BINATIONAL SAME SEX COUPLES !! Show up!

[Juan Bravo 14]

Hello All,

It helps so much to read your stories... it's just so random sometimes.. my husband is in Sydney and we are awaiting our NOA2 which if I believe the avg times shown could be more a long time away! Happy to hear from other Australian experiences.

[zuluweta 250]

Hi! Just popping up in this thread to check in.

I'm the non-USC beneficiary and we are a binational same-sex couple for almost 19 years (19 year anniversary coming up in January 2014).

My USC fiancé/domestic partner and I met online in December 1994 via the Usenet Newsgroups (does anyone else here know what Usenet and Newsgroups are? LOL) when we were both in college in the same state (a marriage equality state now).

After meeting in person in January 1995, we have been a couple since, and we have lived together for many years and also lived apart for many years. Our love kept our relationship together even as we were physically kept apart by an unconstitutional law (DOMA).

Thanks to Justice Anthony Kennedy's brilliant opinion in Windsor v. United States (and thanks to Edith Windsor's almost quixotic search for justice), we are now achieving immigration equality.

Here's to our liberation from the shackles of an unconstitutional law foisted upon us by reactionary, homophobic politicians and a toast to our pursuit of happiness with our loved one.

[kmiami15 8]

Hi! Just popping up in this thread to check in.

I'm the non-USC beneficiary and we are a binational same-sex couple for almost 19 years (19 year anniversary coming up in January 2014).

My USC fiancé/domestic partner and I met online in December 1994 via the Usenet Newsgroups (does anyone else here know what Usenet and Newsgroups are? LOL) when we were both in college in the same state (a marriage equality state now).

After meeting in person in January 1995, we have been a couple since, and we have lived together for many years and also lived apart for many years. Our love kept our relationship together even as we were physically kept apart by an unconstitutional law (DOMA).

Thanks to Justice Anthony Kennedy's brilliant opinion in Windsor v. United States (and thanks to Edith Windsor's almost quixotic search for justice), we are now achieving immigration equality.

Here's to our liberation from the shackles of an unconstitutional law foisted upon us by reactionary, homophobic politicians and a toast to our pursuit of happiness with our loved one.

wow!!! I really admire you guys.... congrats!!!! my fiance and I have been in the distance for two years and I am almost going crazy so I can imagine 19 years living together and living apart... it must be tough... keep it up.... soon to be united forever and ever.... and don´t forget to invite us to the wedding... I guess I just invited myself haha....

[TicoLover 17]

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.

Good ideas. I would like to see more photos and illustrations on this website.

[Ty_GIJoe 5]

Hey all... Just want to provide an update to my initial post below back in August. We finally have our visa interview next week. Fingers crossed and hopefully we'll be the first military family couple to get our visa from the Frankfurt Consulate! Very excited yet also nervous as well. Can't wait since we are departing to go back to the US in late December. Will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed.

-Ty

I'm an active duty US Soldier. My husband and I have been married for over a year and met him shortly after I arrived to Germany. He is Italian but born and raised in Germany. We started the process with the US Consulate in Frankfurt and were happy how everyone treated us very well. We'll be moving back to the US in December and submitted the petition for my husband the first week in July. We were told we were the first same sex married couple to submit an application in Frankfurt.

Prior to DOMA my situation has been so very stressful as our future was very uncertain. With the military dictating assignments my chances of staying in Germany or another EU country were slim to none. I'm anxiously awaiting our first letter from the consulate! Thanks to all the binationals who have posted and provided motivation for others.

Best Wishes,

Ty

[TicoLover 17]

Hi! Just popping up in this thread to check in.

I'm the non-USC beneficiary and we are a binational same-sex couple for almost 19 years (19 year anniversary coming up in January 2014).

My USC fiancé/domestic partner and I met online in December 1994 via the Usenet Newsgroups (does anyone else here know what Usenet and Newsgroups are? LOL) when we were both in college in the same state (a marriage equality state now).

After meeting in person in January 1995, we have been a couple since, and we have lived together for many years and also lived apart for many years. Our love kept our relationship together even as we were physically kept apart by an unconstitutional law (DOMA).

Thanks to Justice Anthony Kennedy's brilliant opinion in Windsor v. United States (and thanks to Edith Windsor's almost quixotic search for justice), we are now achieving immigration equality.

Here's to our liberation from the shackles of an unconstitutional law foisted upon us by reactionary, homophobic politicians and a toast to our pursuit of happiness with our loved one.

Congratulations. Very well written comment. Do you remember gay chat rooms on Procomm from about 1990?

