American-Japanese family split by immigration mistake is reunited in Florida

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

American-Japanese family split by immigration mistake is reunited in Florida

The Associated Press

Published: August 28, 2007

BRADENTON, Florida: An American man was reunited with his Japanese wife and two children after the family successfully tangled with the U.S. immigration bureaucracy that had disrupted their lives.

Keith Campbell, 47, said Tuesday that he never lost faith that his Japanese-born wife, Akiko Campbell, 41, and their two U.S.-born sons Leo, 5, and Micah, 2, would be allowed to come home again.

Akiko Campbell and the two boys flew back to Florida Friday. They had been stuck in Japan since a January visit because of an immigration dispute that underscored how mistakes in the complicated visa process can sometimes have life-changing consequences for foreign relatives of U.S. citizens.

The family is back together in Bradenton now, thanks to a rare hardship waiver granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

"Being home, it was like I've been here the whole time but have just been through an eight-month nightmare," said Akiko Campbell, 41, who acknowledged that she thought she would never be allowed to return to the U.S.

Keith Campbell, an American who met his wife while working in Asia, said he thinks the media attention, his Web site dedicated to the plight and numerous letters written to lawmakers from friends and supporters helped persuade U.S. immigration officials to issue the waiver.

Federal immigration officials said Akiko Campbell committed fraud when she entered the United States in 1998 with a fiancee visa, even though she had already gotten married to Keith. The Campbells contend they were following directions from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

Akiko Campbell was denied permanent residency after that, despite years of working with lawyers and filing numerous appeals. Meanwhile, she made her home in the United States for nine years and gave birth to her two sons here.

They thought the problem was finally solved when they got a letter instructing Akiko to fly back to Tokyo and pick up a new visa there. But when she arrived in January, she learned the visa would not be issued and, because the U.S. officials said fraud was involved, she would not be allowed to re-enter the United States for 10 years.

She got another call several weeks ago from the embassy informing her the hardship waiver had been granted. Now back in the United States, she can apply for permanent residency.

Advocates for families separated by unforgiving immigration policies say what happened to the Campbells is more common than people think. A group called American Families United was formed last year to raise awareness of the problems and lobby Congress.

"We're ecstatic that she's back," said Randall Emery, co-founder of the group. "That's what we're working for. We're continuing the effort to reform the laws so that this is the rule rather than the exception."

Citing privacy laws, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Chris Bentley declined to comment specifically on the Campbells' case. Hardship waivers are "not the normal turn of events," he said, but are considered on a case-by-case basis.

[almaty 19]

good news..i posted that story a couple of months ago..prior to the decision....