreading a little of your own happiness around the world :)

[ysette9]

Wonderful news. Thanks for the update

[BicycleB]

Congratulations to both of you, @myownpath!

Thanks for explaining what worked. Will pass that on to my friend considering marriage with a few overlapping characteristics.

[Metalcat]

Congrats!!!!!

Thanks so much for the update.

[PDXTabs]

Congrats and good job! I would have been very tempted to find a different country that would have been less work. Good for you for sticking with it and succeeding!

[Dicey]

Hey, wait! Why is this a "final update"? We want to hear more of your story!

[diapasoun]

Congratulations <3

[Catbert]

Wow, that was quite a slog.  Glad it turned out well for you both.

[FLBiker]

That's really awesome, congrats!

[Adventine]

Congratulations! As someone who just got her own green card last month, I can relate to the agony of waiting, and waiting, and wishing, and hoping...
I hope you and your spouse have a great start to your life together in the States!

[yachi]

Hey, wait! Why is this a "final update"? We want to hear more of your story!

I imagine it would get cumbersome to keep multiple usernames updated.  MyOwnPath created this new username because of the sensitive nature of the topic, and to keep this topic separate from his other posts.  He probably has less reasons to maintain anonymity now that his spouse has a greencard, but if he still wants the topic separation, that could be the reason for the "final update".

Congrats on the achievement OP!

[Dicey]

Hey, wait! Why is this a "final update"? We want to hear more of your story!

I imagine it would get cumbersome to keep multiple usernames updated.  MyOwnPath created this new username because of the sensitive nature of the topic, and to keep this topic separate from his other posts.  He probably has less reasons to maintain anonymity now that his spouse has a greencard, but if he still wants the topic separation, that could be the reason for the "final update".

Congrats on the achievement OP!

You have an excellent memory, @yachi! OP stated that in their original post a long time ago, but I didn't remember. Either way, I'd love to hear how things progress, just as I love it when @Adventine apprises us of the new adventures in her life. There is so much crap red tape that immigrants have to deal with, I just wanted to send a message that was welcoming and inclusive.

[Malee55]

Congratulations. I just found your story and have read the lot. I love a happy ending! Lovely thing to have in my day.

[yachi]

Hey, wait! Why is this a "final update"? We want to hear more of your story!

I imagine it would get cumbersome to keep multiple usernames updated.  MyOwnPath created this new username because of the sensitive nature of the topic, and to keep this topic separate from his other posts.  He probably has less reasons to maintain anonymity now that his spouse has a greencard, but if he still wants the topic separation, that could be the reason for the "final update".

Congrats on the achievement OP!

You have an excellent memory, @yachi! OP stated that in their original post a long time ago, but I didn't remember. Either way, I'd love to hear how things progress, just as I love it when @Adventine apprises us of the new adventures in her life. There is so much crap red tape that immigrants have to deal with, I just wanted to send a message that was welcoming and inclusive.

I'd love to take credit for the good memory, because the reality less ego stroking.  When I saw the thread pop up, I started reading as if it were new.  When I realized it was not, I scrolled to the end for the update.