Green Card Arrived!

A month after I got my Employment's permit, I got my permanent resident card (Green Card) in the mail. That time, I said to myself that applying for EAD was a waste of money since I also got my Green Card not that long after my permit. It was only a 2yr- conditional green card so I had to renew it on 2008. But this time, it was time to relax. Forget about the immigration process for a while and enjoying life as married woman.

Job Hunting and Adjustment of Status Application

I was'nt really job hunting because my K1 visa is almost expired and because of financial reason I was not able to apply for adjustment of status and employment authorization right away. But my husband's cousin who owned a warehouse for model kit cars offered me a part time job. I worked twice a week for 7-8 hrs a day assembling parts for model kits cars.

Spring of 2006 I applied for Adjustment of Status (AOS) and Employment Authorization (EAD) at the same time. I used I-765 form for Employment Application and form I-485 for Application to Adjust Status. My EAD was approved right away. By the time I got my EAD card, I started looking for job. My first job interview was in Target. I was turned down. I was'nt upset, I did not lose hope. I kept looking for jobs while working at the warehouse. July of 2006, I submitted a job application at two different places. I had an interview at the local grocery store and was hired right away and I was scheduled for training. But I also had an interview within that week at our local nursing home. I got the job so I did not come back for another day of training at the grocery store since the nursing home pays more. I was hired a day before my birthday. I started working on the floor the next day which is my birthday.

I love my job. I've been in the same company for almost 6 years now.

Visit to Social Security Administration

By the time we got our Marriage license/certificate in the mail,we went to the Social Security Administrations office to apply for SSN#. Since I was already married I used my married name for my SSN. Some people do it the other way where by the time they get here they get their SSN # first before they get married and have it changed on their married name after they get married. Which is for me is to much work is a lot of hassle. Because some States are different. As K1 visa holder, we can only apply within 75 days of arrival or after EAD or greencard is received. In my case, since I got married right away I was able to apply for SSN within 75 days period.

I handed the lady my passport, birth certificate and. marriage license. She made a copy of all of them and returned all original documents. And, in less than 2 weeks I got my SSN card in the mail.

Marriage License Registration

The next step was marriage registration. We went to the county clerk office to have get our marriage license on Nov 2, 2005. I gave the lady my passport and shown my visa, my birth certificate and the lady made a copy of each. According to the license we had 3 months to get married.
But on the same day we went to see our Pastor. He officiated our very simple wedding witnessed by my husband's daughter and then fiance(now her husband) and a couple who was our friends and our neighbor. Our Pastor mailed the Marriage Certificate to the County Clerk within the given 10days after the marriage.
By second week of Dec,2005, we got the Certified Marriage Certificate in the mail signed by the Deputy Country Clerk.

Now we are Officially Married.

SSN Registration

Few days after I arrived, we went to the Social Security Administrations office to get my SSN#. I filled-out the form and gave them my passport and all supporting documents. They did not give me hard time. I was told to wait for 2 weeks to have the card with the # in the mail. That day had come.

October 2005- Goodbye Philippines

I left behind my family, my 2 year-old nephew that I helped raised on the afternoon of October 26, 2005. My close relatives and my family said goodbye to me . I boarded on a ship going to Cebu. I arrived the next morning and had my flight re-booked at the Northwest Airlines office in Cebu City. I had to pay a re-booking fee for $75 so I can fly the next available flight from Manila-Detroit the next morning. I left Cebu to Manila on the night of Oct. 27 boarding Philippine Airlines. Arrived at Manila Domestic Airport by midnight and had to rode a shuttle bus going to the International Airport. My flight going to the United States was not until 6:30am on Oct 28., so I waited for around 5 hrs at the airport.
Oct 28, 2005 was my Port of Entry date at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Customs security, interviewed me, checked all my luggage, interrogated me, and even threatened me that they can sent me back home right away if they would find out that I lied to them. But, you know the truth will really set a person free. After 2 hrs of interrogation and harassment  I was able to get out. Outside at airport waiting area, there my fiance was waiting for me. He told me 2 custom guys approached him and asked few questions, which was really unusual. They told him that someone called their office and told them that we were married back in the Philippines which was'nt true. Because if we were married we would go for spouse visa not fiance visa. Anyway, he told them that were were never married and we are planning to get married before my K1 visa expires. We had no idea who called and gave them the wrong information which was the reason of my long wait at the customs office.

Authors First Visa Journey

I first came to United States on October 28, 2005 through fiancee visa. My then fiance, now my husband filed a visa petition for me to join him in the US . But 9 months before that , my husband and I met in person at the very first time at Mactan International Airport in Cebu City, that was after months of chatting online. We spent 2 weeks together in my home town with my family, that was January 2005. He got to met my family and relatives. Two weeks was'nt enough for us. So three months later, on April 2005, he came to visit me for the second time. He spent 3 weeks in the Philippines. When he came back to the States he processed the papers right away.
We routed on Fiance Visa since it was the fastest route. He hired an agency to do our visa application which I think was a ripped off. But back then when we first met we had no idea on what to do and how to start the process. But as the time goes I find it a waste of money. I ended up doing most of the paperworks myself since it was that easy. I learned it through my research and from the immigration forums that I have joined. While he was in the US, I was busy of all the visa processed. I had my medical exam at St. Lukes Medical Center a month before my interview which lasted 2 days. September or First week of my October (I forgot already), I flew to Manila for my medical exam and my interview at the US Embassy in Manila. Obviously, I passed the interview. It was'nt hard. The Consul asked me some personal questions related to my fiance. I stayed at the nearby hotel with my friend from the time of my medical exam and interview. After my interview, I stayed at my Aunt's house in Manila and flew back to my home town days after to wait for my visa to be delivered. I waited for less than a week and picked-up my visa at FedEx.