Congratulations! Your request for the removal of the conditional basis of your permanent resident status has been approved. You are deemed to be a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States as of the date of your original admission or adjustment of status.

The paper goes on to say a new Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551 (green card) will be issued within 60 days. In fact, Kristien has already received it. The process has moved forward and concluded faster than we expected – less than one month after mailing our additional evidence. If you haven’t read the previous post enumerating the pile of evidence we sent, then I suggest you scan the list. I’ve encouraged preparedness as a means to completing those demanding government forms, but the payoff in this instance is huge; I get to keep my wife.

In previous posts I’ve mentioned the number of days since starting this process. Just to recap, the petition for Kristien’s immigration visa (I-129F) was sent to the government on February 7, 2005. It has been 1562 days or 4 years, 3 months, and 12 days, from that day to Monday, 5/18/2009, when she received the Permanent Resident Card. We asked each other if it actually felt that long and we both agreed it hasn’t. We’ve continued on with our lives, working, maintaining our home, going on vacations, and generally forgetting the process. Sure, we both thought about the outcome but we didn’t let it control our lives.

Whether Kristien becomes a citizen is her choice to make. It’s the next logical step but it’s not a forgone conclusion. Right now we’re ready to slow down and enjoy life without the paperwork.

Included in three blue pages was an extensive list of what could qualify as evidence. The letter asked us to provide new information not previously submitted. However, the letter gave no indication why or if the evidence we previously sent was invalid. We were given until the end of May to submit further paperwork.

We reviewed the original I-751 packet and decided we could provide much more evidence of our ongoing (and valid) marriage. Here’s what’s included in the new packet:

• 2008 tax return, jointly filed, married
• Updated bank statement showing the account is held in both of our names, itemized deposits which include our 2008 tax refund from the Treasury, and direct deposits from both of our employers
• Updated verification of car insurance; 1 car, 1 policy, two drivers
• A printout of my employer benefits which indicate Kristien is the 100% beneficiary of my life insurance policy, and the dependent on my health plans
• Several medical invoices showing the joint health benefits are active
• Printouts of both of our pay stubs, which indicate direct deposit to the above mentioned bank account, and deductions for health benefits
• Furniture invoice showing both our names and our address together
• Veterinary invoice showing both our names and our address together
• Signed wills for both of us, with two confirming witnesses, and a notarized affidavit, both which indicate we are the primary inheritors of the other’s possessions
• Sworn affidavits from two of our neighbors which state that our marriage is, in fact, a real relationship.

I hope this is sufficient proof. Either way, the government will provide a response within 60 days of receiving the evidence. We sent the notice on April 25, 2009, just a week after receiving the request. The wills were something we had already planned but just needed to have witnessed and notarized. It seemed like a good step towards proving our commitment to each other.

After one year of silence it’s good to know the wheels are still turning. Let’s hope they’re moving in our favor.

On a side note, there’s a single blog entry on my site that’s gathered more comments and questions than any other since the inception of this journal: the I-797C. Most of the questions or concerns are written in broken English and usually pertain to the status of an application.  Let me be clear:  I’m not the government.  I can’t possibly know these things.  If it’s economically viable I recommend you get an immigration attorney or specialist to help.  Sometimes the language barrier is too great to overcome when dealing with government paperwork.  Focus your questions and refine them into clear English.  I love the effort but direct your energy where it can help you the most.

Kristien did a little research and the government is currently reviewing applications from two years ago. This doesn’t sound good. However, we’ve seen estimates online and usually the Government responds faster.

In other good news the form says Kristien’s conditional resident status is extended for one year.

The required form information is minimal: name, address, where we got married, a copy of her green card, and our signatures. There are other fields but the most important part is the evidence that proves your marriage is valid. We attached several pieces of information that would prove the marriage is not just for show.

• Bank statement showing the account is held in both of our names
• 2006 and 2007 tax returns, both filed jointly married
• Confirmation of our jointly-accessible safe deposit box
• Verification of car insurance; 1 car, 1 policy, two drivers
• Sworn affidavits from my parents that our marriage is, in fact, a real relationship.

