Marine's widow in immigration limbo

[schatzi3277 6]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A private relief bill that will allow the Japanese widow of a Tennessee Marine to live in the United States has passed Congress and is headed to the president for his signature.

The bill granting permanent resident status to Hotaru Ferschke, widow of Marine Sgt. Michael Ferschke, who died in Iraq in 2008, passed Monday in the House following the Senate's approval earlier this month.

The couple married by telephone while she was in Japan and he was in Iraq. She was already pregnant with his child, but he died in combat before they were reunited. Under a Cold War-era immigration law, their marriage was not considered valid for immigration purposes because the marriage was not consummated.

U.S. Rep. John Duncan had been working for nearly two years to pass the bill.

[thelastpetitioner 218]

i really wish this would become a permanent law.VOA persia recently had a piece about military armed forces widows who despite having children,education and jobs in the untied states ( while going through immigration/visa process ) had to leave the country after their partners passed away.