BINATIONAL SAME SEX COUPLES !! Show up!

[yirslena94 0]

Hello my girlfriend and I started the process back in july 2014 and we got the noa2 on april 14. She is from cuba , im wondering if any of you guys know of any same sex case from cuba? Thank you and congratulations to those who got approved!!!

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

I'm just here to urge everyone to know the details of DOMA falling as it pertains to spousal immigration. I'm now visa in hand, but I got a co at my interview who thought that the fall of DOMA only applies if your spouse lives in a state where your marriage is recognized at the state level. He initially said he didn't think I was eligible because my wife lives in Texas. I kept telling him immigration was a federal issue, not a state one, because of the supreme Court decision on DOMA. That married was married as far as the federal government was concerned.

I truly believe that if I hadn't known that, and been standing there quoting the date of the decision and what it meant, my interview would have ended at that point and I'd be busy appealing right now. He did find information in his computer that backed up what I was telling him, but he didn't start looking until I protested.

Know the law. Know it and use it and if your co is clueless, ask for a supervisor if they can't find the thing in their computer that says same sex marriage grants immigration rights, regardless of state of residence.

[ArroTG 22]

I'm just here to urge everyone to know the details of DOMA falling as it pertains to spousal immigration. I'm now visa in hand, but I got a co at my interview who thought that the fall of DOMA only applies if your spouse lives in a state where your marriage is recognized at the state level. He initially said he didn't think I was eligible because my wife lives in Texas. I kept telling him immigration was a federal issue, not a state one, because of the supreme Court decision on DOMA. That married was married as far as the federal government was concerned.

I truly believe that if I hadn't known that, and been standing there quoting the date of the decision and what it meant, my interview would have ended at that point and I'd be busy appealing right now. He did find information in his computer that backed up what I was telling him, but he didn't start looking until I protested.

Know the law. Know it and use it and if your co is clueless, ask for a supervisor if they can't find the thing in their computer that says same sex marriage grants immigration rights, regardless of state of residence.

Thank you for this advice. It's frightening to think that the people who have the say on what happens with the rest of our lives are sometimes so ignorant of the rules. I'm anticipating my interview in the next few months, and I'll be sure to keep this in mind. Good on you for being so knowledgeable and proactive, and for helping the rest of us for it.

That being said, I am thrilled that you finally get to go and be with your partner. I can't wait until I can say the same for myself!

[dsldesch 27]

This is why I avoid all the general threads for each month and stick to the ones that are specifically labelled TSC. I'm happy for the CSC folks but I'd rather not be confronted with "what might have been" on a daily basis!

I'm currently in Florida visiting my fiancée, I'll be here until the end of the month. I'm trying to make the most of this visit because it's probably the last until I immigrate permanently. I had planned to try to come back in the early fall if the wait time at TSC doesn't change (or god forbid, gets longer), but considering my experience at customs on this trip, I no longer think this is wise (see this post for details: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/?p=7618992).She will visit me for a week at the end of June, but I think that will be it as far as visits go.

Right now we're discussing wedding plans. We want something small and low-key, so we're not sure whether we'll do it in the area or elope somewhere else, like San Francisco. At least we have some time to think about it, since it's not likely to happen until 2016 at this rate...

I had no idea there were TSC only threads...I'll have to look for them. Thanks for the suggestions!

Also, I read your other thread, terrible, it shouldn't have happened. *hugs* I hope things move quickly for you so you don't want to worry about a long time apart, it really is the worst part of all of this, I think. That said, I'm glad you were able to get in, I dont know what I would've done if I'd been told I had to leave.

I've been to San Francisco, and they're very pricey, and probably booked far in advance. That said, it's an amazing city, and while I personally wouldn't want to marry there, it'd make a great honeymoon or casual vacation later on.

I'm just here to urge everyone to know the details of DOMA falling as it pertains to spousal immigration. I'm now visa in hand, but I got a co at my interview who thought that the fall of DOMA only applies if your spouse lives in a state where your marriage is recognized at the state level. He initially said he didn't think I was eligible because my wife lives in Texas. I kept telling him immigration was a federal issue, not a state one, because of the supreme Court decision on DOMA. That married was married as far as the federal government was concerned.

I truly believe that if I hadn't known that, and been standing there quoting the date of the decision and what it meant, my interview would have ended at that point and I'd be busy appealing right now. He did find information in his computer that backed up what I was telling him, but he didn't start looking until I protested.

