Stage 1: Check

After months of waiting, a few panic attacks, and a couple DDOS attacks on the USCIS website as we checked on our case status, finally the email we had been waiting for came—our case was approved.

I called Pia in the middle of the night with the good news. Three in the morning, I think. Still asleep, Pia didn’t quite comprehend the words that I was saying.

“What? What’s happening?”

Then a pause and a slight murmur as she opened her email.

Pia’s energy level suddenly spiked to 1,000 as the sleep wore off and the words sunk in. We are one big step closer to being back together!!!

Our Process

So for those curious about our process, there are three waypoints on our immigration journey:

Step 1: I-130

Following the wedding, we assembled our I-130 packet with complete documentation of our wedding certificate, affidavits, passports, and biographical data. We then sent the packet to USCIS who placed it at the very bottom of a large stack of similar petitions.

Once we had a receipt notice and case number, we spammed their online portal daily hoping for updates on our petition. About five months later, in the middle of the night, an update finally came. Success.

Step 2: National Visa Center

Our next step will hopefully be shorter (60 days is the published timetable). Now that USCIS has approved the petition, our case has been forwarded to the National Visa Center at the State Department. Soon we will be sending in our tax transcripts and proving that we are able to support ourselves (look Mom!). At the same time, we will have to prove that Pia is not a terrorist and there are no outstanding warrants for her arrest (fingers crossed). This is also a point where we might need to prove that Pia has fulfilled or is close to fulfilling her two years in the Netherlands.

Step 3: American Consulate, Amsterdam

Assuming all goes well and there is not another huge database meltdown, the U.S. Embassy in Amsterdam will schedule an interview for Pia. She will have to undergo a biometric exam and bring originals of all of the documents previously submitted.

The embassy will then be able to approve an immigrant visa to the US. If Pia has finished her two years by that time, they could issue the visa on the spot (they keep her passport, affix the visa, and courier it to her home). Otherwise they will place our file on hold until she can come back and show she has reached the two year mark.

With the immigrant visa and entry packet in hand, Pia will be able to finally come home and receive her green card.

We both can’t wait. These past years have been extremely difficult. But over our journey we have been continually reminded of how lucky we are to have such great friends and family nearby. We can’t wait to soon be together and return the love we have been shown.