I met my husband in San Francisco in 2000. He was a Brit, just separated from his American wife, I was a Brit on secondment from my company in Paris and on an L1A. 2001, I was called back to headquarters but I decided to stay in SF to be with my love. I spent a year at Berkeley on an F1 following which I got optional practical training and found a job in a retail start-up in San Jose. We apply and get an H1B. (Only the 3rd visa) I stayed there until 04/2003 when I lost my job. Big downturn in economy and I had to return to Europe. David applies for US citizenship in June 2003.
September 2003, I fly back to London alone.
December 2003, David gets divorced, January 2004, he has his citizenship interview during which they tell him that all is well and he should be sworn in rapidly - maybe they would even be able to squeeze him in before the end of the month. Note that at this point, he had provided all the paperwork for a DUI he had had five years ago and for which his probation had ended two years earlier without further incident.
We get married in Edinburgh on March 5th 2004. Fantastic time - just the two of us and the knowledge that we will be able to be together soon.
April 2004, David's citizenship is rejected. We can't believe it. Legal advice tells me that its tough to win at appeal level and we may have to wait another 5 years before he can apply again. My world caves in.
We appeal nevertheless and hope against hope in June 2004, we get news that he won!
The rest is our timeline:
06/08/04 David is sworn in as an American
06/16/04 We submit I130 through SF/California
06/26/04 NOA1 I130
06/28/04 We submit I129F
07/12/04 NOA1 I129F
08/16/04 NOA2 I130
We are waiting now. David has a son from his first marriage so there was no option of him coming back here otherwise we would have done direct consular filing. We have been to hell and back. This process has cost us financially, emotionally and my career is probably in the toilet. But the sun shines on and I can't wait for us to be able to start our lives together. Had we been told what we would go through to be together, I think we would have probably given up but somehow you just keep going. This is a real test of love and commitment and I wish two things: that everybody's case is resolved quickly so as to limit the pain of separation that I know only too well and secondly that I'll be home for thanksgiving.
Now we are awaiting the next steps.
