I have been attacking for a long time so that you can reside in personal nation with my Canadian wife, nevertheless the Safety regarding Marriage Act (DOMA) is blocking myself out of my straight to pursue happiness contained in this way. Even with creating characters to each and every senator and every presidential candidate two times around and you may well-known celebs, such as Ellen DeGeneres, getting in touch with immigration lawyers therefore the ACLU, and conversing with anybody who create listen, it looked one to my personal dream are no nearer to getting an excellent facts. Which is up until when unexpectedly DOMA dropped, immediately after are announced unconstitutional. Mindy and i also well known within the soul with tens and thousands of almost every other bi-federal gay lovers globally only waiting around for the easy to return home. The only thing are a pile regarding files.

Step one – Processing the We-130 Petition

I’d to help you fly from your quarters inside the Chiang Mai, Thailand down seriously to Bangkok so you’re able to document the fresh petition in order to recruit Mindy as the Western Consulate from inside the Chiang Mai cannot handle immigration says. Privately round the throughout the American embassy is the Homeland Security office. Except for paying the $420 submitting fee from the American Embassy, the complete petition processes occurred into 15th flooring out of Tower Two of the Sindhorn Building Complex.

After turning in brand new petition means as well as the support records, paying the processing percentage and you may fixing an error I got generated whenever filling out the shape (I found myself maybe not born regarding the 1800’s), I was expected easily you certainly will remain a little stretched since brand new “officer wants to consult myself”. Unsure exactly what it meant, I waited patiently having sufficient time just before my personal get back trip to help you Chiang Mai.

Within ten full minutes I was summoned for the screen and questioned to boost my personal right-hand and you can swear in all honesty. Just after staring during the wonder at a massive reddish “approved” stamp through the cup while i verified the information of one’s function less than oath, I happened to be advised one to my personal petition got recognized. Within the amaze and you may gratitude the administrator got turned what typically takes thirty days towards moments, We thanked their unique to have expediting the process. She checked out me square in the attention and told you, “You’ve got waited for enough time”. I nearly cried immediately regarding the Homeland Shelter place of work since the it was for the first time that my matrimony are acknowledged of the my own authorities and my personal challenge try verified. I kept the office using my acceptance letter available and you can my personal hand kept stuffed with success.

Step two – Package 3

Our delight decreased regardless if just after waiting around for a couple months without hearing some thing. I finally inquired from the Job Place of work during the Bangkok regarding the second step merely to discover they’d delivered away a direction letter only one week immediately after my petition got started approved however, we never acquired they. Really!

However, at the very least we had been right back focused. It had been that next step regarding trying to get good green credit would be to complete Package step three, and that inside it an EuropГ©en belle fille on-line part (Form DS 260) and the completing out of an Affidavit (Setting We-864) for me personally, appearing (and you may swearing) that we you may economically help Mindy. There were enough support data files you’ll need for which, including taxation facts, proof domicile, proof of a position an such like. Mindy and additionally expected a background look for the nation she had lived in given that sixteen years old. That it created i necessary criminal record checks getting Canada, Germany and you may Thailand and undoubtedly the latter a few want to be officially interpreted into the English.