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Sydne Faith Yanez

11/8/15
EDU/280

Immigration Interview

Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from around the world, come into the
United States legally and illegally. Immigration is the action of people coming from one country
to another, usually to live permanently. Each immigrant has a different motive; some enter the
United States to seek the American Dream, escape persecution and civil wars in their home
country, and escape from religious and political abuse.
To become a citizen of the United States is a long process. Not everyone can become a
United States citizen. There are a tremendous amount of requirements one must meet and
responsibilities one must obey by to become a citizen, no matter where they are trying to gain
citizenship. To be granted citizenship in the United States is a privilege not a right. With that
being said people who are granted citizenship should be very fortunate and honored to become
United States citizens.
I was so excited when I learned that week elevens assignments would be an immigrant
interview. It gave me the chance to learn about my next door neighbors who have a beautiful
relationship! Becky and her husband Mike have been my neighbors for six months now. Before
interviewing them both I knew Mike was from California and his wife was from the Netherlands
and that they have been together for two years now.
When seeing these two together you can just see how much love they truly have for one
another. Every time I am outside and I see them come home or leave Mike never lets Becky open

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or shut her door, hes such a gentleman to her. I could not wait to sit down and learn about the
immigration process that these two had to go through to get to where they are today.
Becky and her husband had a hard time with their immigration process. The first step in
starting the immigration process was to prove that Mike and Becky were in a relationship,
because Becky had come to the United States on a visa waiver. Becky describes the visa waiver
to me as a temporary visa to come visit the United States; that allows you to visits for 90 days.
Becky told me if you are not out of the United States within those 90 days you will be deported,
have to pay fines, and will not be allowed back into the United States for a while.
Becky explained to me that they did not plan to get married while she was visiting the
United States. She told me that it was illegal to plan a wedding while trying to apply for a K-1
visa, wish they were trying to do. She told me one could be arrested and be required to pay fines
for planning a wedding while applying for a K-1 visa.
Becky and Mike did not get married until a month after her arrival in the United States.
Becky had a roundtrip ticket back to the Netherlands; she only came to visit because they did
not want to be apart. She told me they opted to get married while she was there on her visa
waiver so they could begin a life together. She told me that after getting married you have to
submit your marriage paperwork before the 90 day visa waiver expires or depart the United
States.
Becky and Mike did not hire an Immigration lawyer because Mike couldnt afford it.
Mike was the only one working at the time and was able to fill them out himself. Mike told me
he got many of his answer off of Google. Meaning, if he did not understand a question he would
Google it to better understand it. Mike expressed to me that during this process he wanted to do
everything legally, so they played it safe and paid the huge fees before the 90 day visa expired.

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Becky and Mike submitted all of their paper work on November 27th, 2012. Because
Mike and Becky did not plan on getting married while she was visiting Becky did not have her
birth certificate or any of her important documents that she needed to file. After finally getting
Beckys birth certificate through the Netherland government they were able to being the
Immigration process.
Beckys I-485 application packet fee was $1,070. Some forms Becky had to complete
were: form G-1145, form I-485, form G-325A, form I-864, and I-765 which allow her to apply
for a work visa. Mikes application fee was $420 for Beckys paper work submission. Some
forms Mike had to complete were: form G-1145, form I-130, form G-324A, a copy of their
marriage certificate, his birth certificate, friends and family affidavit saying they have been in a
relationship, and submit two photographs they were like passports. Mike and Becky could not
remember everything they had to fill out. But one of the most important documents Mike had to
complete was the affidavit of support, which pretty much meant how he would provide for
Becky, how much he makes and all of his personal information. Mike explained to me that he
had to be making a certain amount of money in the United States to even be considered as
someone as affidavit of support.
Becky was also required to have a criminal history report when filing, to prove that she
was not a criminal or wanted in another country. Although it was hard for Becky to obtain that
from the Netherlands because they do not have a criminal history, they have what you call a vog,
better known as a certificate of conduct. A certificate of conduct will let people know if you are a
good citizen of your nation or if youre a bad citizen. It took a few weeks to for them to get
Beckys certificate of conduct back, but when it arrived it showed she was a good citizen in her

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country. Mike then had to provide a copy of Beckys passport, her birth certificate, and attach
his previous two tax returns for the I-94.
One thing Becky and Mike could not afford at that time was the medical authorization, I693. They had already spent two thousand dollars on filing paper work. They had finally
submitted all of their paper work and received an email from immigration saying that they have
received their paperwork. In January Mike had his biometrics done where they take your finger
prints; she said it lasted five minutes.
Becky and Mike did not turn in the medical form until March because of its cost. Becky
thinks the medical authorization cost around $430, but she did not remember for sure. Soon as
immigration got their medical authorization form they sent Mike and Becky a letter with their
Immigration Interview date. Before the interview Becky had to send the sealed medical
authorization to immigrations.
When Becky and Mike arrived at the Immigration interview office they were both
terrified. Becky explained it to me as, the Officer that interviewed them that day had the
opportunity of taking the love of her life away from her and not allowing him into the United
States. They had been waiting for an hour, as what she described very intimidating Officers
walked past them. She told me it was their job to intimidate people, and catch people in their lies.
Finally after an hour she said a very nice looking Officer came up to her and Mike and
apologized for running late, he told them he would be with them soon. From the beginning of
this whole process both Mike explained to me how he had been very organized. He has kept
everything in a binder and had everything labeled. So when they were called into the office
Becky said, Mike just started pulling everything out saying here is this, and this and this and that.

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Everyone began laughing. I couldnt imagine what they had to have been going through at that
moment knowing this man can decided the rest of their lives.
They told me that the Officer got everything that he needed and told them he didnt see
anything that would stop them from being accepted. They were told they would have an answer
in two weeks. Within a week a letter arrived saying Beckys green card had been accepted. Mike
and Becky both began to tear up. You could see how much it meant to both of them knowing
their waking up to their significant other every day.
Becky likes that the United States allows you to do what you want to do, her
opportunities are endless. Becky told me two of the most difficult things about life in the United
States is being away from her family and learning English. Becky knew very little English when
she entered the United States and when she did it was very poor. Becky was fluent in Dutch.
Now that technology is so advanced she is able to Skype them, but she told me its not the same
as being there in person.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from around the world, come into the
United States legally and illegally. Immigration is the action of people coming from one country
to another, usually to live permanently. Not all people have the same experience. Becky was very
lucky that she did not have to face the hardships that thousands of adults and children face each
year. To become a citizen of the United States is a long process. Not everyone can become a
United States citizen. There are a tremendous amount of requirements one must meet and
responsibilities one must obey by to become a citizen, no matter where they are trying to gain
citizenship. To be granted citizenship in the United States is a privilege not a right.

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Works Cited:
Definition of immigration in English:. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015.
Thomphson, B. (2015, November 4). Immigrant Interview [Personal interview].
Thomphson, M. (2015, November 4). Immigrant Interview [Personal interview].