BINATIONAL SAME SEX COUPLES !! Show up!

[rjbntsk 5]

I just like to say this thread has been inspiring for me. I am in a same-sex relationship with my fiance who is from Korea, I will call him Mr. Choi. I'm happy for all the couples that have been granted their visas and green card ... congratulations to you all. I'm still compiling my I-129F petition.

I think I maybe the first or first few cases of same-sex couple petitions for Korea. I wish to be with him soon.

Thanks for the well-wishes and best of luck to you both! Keep us updated on your progress

[R & M 14]

Just got back from the interview in DC. Approved on the spot!

Interview took about 30 minutes. IO was very professional but friendly. We were asked how did we meet, when did we start living together, who proposed to whom, and when was our wedding, and the IO took notes. He also asked if I was still working for my current employer and if I was still in that visa. I explained that I had been paroled two weeks ago and he said that was fine and that he had already seen it in my I-94 in my passport.

I brought a copy of our old domestic partnership certificate (we were partners for one year before we got married) and the IO took that and put in the file.

Besides that, just the regular questions: full name, DOB, address, etc. As well as the I-485 questions, all of them.

The IO also asked for my husband's G-325A form, since he didn't have it. I am glad I had brought a copy and handed that to him. By the way, no originals were requested from any the documents we had submitted.

After this, the IO asked if there was anything else we wanted to provide. I said yes, we have many pictures. By this time I could see the IO was probably ready to approve us, but was very patient in looking through the pictures (We had brought the wedding album but thought that would be overkill, so we did not show it to him).

He left the room to make copies of the pictures and of my husband's Green Card. When he came back he printed a couple of pages and told us I had been approved, but realized he had made a mistake. He had printed the letter for spouses of US Citizens. Then he asked us a few moments to double check whether or not spouses of LPRs are also given a 2-year conditional green card or if they can get a "permanent" one. (That was really nice of him, I could see that he really wanted to give us the 10-year card). However, his supervisor confirmed that the same rule applies. No problem.

We asked the IO if there had been other same-sex couples and he told us we were his second one, but we were the first ones in which a LPR is the sponsor, not a US Citizen.

Even though I was approved, my status (I-130 and I-485) has not changed yet as of 2 hours after the interview.

[kashewmoo 9]

Congratulations! That's so very exciting.

We still haven't had any word about our I-130 petition, but I'm remaining positive that it will all be over soon. I've given in notice to one of my two jobs so that I can work normal full time hours, and focus more on preparing for a cross country move. I have a lot of things to sort through.

[shibanpr 0]

Replied to the RFE on 10/17/2013 and was approved today. YAY!!! The RFE was for proof we can get married in NY since I live in a non-equality state.

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

Transferred? Texas Service Center on 2013-08-06

Consulate : Taipei, Taiwan

I-129F Sent : 2013-07-17

I-129F NOA1 : 2013-07-23

I-129F RFE(s) : 2013-10-1

RFE Reply(s) : 2013-10-17

I-129F NOA2 : 2013-10-24

[rjbntsk 5]

Replied to the RFE on 10/17/2013 and was approved today. YAY!!! The RFE was for proof we can get married in NY since I live in a non-equality state.

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

Transferred? Texas Service Center on 2013-08-06

Consulate : Taipei, Taiwan

I-129F Sent : 2013-07-17

I-129F NOA1 : 2013-07-23

I-129F RFE(s) : 2013-10-1

RFE Reply(s) : 2013-10-17

I-129F NOA2 : 2013-10-24

That's interesting that some of the service centers are still asking for proof of state law that allows same sex marriage - they didn't ask us for proof of California law, and they should be able to quickly look up which states do!

[Davesings 30]

Yes I think this is very discriminatory! It's obvious NY is legal.

[Susan53011 14]

Interview scheduled 12/06/13. Vancouver moved really fast once packet 3 was in the mail we emailed the info before she even received it and then asked for packet 4 to come by email, then by mid day on the following day we were scheduling our interview. Cant wait. Kinda disappointed that we have to wait 41 days more but it will be worth it!. Kinda funny, 41 days for NAO2, 45 days for case number, now 41 days for interview....pattern forming, I think so lol

[rjbntsk 5]

Interview scheduled 12/06/13. Vancouver moved really fast once packet 3 was in the mail we emailed the info before she even received it and then asked for packet 4 to come by email, then by mid day on the following day we were scheduling our interview. Cant wait. Kinda disappointed that we have to wait 41 days more but it will be worth it!. Kinda funny, 41 days for NAO2, 45 days for case number, now 41 days for interview....pattern forming, I think so lol

Good luck and all the best for your interview! Maybe you should buy some lottery tickets and use those numbers

[namour7997 2]

So glad to hear about happy endings in several stories here, i wish i could say about my predicament. I am currently in a limbo so here's my story:

My I-94 will be expiring this November, i was suppose to go back home last Oct 15 but decided to stay since i married my USC partner (now spouse) last month. As i have read here, we need to file AOS and I-CR 1 but we can't start due to the following factors: 1) same-sex marriage, 2) living in TX (same-sex marriage not recognized), 3) married at New Mexico (legality of same-sex marriage still being deliberated at Supreme Court), and 4) New Mexico Supreme Court justices will decide anytime before the year ends.

This is making me worry. My spouse is not as worried as i am and seems like taking time to file the papers.

