The scenes in last week’s green card interview can now be officially inaugurated in the Ruffolo Hall of Fame of the Most Epic Encounters. Our babysitter and back-up babysitter bailed out an hour before our interview so Jeff and I had no choice but to take the twins and the baby with us for the interview.
Our marriage is not a fraud and if you’ve been reading my posts in the last four years (whether you like it or not as I’m pretty sure those posts have appeared in your newsfeeds), you know I married for love and made children out of love.
But I always overprepare.
I was born that way.
Folders and envelopes containing original and copied documents were placed in a shopping bag bearing the logo of Kalispell Regional Medical Center as we entered the USCIS Building in Helena, Montana.
I didn’t sleep the night before the interview as I made sure all the documents were complete. I even had a list of additional documents to photocopy and print three hours before the scheduled interview.
I prepared my outfit: my clothes, my shoes, my makeup. Jeff and I had a rundown of dates of when and how we met, who proposed, where the proposal happened, the wedding, and basically all details about our courtship, boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, proposal, marriage, and family life.
I always think of worst case scenarios so I also anticipated being placed in separate rooms and being asked the same set of questions. I pictured myself as Sandra Bullock in The Proposal, composed and pretty in the midst of stress. I had this image of myself standing in the middle of the room ala Miss Philippines, now Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, answering questions on point with a confident streak.
But here’s what happened:
- I arrived at the USCIS building an hour before the scheduled interview and told the security officer of my dilemma. He said it’s okay to bring kids but just make sure we don’t bring strollers. I said we don’t. He said we can check in even if we’re very early since there are no other people waiting.
- I returned to the car to tell Jeff we have the go signal. Nick and Toni ran to the building while Jeff was unlocking JJ’s car seat. I was silently praying that the kids won’t cry, scream, or misbehave or do something that would piss off the immigration officer.
- But as you know, kids are kids.
- Nicholas was fascinated by the structure of the metal detector. Antoinette whined, screamed, and threw herself on the floor. The security officer is an angel. He was awesome and told us he’ll tell the immigration officer in advance about our situation. Around this time, JJ who is the happiest baby in the world and seldom cries, cried. Goodness. I was near tears.
- Immigration officer called “Jeff and Cris” and the entire troupe went inside a special room. Antoinette didn’t want to join us, threw herself on the ground for the nth time. Nicholas was happy and proceed to stand behind the officer’s chair. JJ cried. Oh great!
- Inside the interview room, Antoinette continued her meltdown. The officer tried to tell her to be quiet; she screamed at him in response. Nicholas took off his socks and shoes. Jeff gave me the where’s-the-duct-tape look.
- Officer said the sequence might be: couple interview, then he’ll interview me, then he’ll interview Jeff. He then asked me questions from the form I submitted and then I answered some yes/no questions. Then he said: I think I got everything I need. At this point, I had to pick up JJ and gave him milk.
- Officer said: “As I can see… you’re all set.”
- Jeff said: “What does that mean? Are we good?”
- Officer said: “You might get the card in the mail the earliest next week but it should not be more than two months.”
- I put on Nicholas socks and shoes. Antoinette stood up and said “goodbye” to the immigration officer. She was nice to him.
- We waved goodbye to the security officer, went back to the hotel room to pack up, and spent another five hours on the road to go home to Kalispell.
There is no better documentation of a bona fide marriage than children, especially when they’re screaming.
I checked the USCIS website yesterday (Sunday) and it said the card is now on its way to our address. It might be in the mailbox the moment this post is published.
So… looks like I’m now a legit resident of this country.
More adventures await…
