Approved - 16.09.14 in Your Face

For those who don’t already know, my green card has been approved. Here is how it went down:

Mother was working in Sydney today and offered me a lift. I had planned on taking the train, but accepted her offer as it meant I didn’t have to high tail it to the train station at 5am.

The trip down was great, until we reached the city. Then it was gridlock. Absolute gridlock. My appointment was for 9:30am and we should have been dropping me off by about 9:15am, but instead I watched the hands on my watch tick to 9:30am, and then to 10:00am.

I was sitting in the back of the car, stiff as a board, sweating buckets and silently panicking. Mother’s work colleague was pleasant and chatty, but I couldn’t even manage pleasantries. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, just bad luck. I felt like bursting into tears, even though I was reassuring myself that everything happens for a reason, and that if today isn’t the day, it’s not the end of the world.

Eventually we got close and I leapt out of the car at a red light and paced it up the slope to the US Consulate, which made it my third trip there in total.

Ran inside, waited impatiently in the lift, and dashed into the reception. I handed over my bag, confirmed that my phone was switched off and left in the bag. Removed my belt for the metal detector (but was allowed to leave my shoes on). My sunglasses were confiscated and placed with my bag, and I took my wallet and paperwork and sat in the waiting area.

The security officer took me up in the lift to the 57th (or thereabouts) floor, where I explained the reason for my visit to a woman behind bullet proof glass, who opened a huge, thick door (think of a safe door) and let me in to the next area. Itook a number and waited. They make “appointments”, but there is no set schedule. It’s just taking a number and waiting your turn. I knew this when we were running late, but was still in a panic because this is so important!!!

I was called and handed over my documents. It’s worth mentioning that the staff up there are also behind bullet proof glass, and communicate through you via speaker and microphone sets. Gave new sets of fingerprints and answered basic questions about my case. Paid a new visa fee (ouch!) and went back to the waiting area.

After a while I was called back, and interviewed at length. We discussed the new documents I had brought in, and I explained that I didn’t have the letter from M regarding his tax return yet, but that he hadn’t filed any in 2013 because he had no income in that tax year. The guy marked a requisition sheet and my heart sank. I knew I was supposed to have that letter with me before I could get approved, but I still had that small shred of hope. The letter will arrive this week, but you know. The guy reviewed my case, wandered away, came back, wandered away again. He came back and asked a few more standard questions, then he closed my file and tied legal tape around it. He said he had approved my visa. I burst into tears and said, “Even though I don’t have the letter yet?” He said something like, “Yes, I’m satisfied with the reason for not filing, the employer’s letter is enough.” I thanked him and was a bit sooky and watery eyed while he explained what to do with my package when I receive it.

And that was it. I went back down to the 10th floor and collected my belongings and walked out. I wandered around in a daze for nearly an hour before getting my head together and finding a train station so I could get home.

I still can’t believe that is it. After so long, it’s done. I want to believe it hasn’t happened, and I need to do something else, but I don’t have the requisition. I guess I am difficult to please, and it will take my passport in my hand before I actually believe it.

I am leaving on the 3rd of October, as I had hoped for. I feel so lucky.