Know the law. Know it and use it and if your co is clueless, ask for a supervisor if they can't find the thing in their computer that says same sex marriage grants immigration rights, regardless of state of residence.

Congratultions on obtaining your visa, and thanks for sharing this in case others don't know. Hopefully, in less than two months, there'll be a final ruling and it wont matter which state anyone lives in, because marriage equality will be the law of the land. However, even then, I'm sure ignorant co's may still pose challenges, so people definitely need to keep apprised of what's going on. Thankfully, same-sex marriage was legalized in NC only a few months before we filed (but actually a few months after we had thought we'd file, but delays got in the way), so at least for me, it doesn't seem like an issue at the moment.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Congratultions on obtaining your visa, and thanks for sharing this in case others don't know. Hopefully, in less than two months, there'll be a final ruling and it wont matter which state anyone lives in, because marriage equality will be the law of the land. However, even then, I'm sure ignorant co's may still pose challenges, so people definitely need to keep apprised of what's going on. Thankfully, same-sex marriage was legalized in NC only a few months before we filed (but actually a few months after we had thought we'd file, but delays got in the way), so at least for me, it doesn't seem like an issue at the moment.

I'm really hoping the supreme Court comes down on our side once again. Fingers crossed!

[Sukie 1,440]

I'm just here to urge everyone to know the details of DOMA falling as it pertains to spousal immigration. I'm now visa in hand, but I got a co at my interview who thought that the fall of DOMA only applies if your spouse lives in a state where your marriage is recognized at the state level. He initially said he didn't think I was eligible because my wife lives in Texas. I kept telling him immigration was a federal issue, not a state one, because of the supreme Court decision on DOMA. That married was married as far as the federal government was concerned.

I truly believe that if I hadn't known that, and been standing there quoting the date of the decision and what it meant, my interview would have ended at that point and I'd be busy appealing right now. He did find information in his computer that backed up what I was telling him, but he didn't start looking until I protested.

Know the law. Know it and use it and if your co is clueless, ask for a supervisor if they can't find the thing in their computer that says same sex marriage grants immigration rights, regardless of state of residence.

This is REALLY important for all of us. Even now, print out the ruling and take it with you to your interview. We applied for our CR1 visa the day after DOMA fell. Luckily, the Australian Consulate didn't give us ANY problems!

Sukie in NY

[dsldesch 27]

Hello everyone! So my fiance and I have started a fundraiser to help raise some money to offset the immigration costs (we're both students, so this'll help us avoid going any further into debt), but we prepared a video about our story to go with it and I thought I would share that with all of you. I'm really interested in knowing how you all met and how things came to be as they are now.

Anyways, you can find it here: gofundme.com/DarrenHarel

Edited May 28, 2015 by dsldesch

[ferricide 3]

Out of curiosity: Has anyone reached the point of ROC yet? (I-751, Removal of Conditions)? It's been awhile since I read this thread, and I do intend to comb through recent posts, but I figured it's also worth asking in case people hadn't posted about it yet. I feel like this must be coming up SOON for some of the first couples (though, we're among the "first couples" and we're not quite there yet.) I'm wondering how it's going for people out there with this step.

[Sukie 1,440]

Out of curiosity: Has anyone reached the point of ROC yet? (I-751, Removal of Conditions)? It's been awhile since I read this thread, and I do intend to comb through recent posts, but I figured it's also worth asking in case people hadn't posted about it yet. I feel like this must be coming up SOON for some of the first couples (though, we're among the "first couples" and we're not quite there yet.) I'm wondering how it's going for people out there with this step.

Ferricide, the earliest any IR-1/CR-1 couples would be going through ROC is next January/February or so, I think. We filed the day after DOMA fell, and it took us a year to get through the system. Our POE is July 15, 2014, so we can apply for ROC as of April 16, 2016. We were stuck in Texas for a while, and then NVC delayed us another month with a bogus checklist item.

Any couples earlier than this would have been any who could do DCF (Direct Consular Filing), so if any of you are out there, give us a shout!

I have been collecting "proof" of our ongoing relationship in a folder along the way. My attorney told me to be diligent in doing this - because it's easier than trying to backtrack back to our wedding day and dig up pictures and joint travel and other data.

It's so nice when we travel now - we can present at immigration as a couple. We are usually coming through JFK - and the Immigration Officers are always sooooo nice!

