Time To Chill

You may have noticed that I have not been posting much lately.

I feel I need to apologise for the many quotes, but little else. I have been really busy, what with my son Max’s birthday and Christmas ten days later.

For some reason, over the past couple of weeks, I have been receiving nothing but good news, so I have been ridiculously happy – something I haven’t felt in years!

My ten year Green Card finally arrived. No conditions. No sponsor. Just me. Independent. And boy, does it feel good!

It’s time to put my feet up until the New Year. Well, as much as I can with a hyper toddler about!

Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas Everyone! ❤

Green Card Update

I wrote a post a little while ago titled ‘Nice Try‘, whereby someone had tried to access my United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account online.

Well, after battling to remove my abusive (ex) husband from the conditions, I’ve finally been successful!

I had a Green Card for just eight months before I left him, but the terms and conditions were that I had to stay with him for two years. That was not going to happen.

I submitted over fifty pages worth of documented evidence – which included statements written by myself and others and pictures.

I fought and won.

It was a very long and stressful eleven months, but it was worth it.

OM (Opinionated Man) at Harsh Reality will be pleased I went the legal route! 😛

This is for you *Steve…

(Image: donrobot.spreadshirt.com)

Nice Try

On Friday, July 4th, I went to access my U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account to see if there had been any updates. This is where I can cancel the whole process, submit more information, etc. I hadn’t looked for a few days due to being busy.

I was locked out.

Someone had tried to guess my password too many times, but was unsuccessful.

Today when the USCIS office office opens, I will be reporting it, as well asking whether or not they can track down where the person had tried to access it.

I am a Green Card Holder. I am removing my (ex) husband as my ‘sponsor’, and am going it alone. In November 2012, he only applied for me to be able to live in the US for three years, but not being able to work, therefore relying solely on him, meaning he would have complete control over me. This was after lying to me that he had applied for my Green Card back in April 2012. Considering it was he who had begged me for over a year to move to be with him, then he ended up giving me an ultimatum, therefore forcing me to make the move, I have no idea why there was a need for all the lies.

I ended up paying for my own Green Card, in more ways than one – financially and the amount of different types of abuse which rained down on me from him.

I don’t know who it was. I can only assume. In light of recent events, which I will post about real soon with supporting evidence, my assumptions may well be justified. However, I will not say who I think are involved. But I will say this to him/her/them… If you don’t like it… BITE ME! 😀

And So The Lies Continue

*Steve was pushing me to to move to the US to be with him, so I called the American Embassy in London to enquire about what I needed to do. I was told it was down to Steve to apply on my behalf as he was going to be my sponsor. Relaying the information back to him, he said that he would deal with it and that everything was in order, to include his passport, mid April 2011. I’ve already written about the lies regarding the passport (see “My Mother’s Wedding” and “Western Union Money Order“).

Once he had confessed at the end of May that he had not dealt with his passport, I asked him if he had lied about my Green Card application. He said he had and that he was sorry and would deal with it straight away. I was not happy to say the least. So, not only was he forcing me to give up my life in my beloved London so I’d be away from my family and friends, but he had also lied to me yet again regarding my application. This was after he said I would be coming out to the States in September 2011 for good. I’d told everyone. It was the second time he had narrowed it down to the month that I would be moving to be with him. He had originally said it would be in May, but then the lie about his passport was exposed, which led onto the lie about my application coming to light too. It wasn’t until I had called British Airways to book a one way flight costing $1,795/£1,280 that I realised something wasn’t right. The sales rep asked me if I had all the paperwork sorted. Listing them, she told me to ask my husband before purchasing the flights. I am thankful to her otherwise I would have wasted yet more of my own money.

I couldn’t understand why he felt the need to behave like this; I had expressed that I really didn’t want to live anywhere else apart from England, but he had stated that he didn’t want to leave me in Europe. He was harassing me to go, but was lying about everything, even when lying wasn’t necessary (not that it ever is).

An application wouldn’t be submitted until mid-November – seven months after he had initially said he was dealing with the situation. So much time had been wasted. What was the worst thing about this apart from being embarrassed when telling my family and friends he’d let me down again? He could only apply for a Petition For Alien Relative at this point. This meant I wouldn’t be able to work for three years, but could live legally in the US with him. This is definitely not what I wanted, as I needed to work. I’d worked for so long and was independent. Why would I want to change that? There is no way I’d be at home with him “supporting” me for this duration. I know now that he would have had some pleasure if it had turned out this way. It would mean Steve would have complete control over me.

(*Not his real name)