Um, okay, uh, good news!

Well, I have good news, although the past twelve hours have been unnerving and confusing to say the least.

I obsessively check the Immigration website throughout the day, much like I obsessively check all the blogs I read and my email. Earlier in the day there had been an update on the Immigration site that indicated (re. my post of a few days ago) that the time frame for processing had not actually regressed, but that they were just reporting it in a different fashion. Well, that was good, nonetheless, they are still working on applications filed two full months before ours. My frustration faded though, and I just resigned myself to more waiting. A few hours later, when I checked my email, there at 8 pm, was an email from the Immigration people. I assumed that it would be an email indicating the new change in reporting. It wasn't :) They approved us.

I shrieked a little, it must have been an odd noise because Smeagol did that head tilt thing that animals do when they are confused. I immediately called Paul on his cell, at work. I got his voice mail and I didn't want to tell him that way, so I forced my voice into audible-to-humans range and left a message that it was 'nothing urgent, but call back when you can'. In the meantime, I called my mom, cause I couldn't wait to tell someone. She immediately started making wedding plans. I got a call on the other line and switched over to find that it was Paul. He doesn't get breaks at work so I asked if he just had a down minute to call me or what. His reply, which I shall never forget, was a whispered "I'm dooking!". So I told Paul about my acceptance while he was pooping in the bathroom at work.

We were/are very excited. But, you know me - the excitement lasted about an hour and then I started checking websites to see what's next. I got some information, but, the sites are often so complex that it is hard to understand what applies in your particular circumstance. Paul and I went to bed late and neither of us could sleep. Eventually, he slumbered, but I tossed restlessly on. At some point I must have fallen asleep because I had hideous, HIDEOUS dreams, the kind where you think you are awake. I dreamt that I was lying there awake and all of a sudden a pair of eyes appeared in the air in front of me. "Pop" went the eyes as they appeared. Then another "pop" and the rest of a face appeared. It was David Duchovny! Normally, David's appearance in my dreams would signify something great about to happen, but no, in this case he looked at me in a very horrifying way and then said "NO!" (like in the South Park movie when Kenny thinks he's going to heaven and there are all the naked ladies and then suddenly "NO!" and he falls down to hell. Like that.) And he was suddenly an Immigration officer denying our petition. I woke up then and decided that enough was enough.

When I got up, I called Immigration and was told, very politely (they are always very nice) that I had indeed been approved but that it was now out of their hands and I would have to call the National Visa Center. So, the way it works is that we have now completed Phase One (please, God, let phase three be profit). Phase One is acceptance by the Immigration People. They then send the whole shebang to the NVC who processes it and sends it on to a consulate or embassy in Canada. The consulate or embassy then contacts Paul and I to let us know when I will be interviewed. I bring seven million different forms to that interview and hopefully get approved as well. Then I wait for my Visa, come back to the US and get married.

So, yes, Phase One is complete. YAY! But, the answer that I am now trying to get is regarding how long it will take to get my Visa appointment. The website says that there are two different ways they figure stuff out. If you are an immediate relative, you are automatically considered 'current' and then it should only take a few months to get an appointment. If you are not an immediate relative, it could take up to several years. They list immediate relative as spouse, parent or child under 21. I am none of these things, however, none of the other categories inlcude fiancee, so I don't know whether I am current or not. That will mean the difference between months and years of waiting. I spent quite a while trying to call the NVC, but they are absolutely swamped and tell me to call back after six or email them. I will try both tonight and let you know. In the meantime, I need to get a passport (which I was SPECIFICALLY told that I would not need) and many other forms and medical info, criminal background info etc. So the work starts all over again :p BUT, phase one is complete and that's a big step in the right direction. I will let you know as soon as I get the response regarding whether or not I am 'current'.