We sent the forms, evidence, and $545 check via USPS certified mail. The check includes the cost of the form processing and a biometrics appointment, which is scheduled later.

There’s very basic information on the card much like a passport. The back side, however, has a very interesting metallic appearance. Also printed on the back is a reassuring statement: “The person identified by this card is authorized to work and reside in the U.S.”

To paraphrase the notice:

• “This is to notify you that your application for permanent residence has been approved. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to permanent resident status in the United States.”
• “We will soon mail you a new Permanent Resident Card. You should receive it within the next 3 weeks. You can use it to show your new status. When you receive your card you must carry it with you at all times if you are 18 or older. It is the law.”
• “Your new card will expire two years from when you became a permanent resident. By law your resident status is conditional, and you must apply to remove those conditions before your card expires. We recommend you apply several months before your card expires.”
• “Once again, welcome to the United States and congratulations on your permanent resident status.”

We arrived at the Department of Homeland Security office 15 minutes before our scheduled appoinment. After waiting in an air conditioned trailer for five minutes Kristien was called. We then went through the security checkpoint and waited another five minutes. Kristien was called again and we proceeded to the immigration officer’s meeting room.

We were first sworn to tell the truth. After briefly scanning over our (huge) stack of submitted documents the officer concluded that everything was in order. What accelerated the process is that Kristien was previously interviewed at the US Embassy in Brussels. On the negative side is that our $170 for the advance parol (travel document) is probably gone. He said the travel document will probably be approved but the passport stamp should override it.

The next and final step is to remove Kristien’s conditional status 90 days before the 2-year expiration date printed on the green card.

Ups and downs included, it was a positive experience. Enchanted Forest Photography provided very personal service from start to finish.

You might be wondering what the “down” part is about. Actually, it has little to do with EFP and more to do with the mail carrier. Although our prints were sent via flat-rate USPS priority mail, the mailman thought it was okay to bend the package into our tiny mailbox, disregarding the rigid cardboard used inside. Unfortunately, two of the 5×7 prints were bent on the edge as a result.

Adding to the moment, upon opening the package I found that the 5×7 photos (four in total) came in two uncut sheets. Why not cut them? The wallet prints were cut and the edges trimmed to nice half-rounds. The 4×5s were cut. It was a detail that slipped through the cracks.

After only a few e-mails the problem was resolved and replacement 5×7 photos were sent via UPS at no charge. No one likes problems but when they’re resolved quickly and without fuss, that’s good service. EFP is very much an entrepreneur-level business, both in price and operation but they genuinely care about getting the job done right.

The notice enumerates about 50 different papers, copies, proof, etc, that we need to bring. Many of the bulky items are things already submitted for previous forms. It says to bring them unless already submitted. They mostly want proof of our relationship: photos, joint accounts, marriage license, and other things.

This is one of those e-forms you may have seen on the USCIS web site. The I-131 has a $170 fee. This isn’t cheap but waiting for the I-485 to process to completion isn’t viable with our current plans.

Even though the form is e-filed, supporting documents are required. You’ll also have to send:

• Confirmation Receipt of E-filing form I-131
• 2 passport photos
• Copy of I-797, Notice of Action
• Copy of I-797, Notice of Action, ASC Appointment Notice
• Copy of driver’s license
• Copy of passport information page

It’s nice to have the driver’s license because it serves as another layer of identification for government forms. The burden for this document wasn’t bad. The online aspect expedites delivery but it also generates the actual I-131 as a PDF for your own records.

Kristien took a number, got a stamp on her appointment notice, and waited maybe 10 minutes. The biometrics didn’t take long and the staff seemed very helpful. I’m sure the rest of the I-485 processing can now proceed. So, again, more waiting.

This looks serious: “If you fail to appear as scheduled, your application will be considered abandoned.” I think we’ll make extra time for commuting.

There is one exception but it’s not a big one. Immigrants must wait 30 days for the license to be processed in Tallahassee. For the interim, she received a paper that says it’s valid as a temporary license. Hopefully, it will arrive in the mail soon.

After the eye exam and test came lots of paperwork. The paperwork took longer to complete than everything else. Of course, it was busy at the office but appointments are required for Saturday tests. Next comes the driving part of the exam.