complete my immigration paperwork

I’ve put this off long enough. Most of the paperwork is done, but I need to print off photos and do a cover letter, etc. Just last-minute shit. The trouble for us has been coming up with $1000 to pay for it. Bleh!

Monday I wrote a cover letter, enclosed my new passport stamp, made a few quick edits, and I sent the package out yesterday.

I haven’t been able to stop checking the FedEx track since I sent it! I know I need to be a little more zen about this 9 to 12 month process and just release it into the ether (once I can confirm they actually received it, anyway!).

I hope this goes smoothly, even if it’s guaranteed to be slow.

I will send this off. At the latest.

If he gives me his employer support letter tomorrow, I think all we’ll have left is paying the fees.

I wonder if I should wait 3 weeks until I get back from visiting my mother. I’ve gotten mixed signals about whether it is advisable to travel after I’ve submitted this.

He said the photos I collected made a beautiful scrapbook of our past 6 years together.

Got my medical taken care of.

Trying to figure out if we have any good old phone bills around our place to contribute, then we need one more support letter.

He finally gave me his tax statement, just need to figure out what to do about the employment page.

Still need to talk to the immigration guy at work.

And lastly pay the fees. It’s really coming together, I think!

-Find out if mom’s letter needs to be notarized or anything to prove she actually wrote it, or if her signature is enough

-Take the stupid passport photos!

-Submit the “change of life event” form tomorrow

-See if dad has any old phone bills I could submit

I compiled the plane tickets and photos. I’ve got something from each of about twenty trips. I’ve got a couple very old phone bills and some mail addressed to us both, I’ve got copies of all my new ID with my new address on it.

I asked Mom for a testimonial letter but I haven’t heard her mention anything about it yet.

I asked my partner to provide the 2 things on the form where it requests his income, tax printout, and employer support letter.

I need to get some passport-style photos taken for my medical and for the rest of the application.

The background checks are done already! I have a name of someone to speak to at work about any questions. I think I need to spend some time getting organized tonight.

I finally sent away the background check requests yesterday.

-. Find a legal way to live here for at least a year (complete!)
-. Make copies of our passports (complete!)
-. Get fingerprinted (complete!)
-. Get driver’s license as further proof of address (complete!)
1. Send away for background checks (this week!)
2. Ask family members for testimonial letters (July?)
3. Prepare copies of receipts, plane tickets, photos, etc.
4. Complete forms
5. Complete medical check-up (September 6)—bring 5 photos
6. Sign affidavit (September)
7. Sign up to share spousal healthcare benefits with him and see how long it takes to get proof of this action (September 4-?)
8. Pay fees & print out receipt
9. Sign and date forms, send by FedEx.