immigration

Transition Update - May 2023

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One last trip to say goodbye to Tathiana’s brother and his girlfriend.

The transition of our family to the US and to Campus Outreach Serve in Birmingham, AL has had its ups and downs. Here is a short list to update everyone on where we are and what is next to come.

  • September 2022 - submit Tathiana's residency process with US authorities.

  • November 2022 - communicate to supporters about our move to the US and to Campus Outreach Serve

  • December 2022 - close-out direct responsibilities with the COBH team in Brazil

  • February 2023 - Expedite Request with US Immigration was accepted and case was approved.

  • March 2023 - Payments and Supporting documentation to US authorities

  • April 2023 - All documentation approved and Consular Interview set for June

  • May 2023 - Tathiana's medical exams and Emergency Consular Interview rescheduled for May 15th in Rio de Janeiro

We have already been served by Campus Outreach Serve staff and a longtime Counselor and professional Psychologist in preparation for our transition for our family and the impact the international move will have on us all and, also, individually. I am currently working through the book Looming Transitions by Amy Young and its accompanying workbook with family activities.

And in the midst of all this, I admit there have been some challenges. 

  • Just WAITING is never fun. And the date we wanted to make our move to settle and spend time with family in the US before school starts in August is slipping by and we are still here.

  • Our house was broken into on Easter Sunday. Most of our electronics were stolen and some other things. We have been in a long process with our insurance company to see about coverage and reimbursements. 

  • Trying to search for viable housing in Birmingham from afar is challenging. I did learn a lot about US financing, mortgages and all that adult stuff that I spent 20 years not having any experience.

These next weeks could become very fast-moving after Tathiana's interview at the Consulate in Rio on May 15th. However, we try hard not to get our hopes up until we have concrete answers and documentation in our hands. Please pray for the final chapters of closing out a life in Brazil and for the multitude of things that will begin to call attention once we land in the US.

A (simple?) Request (UPDATED on 03-20-23)

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Update 03-20-23

Within 10 business days of sending the Expedite Request to a Congressional Aide who has assisted us, not only was the Expedite Request approved, but US Immigration went ahead and reviewed our petition for Tathiana’s residency and approved it. Now the process moves onto the State Department’s National Visa Center, where they will process and activate the presiding Consulate in Brazil for an interview. Things are moving, and I thank you so much for laboring with us in prayer.

The Congressional Aide told us to not get out hopes up because the Expedite Requests are seldom granted. However, not only was it granted, but abundantly more. It is a joy to ask great things for God and received great things from God.

2023 has begun and phases in our transition have started and others have been delayed. Specifically, I want to talk about Tathiana's immigration process.

A request to US Immigration Services

On Monday, February 27th, we submitted an Expedite Request for Tathiana's permanent residency. For the past weeks I have been working with a congressional office and they were able to give us specific information that was hard to receive - currently the expectation for this process is October of 2023. Our main priority is getting to the US and at least a bit settled in Birmingham before the 2023-2024 school years starts. For this reason we decided to submit an Expedite Request.

A request to our Partners to pray

These Expedite Requests are not easily granted, so we want to ask our partners to pray with us for God's favor on our request and for it be granted.