[Erica & L 50]

Hey all,

I met my wife online back in January and she came up to Vancouver, Canada from Decatur, Alabama to meet and visit with me for 3 months. Half way through the visit, we decided to book flights to come back down here on June 25th, 2013 (the day before the change in DOMA happened) which we didn't even find out about until about a month later. Up until this point, we just thought we would have to "snow bird" back and forth for 6 months at a time, but when we found out about DOMA, we decided it would be best to pursue immigration here for a variety of reasons. My wife has family here, a long-term job, and we have a place to stay for cheap until we get this all paid for and can look for a new rental for ourselves. The only tie to Canada I had was my friends, as I'm estranged from most of my family.

We got married September 25th, and had to pay $300 dollars just to drive and stay in Maryland, the closest state that allows gay marriage. It just blows my mind how it's 2013 and we couldn't get married in our own county's courthouse. Maybe it's because I came from Vancouver, that has a super large gay district, to the middle of the bible belt hah, but yeah, we are in the process of getting everything together for the I-130 + I-485 package, stressful but it'll be worth it!

[TicoLover 17]

Hello All,

It helps so much to read your stories... it's just so random sometimes.. my husband is in Sydney and we are awaiting our NOA2 which if I believe the avg times shown could be more a long time away! Happy to hear from other Australian experiences.

Everyone should read your immigration story in your profile page. It made me mad that just in the last couple of years you had been threatened with denial of entry because ICE knew you were married. I'm more sure than ever that my husband and I made the right decision for him to overstay his visa 7 years ago and not get married until DOMA was overturned. I've come across several ICE agents over the years who have been homophobic jerks. After my husband decided to stay in the US, I've been flying back and forth to Costa Rica every 6 months to take presents to his family and take video and photos of his family and bring back most of his property in my suitcases slowly over the years. One time I was bringing back his video collection and they went through every video and played several of them and when they across Brokeback Mountain the agent called it pornography!

[ivanalex1980 34]

Hello every one

wow i just checked USCIS web site required documents to bring to the interview for K1 fiance visa and the only form they ask to complete is DS-160

they never mention any more any of those DS 156, DS 156K and DS 230

before they never mentioned DS-160 cause it was for B1/B2 visa, and now they ask jusy DS-160

did any one know anything about this news?

[Juan Bravo 14]

Everyone should read your immigration story in your profile page. It made me mad that just in the last couple of years you had been threatened with denial of entry because ICE knew you were married. I'm more sure than ever that my husband and I made the right decision for him to overstay his visa 7 years ago and not get married until DOMA was overturned. I've come across several ICE agents over the years who have been homophobic jerks. After my husband decided to stay in the US, I've been flying back and forth to Costa Rica every 6 months to take presents to his family and take video and photos of his family and bring back most of his property in my suitcases slowly over the years. One time I was bringing back his video collection and they went through every video and played several of them and when they across Brokeback Mountain the agent called it pornography!

Thank you TicoLover... I didn't mention the details when Ben was detained for questioning (and I was only allowed to be present for the last part) but they did the same thing of going through everything.. pictures on his phone, everything! I could see they were laughing at a lot of the pics... some of which were quite personal. Up until then we had encountered quite nice ICE agents and had not had a problem. The good thing is he was not denied entry since nothing was found but that's when he got the warning to leave before his 90 day tourist visa was up and not come back. Now comes the long nervous wait!

[hklad 9]

Thank you TicoLover... I didn't mention the details when Ben was detained for questioning (and I was only allowed to be present for the last part) but they did the same thing of going through everything.. pictures on his phone, everything! I could see they were laughing at a lot of the pics... some of which were quite personal. Up until then we had encountered quite nice ICE agents and had not had a problem. The good thing is he was not denied entry since nothing was found but that's when he got the warning to leave before his 90 day tourist visa was up and not come back. Now comes the long nervous wait!

I have had my fair share of horror stories at the border and a lot of those happened at land crossings, which I observes that the agents tend to be a lot more narrow minded there. I found it very insulting that before DOMA was repealed, it was bad either we claimed the same sex relationship or not. If not, they look through all your stuff while they belittle you and try to make a liar out of you. If so, they deny you as having immigrant intent. I have had more than one agents who accused me of wanting to "adjust my status" once I get into the US when I just asked him a simple "how" (before June 2013)?

It's unfortunate that the CBP tends to attract the worst type of personalities, those commando who think the whole world is out to do harm to the US. Worse, unlike your Police Department, many Constitutional rights are suspended during your inspection at the border, including your rights to counsel and your right to refuse search and illegal seizure. The agents know that much and take full advantage. They also know you have the right to have the case looked at by a supervisor and there is a phone that you could lodge a complaint, but after hours of interrogation, who in the right mind would fight that? Do you know there is a jail cell at most if not all POEs?

I would correct Juan Bravo on one count, even if your partner was denied entry, that has nothing to do with K1 because while it is categorized as an non-immigrant visa, it is dual intent, like the the H1-B. So even if your partner was denied entry based on having immigrant intent and he goes on to obtain a K1 visa. When he activate that at the border, he could display all the immigrant intents he wants and he can't be denied again based on that.

