Immigration interview, next month

We got an email from our lawyer next week, stating that they had recieved notice from USCIS that our interview has been scheduled for January 22nd at 11am.

It was a little shocking, because we had expected to be waiting a few more months before hearing anything. But it's good. Things are moving along, and hopefully before long we will no longer have all this uncertainty hanging over our heads. We will actually be able to make long-term plans. Of course, I know that unexpected things happen all the time to ruin plans, and that shouldn't stop you from planning anything, but it's different when you are fully aware of something that could likely happen that would change all of your plans for the future. So I will be thankful when it's just back to the normal, "life is full of surprises" deal.

I feel like our prospects are good, and I'm very thankful that our lawyer will be with us during the interview--although it will cost us an arm and a leg because she charges $300/hour. Now, I'm sure part of that probably goes to her firm and everything, but even if 2/3rds of it goes to the firm, that's still $100/hour! I have a hard time wrapping my head around that. We have already spent over $6000 on her services since moving to WA, as she prepared T's application. Anyway, it's worth it, even though it means a little debt and no savings for us, because the alternative would be to greatly increase the odds that T will be permanently expelled from the United States.

After the interview, we will wait for a decision. Some people get granted their green cards right there at the interview, but it's highly unlikely that that will happen to us, because the case is complex. Last time, when we interviewed at the Anchorage office, it took about four months for them to mail us a decision. And their letter wasn't pretty. It said Teela had been denied his permanent residency and "must depart the United States." Later they sent a letter retracting that order, because they realized that he still had a valid work visa that had not yet expired. But not before we thoroughly freaked out, and started a mass letter-writing campaign.

I hope it's a little better this time, although there is more at stake now, because his work visa has expired, and he is not allowed any more extensions. This is the last chance. If the green card is denied, we go through court proceedings to contest the decision. If it comes to that, the judges decision is final, and there is no way to make a further appeal.

But, as I said before, I think our prospects our good. And if worse comes to worse, we will try for Canada. I think I would actually be pretty happy in BC. Whatever the decision will be, we will probably know by spring! Mostly I'm just tired of not knowing. Either way, it will be nice to have a decision, and move on with life.