All Aboard!
So, here I am, on HA 47 heading to Oz, via Honolulu. This is my regular route and I am fortunate to have a 2 seats on the left side of the aircraft, so room to spread out and really enjoy the flight, which is an uncharacteristic 30 mins longer than usual (5 hrs and 50 mins). Still, I have just received a complimentary breakfast , so feeling cruisy.
But it wasn’t always such smooth sailing!
For any of you who may have been aware, my husband and I have been in the process of establishing my change of status to that of permanent resident. Having filed all the necessary paperwork, we were awaiting the hoped for approval with a work permit and ‘advanced parole’, so that I could safely leave and re-enter the country. Since my departure, 7 mths ago, my younger daughter became engaged and set a date for marriage-March 10. We were hoping that the due process of our status change would happen swiftly and smoothly, so I could attend without concern.
Added Consideration.
Over the ensuing weeks, things developed and my lovely girl asked if I would make some dresses for her bridesmaids-a challenging invitation, given the ocean between us until 13 days before the wedding. Still, I was wanting to be involved and this was a special way to do so. Plus, the dress designs Rachel wanted were actually quite simple, in terms of sewing prowess required. I still needed to find patterns and thence began our weeks of searching and sending photos, feedback and final decisions. Thank God for technology at such a precious time as this!
After collecting girls’ measurements and calculating needs, I wrote up a final shopping list and Rachel, along with my trusted best friend, Carol, went off to do buy the necessary materials. I am sure it was fun for them too and a sweet way for Carol to also participate as a lifelong family friend. Of course, they messaged and Facebook called and sent photos the whole time (my midnight and on, by the way), so I was very much an active presence in the process too.
The fabrics selected meant we needed to make an adjustment in amounts for the linings of each. This was an important modification and the direct result of being connected at the critical time of purchasing the materials.
What To Do
Now, with the added ‘pleasure’ (and slight pressure lol) of making dresses, I really needed to be free to fly. Off course, I was constantly in prayer and had the agreement of sisters in the Lord for all to go ahead and so, generally, was at peace.
However, as time moved on and no notice forthcoming of the status of our petition, I sought the Lord for the best action, if any, to take. I also asked our faithful lawyer, and we made another appointment for an Info Pass with USCIS-immigration in the city, to get advice about what to do. Just because you have a confidence that all will be well, doesn’t mean the Lord doesn’t have a part for you to play.
As the end of January, approached, I followed advice and set an InfoPass appt for Feb 9. Going the security, I was stopped for the nail clippers found in my bag (which I denied having-coz I didn’t know I did! Lol He let me keep them because they had no spiky cleaning part).
This appointment turned out to be a very good move, as the Lord gave us great favour with the lady, J, who served us. After our interview, she watched us on You Tube immediately sent an email telling us of her pleasure in our music, and information about our gigs! This established a personal connection that became increasingly helpful and reassuring-so, we had options.
Our immigration officer checked the status of our petition-it was interview ready- then, submitted a request for expedited parole and told us that if that wasn’t cleared we could come back three days prior to leaving and get it on the spot, for a fee of $575. She also said we would hear back within 5 days.
We heard back after only 2, and it wasn’t the news we hoped for. The big concern for me was that there was no assurance that a wedding was acceptable criteria for leaving. J, who had shared details of the recent adventure of her own daughter’s wedding, had seemed quite confident that it was valid, so I felt encouraged, but when it was declined, I informed J, and she gave instructions for following thru on the last minute, over the counter alternative in time for the booked departure on morning of Friday, Feb 24.
Last Minute…Or So We Thought
So,Tuesday Feb 21, Larrie’s birthday, comes and we head into USCIS. I was stopped again! I had the key ring for the penthouse, which we discovered is something called a kitty punch and is quite a vicious weapon! I was oblivious and appalled! Larrie had to hide it across the road, as we couldn’t take it in and the guards cannot hold it. Having no appointment, meant the likelihood of longer waits-four hours to be precise, but then we were attended by J. Other officers actually wanted us to work with the officer that had been advising us, so it was good. I realise now, I could have emailed and J would have made one for us. We retrieved the kitty key ring too.
But something unexpected happened.
J came to her booth and informed us that Homeland Securities had actually approved our application and that we would receive documents in the mail. She scheduled a direct appt with her for 7:30am Thurs, should it be needed.
That very day, two letters came, containing approval notices of both the work permit and travel parole! Then, we went back to the penthouse where we were house-/kittykat sitting and I gave my baby some birthday attention and experiences and odd, creative and personal gifts!
I happily let J know, messaged the lawyer and shared the good news with the ladies group on Wednesday morning…but…something niggled.
I went back and re-read the letters. They pointed to another EAD card. It is photo ID with an I-512 issuance to travel and this is what I needed. The lawyer said they would be sent out together or next day. We waited-nothing. I let J know of the updated urgency via email but our communication ended before a final response. I also called the info line to see if they had a tracking number. We really didn’t want to take another trip in , or pay the fee $575 we thought we’d avoided.
It was too late to get the answer from the call. I had to call back in the morning They said at 6 am coz the east coast was 9, but I could get no one before 8:15 PST. They were busy and set a call back for 4.5 hrs away!! About 1pm. This would be too late for our 7:30 appt, but still left time to get in to the city. If we had to. However, it would cost one of the two senior centre gigs we had-we just couldn’t do everything.
After senior gig #1, I had come to the place of feeling we ought to go into the city and follow that path, when I finally heard back from J, confirming the same directive. So, another money order, go collect the documents, catch BART (park the car! Grrrr), walk several blocks and get in line, keeping J up to date. Security stopped me again for the nail clippers, which I had searched for to remove earlier, and couldn’t find, so figured I must have already removed them. He gave up too, coz he couldn’t find them and he remembered me from before. We left the kitty key ring in the rental car at the BART station lol.
Once in line, J called us up directly.
All the files had been filled out minus a signature and new docs included. J had me email the flight itinery and she had the wedding invite.
But I didn’t have two photos! Unphased, J sent us across the road, passed security to pay about $15 to get them. USCIS called me back as we crossed the road, lol, I cancelled. Coming back in , once more off with the shoes, coats, belts , bangles, but didn’t bat an eyelid over the clippers! This is some crazy dance!
Down To The Wire
On J’s instruction we head straight to her counter and she assembles all elements and takes the bundle away upstairs to be approved-or not. She assured me they would say ‘yes’. We sit, we wait. It is about 1:45pm now. Shortly after, I hear my name being called acoustically -hee hee. J lets us know we are approved, and now we pay and wait 30 mins for the new photo ID doc, which is a 60day parole.
We conclude that since the card hadn’t arrived by mail, the approval notices were, in fact, the result of due process, and not a change of mind to expedite matters. That card will still come, some time whilst I’m gone, most likely, and is good for a year of travel It is also for being able to legally work. Our interview will likely come up soon too.
The Precision of God
So, we leave the USCIS around 3:30 I think, new ID in hand. They close their doors at 3 and process remaining clients already inside. