Lesbian Couple Looking for Advice with Marriage/Doma/Etc

[devo6786 10]

Hi!

Quick background: Im in a lesbian relationship living in California (I am the USC). We have been married since 2007 in Toronto, canada. Due to Prop 8 being overturned, we are now legally married (we called and asked if we had to get REMARRIED in Cali and we were told NO, that it would be illegal, lol). DOMA was also appealed the same day, meaning my wife could apply for a GC.

My wife is from Canada. Gay marriage in Canada has been legal for a long time now. We have been together since 2004. We got married in Toronto, Canada in 2007. Now, obviously, that didnt matter (to CA or the US government) until this past June. My wife moved here in 2008 on an f-1 and went to law school. Graduated, got her OPT (valid for one year). Right before her OPT expired we applied for her GC.

SO far, all has gone as planned. She even has her EAD card, and this past Monday we went to the DMV to get her CA ID. Our AOS interview is scheduled for Nov 8 in San Bernardino, CA at 10am.

So far I have gotten together over 150 photos (we have THOUSANDS between her facebook, mine, my moms, old photos, I tried to get together pics from major holidays for the past 9 years), insurance in my name but with her as a domestic partner (the company I work for allows this, even if you are gay and not legally married), car insurance, joint checking and savings accounts and a letter from the bank saying we opened these in 2008, cell phone bills and print outs, the couple of medical bills we have for when my wife went to the doctor for her shots, dental and eyes, 3 letters: one from my mom, my sister and my best friend who was a witness at our wedding, all the other stuff they ask for (passports/birth certificates/forms/w2s/etc), about 10-15 travel documents to and from canada, etc.

Im MOSTLY worried about the fact that we have been married since 07, wife came here on a f-1 (not knowing DOMA would be over turned). Im worried about the logistics and time frame of OPT expiring (literally 1.5 months AFTER DOMA was over turned). Whether or not they will question her intend to stay (before DOMA was overturned)? We honestly didnt know what we were going to do after her OPT expired. Hopefully a TN Visa...or something..I didnt mind moving back to Toronto, at that time, if necessary. We just wanted to be together after a 4 year long distance relationship.

Funny enough, my wife IS a lawyer in CA now, she says not to worry, but as always, I cant help myself and would like others opinions?

Anything Im forgetting? Any advice on what happened with DOMA and not to flood the person interviewing us with facts? My wife is also VERY oblivious. I joke she should be a man (not trying to be rude). She would never know what color my tooth brush is, who what type of tooth paste we use. Shes just like that.

Am I worrying too much?

EDIT: im also worried about the income part. I just have to make 125% over the poverty level for 2 people (no kids), correct? It doesnt seem like I make enough (personally), I think 125% is almost 20k a year, Last year I made about 28k and this year its a projected 34k

[dwheels76 5,469]

Hi!

Quick background: Im in a lesbian relationship living in California (I am the USC). We have been married since 2007 in Toronto, canada. Due to Prop 8 being overturned, we are now legally married (we called and asked if we had to get REMARRIED in Cali and we were told NO, that it would be illegal, lol). DOMA was also appealed the same day, meaning my wife could apply for a GC.

My wife is from Canada. Gay marriage in Canada has been legal for a long time now. We have been together since 2004. We got married in Toronto, Canada in 2007. Now, obviously, that didnt matter (to CA or the US government) until this past June. My wife moved here in 2008 on an f-1 and went to law school. Graduated, got her OPT (valid for one year). Right before her OPT expired we applied for her GC.

SO far, all has gone as planned. She even has her EAD card, and this past Monday we went to the DMV to get her CA ID. Our AOS interview is scheduled for Nov 8 in San Bernardino, CA at 10am.

So far I have gotten together over 150 photos (we have THOUSANDS between her facebook, mine, my moms, old photos, I tried to get together pics from major holidays for the past 9 years), insurance in my name but with her as a domestic partner (the company I work for allows this, even if you are gay and not legally married), car insurance, joint checking and savings accounts and a letter from the bank saying we opened these in 2008, cell phone bills and print outs, the couple of medical bills we have for when my wife went to the doctor for her shots, dental and eyes, 3 letters: one from my mom, my sister and my best friend who was a witness at our wedding, all the other stuff they ask for (passports/birth certificates/forms/w2s/etc), about 10-15 travel documents to and from canada, etc.

Im MOSTLY worried about the fact that we have been married since 07, wife came here on a f-1 (not knowing DOMA would be over turned). Im worried about the logistics and time frame of OPT expiring (literally 1.5 months AFTER DOMA was over turned). Whether or not they will question her intend to stay (before DOMA was overturned)? We honestly didnt know what we were going to do after her OPT expired. Hopefully a TN Visa...or something..I didnt mind moving back to Toronto, at that time, if necessary. We just wanted to be together after a 4 year long distance relationship.

Funny enough, my wife IS a lawyer in CA now, she says not to worry, but as always, I cant help myself and would like others opinions?

Anything Im forgetting? Any advice on what happened with DOMA and not to flood the person interviewing us with facts? My wife is also VERY oblivious. I joke she should be a man (not trying to be rude). She would never know what color my tooth brush is, who what type of tooth paste we use. Shes just like that.

Am I worrying too much?

EDIT: im also worried about the income part. I just have to make 125% over the poverty level for 2 people (no kids), correct? It doesnt seem like I make enough (personally), I think 125% is almost 20k a year, Last year I made about 28k and this year its a projected 34k

STOP. Yes you are over worrying. If ever I saw a more well put together package of evidence of a bonafide relationship is yours. You are legally married which means any expired Visa or overstay is forgiven.

You make more than enough (its $19334) you need to make at the least for 2. So you are good.

Listen to your wife. Chillax it is well. And congratulations.

[devo6786 10]

Thanks! I will post about our experience with the AOS interview as soon as it is over. I just hope whoever we get isnt hateful towards GLBT people

Thanks again!

[devo6786 10]

And I just want to throw this out here, because I really couldnt find too much information for GLBT couples besides the headline news stuff: If anyone similar to my situation has any questions please feel free to message me. I will have my wife help as much as possible with any questions or anything anyone has.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yep, looks good to me too. If you make enough to qualify, you make enough. Its a Pass-Fail thing. If you are over the threshold, you pass. Nothing more to it (as you can see the threshold is rather low).

Looks like you have lots of joint stuff too. Good luck!