Tuesday 29 May 2012

Relationship Evidence

Evidence
letter
evidence
letter file

The day, the interview, the stressy thing that I'm dreading is fast approaching. Everything has been leading up to this day. The residency interview which in fact is tomorrow.

The letter has 16 main points and an additional 7 subdivision of evidence they require that they need to see to judge a marriage upon [some of which we've already submitted]. This encompasses everything from actually bringing Joe with me to photographs, tax forms, birth and wedding certificates and any correspondence ever received in relation to the application. That creates a pile of things we could take. So much that on Thursday I was sat on the living room floor swamped under all the cards and letters I'd ever sent Joe [some of them are very soppy aw] and trying to then match them to their envelopes to plane boarding tickets for evidence of Joe flying to the UK for visits, a huge photograph album of all the photographs I've got around to developing to more official documents - luckily we have two bank statements and our renters insurance - but that's it because as I've said before with only being a legal alien it's a nightmare trying to get your name officially on American things.

But how much is enough? I pulled out card/letters from me that have post marks across 2009-2011 when we were apart and the same for things Joe sent me. Seriously if anyone was going to fake a relationship they wouldn't have gone to all the soppy effort I did in writing all those cards! To the cards we were given on our wedding to cards declaring "To you're first Christmas together". Photo wise we're taking eight main photographs from our trips in York, Edinburgh, Chicago, to Christmas, the zoo and the like to taking our mini wedding photo album and the photobook I made. Yet we were never an email based couple so we don't have loads to print and after many of your suggestions I am going to print off some of my blog posts about us. 

With all this evidence you really do need somewhere to store everything and this is true for the first interview I had back in London for my visa initially. You're stressed and panicked enough without having to try and fumble through papers trying to find the one you want, so I've always swore by using a folder with dividers - keeping one section separate for different parts. For example one part has all the correspondence and photographs, another fight details and another all the Homeland security letters.  It's helps just knowing everything is organised.

As for the interview I don't really know what happens, I know Joe has to come with me and we both get interviewed but whether it's together or separately I don't know. I should probably google about it but that itself may panic me even more. What worries me is how do they classify what a relationship is? The sociologist in me keeps arguing that a relationship itself as a term is a social construct. What one couple sees as a relationship another might necessarily not. In fact one of the criticisms of long distance relationships I've often heard is that they aren't real relationships. What I do know is that what we have is real I just hope they see that because the idea of having to go back to the UK without Joe scares me so bad right now.

Be thinking of us tomorrow please - I need your luck!

33 comments:

  1. You've got some lovely photographs together and I really hope the interview goes well for you x

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    1. Joe's convinced me to take even more photographs. Just drown them in evidence!

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  2. I will be thinking of you. It must be so upsetting having to go through this, but I am sure it will be a positive outcome! Of course your relationship is real, if they can't see that then they are blind xxx

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    1. Thank you hun! Its awful having to do this, makes me start to doubt myself. And yeah I think I cried everyday this weekend about it, its awful.

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  3. Good luck!!!! Hope you had a great weekend honey... if you get a chance come enter my giveaway for a vintage inspired Snow White necklace and earrings! http://www.blondeepisodes.com/2012/05/snow-white-and-huntsman-giveaway.html

    Kori xoxo

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  4. Good Luck! it must be very nice to have all the letters from each other, that is something that you miss out on when you are not in a long distance relationship. x

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    1. Yeah we have a lot of stuff like that, and we were really big email writers when we first dated so have a load of happy memories stored in all those too!

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  5. Good luck, Rachael.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  6. I hope it all works out for you lovely, I'm sure you'll be okay <3
    Gah, I want a guy and letters and all this cute stuff :P
    Lucy

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    1. Hehe - Joe was more the emailer when I was sending all the cards. Happy he saved them all though!

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  7. I can't imagine how nervous you must feel right now. I honestly have faith you won't be getting back on a plane to the UK without Joe, you have such a strong relationship, and it isn't fair that you're being judged on something that is different for every couple.

    Good luck Rachael!

    Charlotte xo

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    1. My head hasn't been able to focus on anything today - not even finding my normal comedy shows funny. Just really want it to be all over with now! That's what I never understand - all relationships are different and can't just be boxed so easily!

      Thank you for the best wishes - means a lot!

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  8. Aw you two will be fine, you can tell how much you love each other. It's so hard as I'm not sentimental or organised at all so I'd so struggle to produce stuff like flight tickets etc. Maybe I'd be different if it was long distance, and maybe I just take all that relationship stuff for granted.

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    1. I guess with knowing that we've needed all this stuff made us save it too. I mean I had to take a tonne of evidence to the London interview but they never seem bothered about it at all. Then again i'm a horder for boring things like tickets and leaflets about stuff so i'd probably have kept stuff like that anyway!

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  9. Best of luck for tomorrow Rachel, sure it'll all go fine :)

    Caroline x
    Caroline's Catwalk

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  10. Good luck hun, you totally deserve it :D x

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  11. Good luck. It sounds nerve wracking, but it'll be worth it in the end. Xx

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  12. Thinking of you. I'm sorry you have to go through all this crap just to be with the one you love, is really ridiculous.
    But you'll ace it! Good luck!!

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    1. I know, its getting at me. But thanks for the well wishes - really do help.

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  13. Absolutely loadssss of luck for tomorrow! Can't believe you have to go through such an ordeal just to show someone you love them and want to stay in the country with them. All I can say is it's a good job you kept everything and thought ahead! (: Sure everything will go smoothly and we'll hear positive results soon! (: xxx

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  14. Good luck sweetie.

    I'm sure that your genuine feelings will show through just from them talking to you. It's probably more how you are when you present your evidence than what's in it.


    You will be fine.

    C
    xxx

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  15. You have sooo much evidence! Try not to worry =) they are going to see ye are one of the cutest couples ever

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  16. This all sounds so stressful and horrible, hope you're okay! I'm sure the interview will go really well, fingers crossed for you!

    Gillian x
    elevatormusik.com

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  17. Good Luck to you! My friend and her hubby just went through this whole process, so I understand all the stress and anxiety you must be facing, but I know everything went smoothly for them! It's just the fear of the "unknown". Rest assured it will all be over soon!

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  18. both of you will be in my thoughts today, Rachael! Good luck!

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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  19. good luck! i know everything will go your way!!
    xo TJ

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  20. I hope everything went well for you xx

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