[Jop 0]

Another step... Yesterday (October 28) I Received Text Message and E-Mail about My EAD Card (I-765): "We Ordered Production of your new card...". The status Changed from "Initial Review" to "Card/Document Production".

I also got a message about the Advanced Parole: "On October 28, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I131 APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT.". The status Changed from "Initial Review" to "Post Decision Activity".

So, it is likely that I will receive the Combined EAD and AP Card soon... Waiting Anxiously for the Interview on NOVEMBER 15.

Thanks;

Jairo.

UPDATED Timeline:

July 2013 - Married in California.
May 30 - Sent Adjustment of Status Request from H1B to F1 (I-539).
May 31 - H1B Expired.

August 27, 2013 - Sent I-130, I-131, I-485 and I-765.
August 29, 2013 - Received Notices about concurrent filling of I-130, I-131, I-485 and I-765.

September 4, 2013 - Received Biometrics Appointment Notice (for I-485 and I-765).
September 23, 2013 - Biometrics Appointment Done (in Fort Worth).

October 1, 2013 - Received Text Message (and e-mail a day after) about I-485 case status change from Initial Review to Testing and Interview.

October 18, 2013 - Received Letter (U.S. Mail) confirming appointment for the Interview set for November 15 in Dallas (Irving).

October 22, 2013 - After a five month wait (due to big delays at the Vermont Center) my Change of Status (from H1 to F1) was APPROVED (Received Text Message and E-Mail). As of October 29, I have not yet received the actual Approval Letter, which is needed by the University to let me go back to work (part time).

October 28, 2013 - Received Text Message and E-Mail about Document Production for EAD Card and AP = Approved (I-765 & I-131).

Waiting:
- EAD Card Delivery (also AP). Waiting on the Card/Tracking Info and shipping Details via Mail Carrier.
- AOS Interview (and approval) - Scheduled for November 15.

[Juan Bravo 14]

I have had my fair share of horror stories at the border and a lot of those happened at land crossings, which I observes that the agents tend to be a lot more narrow minded there. I found it very insulting that before DOMA was repealed, it was bad either we claimed the same sex relationship or not. If not, they look through all your stuff while they belittle you and try to make a liar out of you. If so, they deny you as having immigrant intent. I have had more than one agents who accused me of wanting to "adjust my status" once I get into the US when I just asked him a simple "how" (before June 2013)?

It's unfortunate that the CBP tends to attract the worst type of personalities, those commando who think the whole world is out to do harm to the US. Worse, unlike your Police Department, many Constitutional rights are suspended during your inspection at the border, including your rights to counsel and your right to refuse search and illegal seizure. The agents know that much and take full advantage. They also know you have the right to have the case looked at by a supervisor and there is a phone that you could lodge a complaint, but after hours of interrogation, who in the right mind would fight that? Do you know there is a jail cell at most if not all POEs?

I would correct Juan Bravo on one count, even if your partner was denied entry, that has nothing to do with K1 because while it is categorized as an non-immigrant visa, it is dual intent, like the the H1-B. So even if your partner was denied entry based on having immigrant intent and he goes on to obtain a K1 visa. When he activate that at the border, he could display all the immigrant intents he wants and he can't be denied again based on that.

Hi hklad,

Yes I agree when it's happening to you it can be very a intimidating situation.

Hi hklad,

Yes I agree when it's happening to you it can be very a intimidating situation.

[SM & EF 41]

@jairo

Congratulations! Hope it arrives quickly. We're expecting EAD tomorrow! Waiting till the interview will be the worst. Is it Nov. 20th yet?

Sean

[zuluweta 250]

wow!!! I really admire you guys.... congrats!!!! my fiance and I have been in the distance for two years and I am almost going crazy so I can imagine 19 years living together and living apart... it must be tough... keep it up.... soon to be united forever and ever.... and don´t forget to invite us to the wedding... I guess I just invited myself haha.... :joy::rofl:

@kmiami15

Thanks. Are you currently living apart from your fiancé? I know how difficult that is. Oh yes, you bet. But at least you've begun the process of being reunited so you can look forward to that.

When my partner and I had to first live apart from each other, DOMA was reigning supreme, there was even talk by the homophobic right-wing politicians and their media boys and girls carrying water for those devils about introducing a federal anti-gay marriage amendment to the US Constitution, and no legal same-sex marriages had been performed in any state of the nation. That's how bleak the situation was for us then. It really seemed hopeless.

Congratulations. Very well written comment. Do you remember gay chat rooms on Procomm from about 1990?

@TicoLover

Thanks. Sorry but I'm not familiar with Procomm. I was a student living from paycheck to paycheck on my on-campus jobs. I could only afford the free Internet through my student and research accounts at the university.