We're in limbo waiting for the next step(s) in the I-130 visa application process. The application I sent (US, now also Italian citizen) for my Italian wife has been accepted but it has been parked, hiding inside the Department of State National Visa Center for almost three months.
We still have at least one more step of setting up an interview at teh Consulate in Naples (chances of that happening before or in August??).
Until the case gets added into their system, we're not sure what can be done to speed things up. We'd like our family living together again in California in time for our children to start elementary school in our neighborhood.
Here's our story:
* My wife came to the U.S. to study after receiving a Fulbright Scholarship, which requires her to return to live in Italy for two years before she can apply for a U.S. resident visa.
* We married in the U.S. and Italy in 2000
* We had two children (born in US but also Italian citizens) while my wife was working on her PhD at Berkeley
* In May 2006, my wife and children moved to Italy to fulfill the Fulbright's two-year obligation
* I maintained my career and our home, as California is where we'd all like to live and grow our family
* In February 2008, after consulting with lawyers and friends, I submitted the I-130 application for U.S. residency
* The two-year obligation is completed and now we'd like to bring everyone home in time for school
We understand it's a heady governmental process, but we've followed the rules and now we feel the process is violating our rights and unnecessarily costing us money.
Is there a family member or friend out there you know, who is working at the State Department, or who has experienced something like we're going through?
As I understand it from lawyers and Fulbrighters, we have to wait out the process and keep following the appropriate path we're on. But there's got to be something we can do.
Tags: department, fulbright, i-130, state
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