I’m Married to a LEGAL Alien

Today Avi and I accomplished a huge task…IMMIGRATION…He got his greencard!

After just ten months in the U.S.A and less than six months since we married to boot! We met our attorney downtown at 7:30 this morning for our immigration interview. After waiting more than an hour, we were called in. The interview went fine and after 15 or so minutes, a red stamp was placed on the proper form and we were told his greencard would be in the mail. WHOO HOO.

I’m glad to be done with this step of the beaureaucratic system. It was stressful getting prepared for this “event”. We had an album with photos, proof of our relationship, greeting cards with “Mazel Tov” from our wedding, holiday cards from friends, letters, proof that Avi and I were on common documents like medical insurance, DMV, AAA, bank accounts, taxes, you name it, we brought it.  It was a lot of work and much stress gathering, copying, compiling, and presenting it all.
If anyone is reading this and is in the beginning stages of the process, we both agree that getting an attorney is so worth it. The multitudes of forms this past year were confusing. The filing fees equally confusing since each form has a different fee attached to filing it. Yes, the attorney cost us a lot of money we didn’t necessarily have, but these things can be negotiated. An attorney also provides peace of mind. We had a “go to” person for questions and concerns. We were coached on what the appointment would be like and what happens in the actual interview. Totally worth it. Now we have two years before the next step which is the permanent card. The first greencard is always a two year document. But things are going well.

Now what should we do to celebrate?