My amErican journey.
In March, I shared with you a detailed description of the enormous undertaking that was putting together my extraordinary ability green card case. Soon after, I wrote a draft of my next newsletter, all about the party I’d throw after my approval and what the year ahead would look like. Things didn’t go quite as planned. In April, Immigration sent me a request for further evidence, which was unsettling. We complied. By we, I mean my immigration sponsor who worked around the clock to gather more evidence and make this happen.
In May, dear reader, my green card was denied.
I was devastated. I was in shock. The wind was fully knocked out of me. I was angry. 18 years here and denied. More than a year of work and preparation on the case, and a decade of my life’s work, denied permanent residency. My ability as a photographer denied. My future plans denied. I have been in an absolute fog and mild existential crisis for most of this year, not to mention a wild creative block as a result.
BUT. AND. Dear Reader, I didn’t give up. I wanted to. Then I decided to apply again.
I am now thrilled to share that a couple of weeks ago, after a whirlwind few months of additional work, more stress, more letters, a photo show, more press, a stupid amount of additional money, and a real hard reminder to have more faith in myself:
MY GREEN CARD WAS APPROVED
I burst into tears when I saw the news. I was shaking. I was in shock. I called my fiance, my mom, my dad, and then my aunt. I texted my friends and more family. I went for a quick jog around the block to shake out my nerves because I couldn’t believe it. My green card was finally f*cking approved. That night, we got a little drunk.
There’s still more work to do, of course. I need to change my status by sending: proof of every visa I have ever been on since 2006, bank statements for the last 12 months (checking, savings, personal and business), 3 years of tax returns, birth certificate, passport, proof all my vaccinations and immunization since 1983, an appointment with an Immigration approved doctor, and another few thousand dollars.
Coming to America isn’t quite like the movies, kids.
You might be wondering why the denial in the first place. We’ll never really know for sure, but the short answer is: I got very unlucky with a grumpy immigration officer the first time. That’s it. The case was solid, the officer was not.
All that said, I’m feeling very proud. I’m feeling exhausted, I haven’t slept well in months. I’m feeling elated. I’m feeling like I can finally start planning my life again. Like I can finally breathe. The celebration party will happen throughout the week of my Camera of the Month Club ten year show and beyond.
I am also feeling very grateful. I could not have done this without my immigration sponsor and all the hours of hard work and the strategy to reimagine my case after a denial. With two small kids on top of that, I don’t know how she does it. Thank you forever, Kika.
A huge thank you to my parents, for their emotional and financial support for this enormous case, which I could not have done without them. My partner Adriano for his endless patience, encouragement, kindness and love. To all my friends and family, especially my fellow immigrant friends who know the stress of immigration deeply, who checked in with me throughout this entire ordeal, your support means everything.
Thank you everyone for reading.
Onwards,
Erica