Sukie in NY

[zuluweta 250]

I'm just here to urge everyone to know the details of DOMA falling as it pertains to spousal immigration. I'm now visa in hand, but I got a co at my interview who thought that the fall of DOMA only applies if your spouse lives in a state where your marriage is recognized at the state level. He initially said he didn't think I was eligible because my wife lives in Texas. I kept telling him immigration was a federal issue, not a state one, because of the supreme Court decision on DOMA. That married was married as far as the federal government was concerned.

I truly believe that if I hadn't known that, and been standing there quoting the date of the decision and what it meant, my interview would have ended at that point and I'd be busy appealing right now. He did find information in his computer that backed up what I was telling him, but he didn't start looking until I protested.

Know the law. Know it and use it and if your co is clueless, ask for a supervisor if they can't find the thing in their computer that says same sex marriage grants immigration rights, regardless of state of residence.

When I went for my fiance visa interview, I brought with me the 3-page Matter Of Zeleniak ruling by the Board Of Immigration Appeals. It states that the DOMA decision now allows for same-sex fiance visas to be issued. Just in case. I never had to use it though. The US Embassy visa officer was well versed in the new ramifications of DOMA for immigration law.

[hklad 9]

Still waiting on AOS... we must have been transferred to the slowest processing center within USCIS. I still check the case status... nothing nothing nothing. EAD renewal is also pending now. Anyone else in the waiting boat?

[FulanoDeTal 19]

Well, almost 14 months after we filed for AOS, the Green Card arrived today, exactly a week after our interview. We had originally received a potential interview waiver letter, but in April received an interview appointment notice for May 10. We had been collecting relationship evidence over the last year, so the pictures and supporting documentation were ready. We were also asked to bring affidavits from two family members on each side of the family attesting to the validity of our marriage, so that required a little work as a couple of affidavits had to be done in Portuguese and completed in Brazil. But we were pretty well prepared on the big day, and the process went pretty smooothly.

Thanks to everyone who has been with us during this process, and now we can give USCIS a rest for a couple years!

[dsldesch 27]

Well, almost 14 months after we filed for AOS, the Green Card arrived today, exactly a week after our interview. We had originally received a potential interview waiver letter, but in April received an interview appointment notice for May 10. We had been collecting relationship evidence over the last year, so the pictures and supporting documentation were ready. We were also asked to bring affidavits from two family members on each side of the family attesting to the validity of our marriage, so that required a little work as a couple of affidavits had to be done in Portuguese and completed in Brazil. But we were pretty well prepared on the big day, and the process went pretty smooothly.

Thanks to everyone who has been with us during this process, and now we can give USCIS a rest for a couple years!

Congratulations!

Are affidavits like this commonly requested? My fiance doesn't have a large family, and I feel we may only have one person on his side actually willing to write one (and even then, I'm not sure how willing his mother would be...she's only recently started being open to our relationship).

[FulanoDeTal 19]

Congratulations!

Are affidavits like this commonly requested? My fiance doesn't have a large family, and I feel we may only have one person on his side actually willing to write one (and even then, I'm not sure how willing his mother would be...she's only recently started being open to our relationship).

Thanks! As far as the request for affidavits goes, I don't think it's an uncommon request. The request was part of the form letter that we received scheduling the interview. It also occurred to me that this request could be a problem for some same-sex couples in cases when there are real acceptance issues on one or both sides of the family. Our interviewer was not particularly "warm and fuzzy," so I did not raise this issue with her as I had no idea what her views on same-sex marriage were and it wasn't relevant to our situation. If this situation were to arise, however, I would alert USCIS in advance of the interview and be prepared to provide affidavits from close friends, witnesses to your wedding, etc. who can make the same statements.

[Davesings 30]

Well, almost 14 months after we filed for AOS, the Green Card arrived today, exactly a week after our interview. We had originally received a potential interview waiver letter, but in April received an interview appointment notice for May 10. We had been collecting relationship evidence over the last year, so the pictures and supporting documentation were ready. We were also asked to bring affidavits from two family members on each side of the family attesting to the validity of our marriage, so that required a little work as a couple of affidavits had to be done in Portuguese and completed in Brazil. But we were pretty well prepared on the big day, and the process went pretty smooothly.

Thanks to everyone who has been with us during this process, and now we can give USCIS a rest for a couple years!

Congratulations to you guys! Sorry you had to scramble for the affidavits but glad it all worked out! Enjoy GreenCard-hood! Just watched the new documentary on PBS about the original binational couple married in the 1970s in Colorado and feeling grateful for where we are today. Hopefully more good news will come from the Supreme Court by the end of this month!