I would appreciate any advise from someone here. Thanks

[SM & EF 41]

@namour7997

Sorry to hear you're feeling stressed. Many of us can relate and I hope yours gets relieved soon.

I am not a lawyer, and if you can afford it I would hire one. That being said, the only issue you need to focus on is whether NM same-sex marriages are confirmed. If that is settled in favor of marriage equality, it won't matter that TX doesn't recognize it because the Federal Gov't does for purposes of immigration. If marriage equality is turned down, then you should go to get married in another state. I wish I could do more than offer support, but just remember that you are not on your own.

[wornoutcowboy 6]

So glad to hear about happy endings in several stories here, i wish i could say about my predicament. I am currently in a limbo so here's my story:

My I-94 will be expiring this November, i was suppose to go back home last Oct 15 but decided to stay since i married my USC partner (now spouse) last month. As i have read here, we need to file AOS and I-CR 1 but we can't start due to the following factors: 1) same-sex marriage, 2) living in TX (same-sex marriage not recognized), 3) married at New Mexico (legality of same-sex marriage still being deliberated at Supreme Court), and 4) New Mexico Supreme Court justices will decide anytime before the year ends.

This is making me worry. My spouse is not as worried as i am and seems like taking time to file the papers.

I would appreciate any advise from someone here. Thanks

Yes, your information is a bit lacking. You state you already are married so it doesn't matter if Texas is a marriage equality state or not. You know need to be working on a change of status. Have you checked the guide on this forum? I am doing a fiance visa so am not up with the regulations required for married couples. I suggest you have a look at the guide and then post in the main forum. Best of luck to you.

[mm82 3]

Thanks for the well-wishes and best of luck to you both! Keep us updated on your progress

Thank you so much! Will do.

[Jop 0]

So glad to hear about happy endings in several stories here, i wish i could say about my predicament. I am currently in a limbo so here's my story:

My I-94 will be expiring this November, i was suppose to go back home last Oct 15 but decided to stay since i married my USC partner (now spouse) last month. As i have read here, we need to file AOS and I-CR 1 but we can't start due to the following factors: 1) same-sex marriage, 2) living in TX (same-sex marriage not recognized), 3) married at New Mexico (legality of same-sex marriage still being deliberated at Supreme Court), and 4) New Mexico Supreme Court justices will decide anytime before the year ends.

This is making me worry. My spouse is not as worried as i am and seems like taking time to file the papers.

I would appreciate any advise from someone here. Thanks

@namour7997

Sorry to hear you're feeling stressed. Many of us can relate and I hope yours gets relieved soon.

I am not a lawyer, and if you can afford it I would hire one. That being said, the only issue you need to focus on is whether NM same-sex marriages are confirmed. If that is settled in favor of marriage equality, it won't matter that TX doesn't recognize it because the Federal Gov't does for purposes of immigration. If marriage equality is turned down, then you should go to get married in another state. I wish I could do more than offer support, but just remember that you are not on your own.

Yes, your information is a bit lacking. You state you already are married so it doesn't matter if Texas is a marriage equality state or not. You know need to be working on a change of status. Have you checked the guide on this forum? I am doing a fiance visa so am not up with the regulations required for married couples. I suggest you have a look at the guide and then post in the main forum. Best of luck to you.

@namour7997:

I agree with others in this post, you may need to include more information to see if anyone can relate with your case and share their experience with you. That being said, I am on a F1 (student) my H1 (work permit) expired in May and I live in Texas.

After a section of DOMA got eliminated by the Supreme Court we checked with Lawyers and learned that "WE CAN MARRY and BE Recognized" by Immigration (USCIS), REGARDLESS of where you live.

I agree with 'SM&EF', if I was in your situation, I would marry in other state (or seek legal advice to try to "legalize" your marriage). As of today, there are 14 States (and Washington, DC) where you can legally marry your Same-Sex spouse and that Marriage will be recognized by Immigration (USCIS) as well as other Federal Agencies (such as the IRS, so you can also file Federal Taxes together).

Also, as I understand, you can process your Adjustment of Status (by Marriage with a US Citizen) even if you have overstayed your stay; therefore, I would not leave the USA if I was you. Most Immigration issues are easier to solve while you are inside the US. If you are inside the USA, you should not need to process a "IR1/CR1 Visa" since you are already here and just need to process an Adjustment of Status (http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 , http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare , http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2 ).

I am not an Immigration Lawyer, I am also describing what I understood of the Law and also what I have been told by others (some including Lawyers here in Texas and in California, which is where we got married).

Here is the information of a good, reasonably priced Immigration Lawyer: http://perryandleveridge.com/ContactUs.html

Good Luck and keep us posted;

Jairo.

P.S.: You are not alone... Just try to keep the stress down.

[namour7997 2]

@Jop, @SM & EF and @wornoutcowboy

Thanks for your encouragement, we will definitely take all of your advise into consideration. Hopefully the New Mexico Supreme Court will release its decision soonest.

Knowing we are not alone, gives us strength.

[Leono27 3]

is amazing and exciting to read each post fills me with happiness every good news, I feel like mine! unfortunately I had complications with the procedure of my papers, I've been stuck and now I have taken up the project "booklet love "as I call I-129F (K1 VISA), Congratulations to all who have made ​​it to the finish line! ... guys be nice to make a video with the assembly of the package and all documents sent as an additional illustration.