signed up this month

LorriQ · November 22, 2008

I signed up on this site at the beginning of this month and have found LOADS of information and gotten positive responses on all questions I have asked of the very experienced members (thanks so much!), so in all fairness time for me to give a little background and seek out members in the same/similar boat I am in as I am getting VERY depressed with the lack of communication from the disorganized offices handling our cases!

Our story:

I met Steve when he was here on a J-1 visa in August 2006. We spent 2 blissful months together and couldn't bear the thought of being seperated so I made plans to go back to England with him at the expiration of his visa. Only we found out that the company that brought him over had mislea him, asked him to stay longer saying they could get an extension (NOT) and he was over the expiration by 6 weeks. We immediately left for England. I stayed for 2 months and then had to return home. Since then I have made 6 more trips over there, as he could not come over here as a visitor (overstay issue!!!) even with a "special visa"(paid the fees, went to the embassy and they said no way - not enough ties to home country). He has been bouncing in and out of the US for the last 8 years on H & J visas. As such he had only spent 3/4 months in the UK inbetween these visas and did not "plant roots" between trips. No biggy, I could go over for extended periods and we made due with that.

He proposed Feb 2008 and I went to an immigration lawyer with our completed petition the same month. The process on this side went smoothly and within the posted timelines given by the attorney and USCIS website. Now we hit the snag. He sent in all the neccessary documents and within four days received the receipt of documents and a request for information of occupancy times and dates for the years he lived in The Netherlands (over 10 years ago). He responded to the request within 4 days (August 2, 2008). Nothing since.

Lawyer is no help now. I sent a very polite emailed inquiry to the consulate one week ago and got the auto reply saying 3-4 days to respond. Still nothing. I can't make any "formal" wedding plans as I have no idea of when (or if at this point) he will get the visa.

I am seriously considering selling everything I own and making the move over there. This is difficult for me, my son is in the reserves and just now getting back from being deployed in Iraq. He has one more year to complete his degree at the local university and has been living with me while in school. But I am missing my love, missing the smell of him, miss touching and the completeness I feel when we are together. Never thought I'd get married again, but I cannot see a life without Steve and I ache to be with him.

So if any VJer has suggestions of what my next step should be, contacting state rep (would it help?) or anything - please let me know! I am sitting on my wits end and it is a very fine thread!

Thanks for your time!

Lorri