Thank you, Radiohead!

Yesterday, Alexander and I presented ourselves at the US Immigration Service Center in Milwaukee to have our scheduled interview. This was the last step in Alex's Green Card approval. We'd been given a list of possible questions the immigration agent might ask and told to be prepared for anything and everything. We were also told to bring any and all documented evidence that showed we are a devoted and dedicated couple. For about two weeks we prepared by gathering everything we could think of - photos of us together here and in Sweden, testimonials by people who know us, ticket stubs and boarding passes from flights to and from Stockholm, legal documents like our marriage license and birth certificate. We spent night after night quizzing each other on the list of questions. What is my mother's name? Where do I work? What do I do? Describe the place we live. How did we meet? Name all of our perspective siblings. You name it, we quizzed it!

Our appointment was for 10am so we left in plenty of time to get there early but not too early. Our appointment letter warned us not to be more than 45 minutes early. We got there with about 30 minutes to spare. We checked in with ID and walked through the metal detector and were told to go to the second floor and drop the appointment letter in the mail slot outside the big door. Then we took a seat.

People were coming and going for the next 90 minutes. Agents would come out of the secured door and call a name and nervous people would get up and go in. Sometimes, they would take the man and wife separately. We watched one wife come out and her husband go in. The husband didn't come out again for almost an hour. People who arrived after us were getting called before us. And we just sat there getting more and more nervous as the time wore on. We played a mental game each time the door opened. One agent was a bright, smiling woman who greeted everyone pleasantly and one was a grumpy looking, muscle bound guy who never cracked a smile. We secretly wished we would be called by the woman.

FINALLY...the door opened and a wirey man called out our name "LINDQVIST?" We both got to go in together, which was a relief. We were escorted through a series of cubicles until we got to a private office. Alex was armed with our documents. We sat down and the questions began.

First to me: "What is your full name?" "What was your previous name?" "What is your date of birth?" "When did you get married?"

Next to Alex: "What is your name?" "What is your mother and father's name?" "What is your date of birth?" "When did you get married?" "Have you ever engaged in terrorist activities?" (Seriously, they ask that. I mean, who would say yes??)

Then to both of us: "How did you meet?"

So we started to tell him. We met online at a website for independent musicians called DMusic.com. I told him I was writing lyrics and Alex is a musician. Then he asked, "OH, What kind of music do you like?"

Alex answered, "Mostly alternative...you know, like Radiohead?"

The agent smiled and said, "I like Radiohead!" Then he asked, "What's the best Radiohead CD in your opinion?"

Alex said, "Kid A."

The agent closed our file and said, "Everything is in order here. You should get your Green Card within a month."

And that was it! The whole interview took less than ten minutes. When we got back to the car we were laughing. I wonder what might have happened if the agent hadn't been a Radiohead fan or if Alex had said OK Computer was the best CD or he had said he was a KISS fan! LOL!

Needless to say, it's over and done. The card is in the mail and this is finally the last step in what proved to be a long, long journey.

And, one interesting side affect of this journey through immigration from the immigrants side (meaning me as the wife of an immigrant) is that I have a whole new perspective on immigration reform. I can see why someone might have to try to circumvent the "system" and take their chances on an illegal entry into the US. First, it is not an easy process. It seems to be set up so you will fail. Forms are horribly difficult to navigate and retaining an attorney is hugely expensive. Just filing the forms themselves is hugely expensive with a fee attached to nearly every single piece of paper you have to file. We were lucky. Alex speaks and understands perfect English. If he didn't, compiling the information needed, completing the forms, and dealing with the Embassy and USCIS would be next to impossible. There has to be a better way. There just has to.

One last hurdle...

Tomorrow, Alexander and I have to go back to USCIS in Milwaukee for our final interview. You'd think that all would be said and done by now but no, it's not. This interview is, hopefully, the last step in getting Alex's adjustment of status to permanent resident. In other words, a Green Card.

It's been a long, long process. We started eons ago with the help of an attorney to get the K-1 fiance visa. That first step allowed him to legally come to the US to get married. The government graciously gave us 90 days from his point of entry to get that done. But we did it. Then we had to apply for an Adjustment of Status and an Employment Approval Document (EAD). Concurrently, those two applications alone cost a couple of thousand dollars and had more paperwork than is even imaginable. Not to mention all of the necessary documentation about our relationship and each other. We went it alone this time. No attorney. And thus far, we've done okay. The EAD arrived last month and now we're on to the interview portion of the status adjustment.

We got a list of possible questions off the Internet. It's funny but some people who've done that have written that immigration will ask a million questions and others only had a few questions asked. Since there's no way of knowing what exactly we're in for we have been quizzing each other nightly. Anything from siblings names, school information, describing where we live, explaining all of the times we've travelled to and from Sweden - it's all fair game. They can even ask us about our sex life if they want to. We have no way of knowing exactly what they'll ask so we're preparing for everything.

Needless to say, all of this prep has been very stressful. It's hard to think that even now, nearly 6 months into our marriage, the government could deny this adjustment. On what basis, I don't know, but they could and that, my friends, would suck. Big time.

I've already made up my mind that even though it's a long shot, if his adjustment is not approved and we're told he is illegal I will be moving to Sweden...immediately. Hopefully, it won't come to that and we can continue with our plans to save and get there in our own good time.

Wish us luck. Tomorrow is going to be something...