Preparing for the worst, but still hoping for the best

After turning in our I-601 waiver packet, I stumbled across this wonderful website: www.immigrate2us.net .  This is an amazing resource for anyone going through any type of immigration proceeding.  There's tons of detailed information and even more people who are going through the exact same thing that are more than willing to offer a helping hand or a sympathetic ear.  I only wish that I had found this resource sooner.

Since finding this website I have discovered that my lawyer is not NEARLY as knowledgeable as I would have hoped or expected considering the amount of money we have payed him and the amount of trust we've place in him.  And that's really scary.  I've also realized how short and unorganized my hardship letter must appear in comparison to what others have submitted.  And I've even come up with new hardship arguments that I could have used, but failed to realize earlier.  So . . . I've been a bit worried about what we will find out when October comes around.

On the flip side, The Dreamer is still positive.  And I'm extremely grateful for that.  We have a strong belief that God is in control and that despite the apparent insufficiency of our waiver packet, perhaps miracles do happen.  So I am trying to have faith and say "when" The Dreamer returns, instead of "if" The Dreamer returns when discussing the issue.

At the same time, however, I do feel that it would be negligent on my part not to prepare for the worst, just in case.  So I have been trying to investigate the options we have for recourse if our waiver packet gets denied.  I know that we will only have 30 days from the denial to turn in some form of new paperwork, so I have begun organizing and writing it all.  I think that I will probably forgo the use of our lawyer if the extra paperwork becomes necessary, because to be honest, I'm quite disappointed with the service he has provided thus far.

Please keep us in your prayers, because we do believe that prayer makes a difference.  And I can't even imagine the joy that I will feel WHEN The Dreamer and I receive news of an approval.  Just imagine lots of dancing, crying, laughing, jumping up and down and screaming "WE'RE APPROVED!", probably followed by an awe-struck, unbelieving silence.  (Or maybe it will be the silence first and the celebration second?  Who cares, just so long as it happens.)

Done Justifying

It doesn’t matter how long we knew each other before we started dating or how long we were engaged before we got married.  It doesn’t matter the circumstances under which we met, either.  If we were two Americans or two Peruvians there would never be a question of motives.
 

When I met my husband, he was 36 years old.  He had been in the U.S. for over 7 years and if he had wanted to marry “for papers” he could have done it in much less than that amount of time, but that was never his plan.  As a 36-year-old man, though, he was ready to settle down.  He was looking for a nice girl with whom he could spend the rest of his life and create a family with.  Now, if my husband were a 36-year-old American, this would not be at all odd.  In fact, it might be considered quite common.   But, because he’s from Peru, everyone wants to automatically think that he was just looking for a way to get legal.

But, I know that my husband loves me and he knows that I love him and, above all, God knows that we love each other.  We’re the only three that are truly able to judge our situation and it angers me that I would ever have to stand trial as to the validity of my marriage to anyone else.

My parents never had to explain why they love each other or prove that love and neither have any of my married friends or family members.  And I’m sure that there are American citizen couples who marry for less virtuous reasons than just pure love.  There are people that marry every day for money, but not even they have to stand trial and explain their motivations.  So why should I?

I’m done trying to gain the acceptance of others.  Let them think what they will.  God, The Dreamer and I know the truth, and that’s all that matters.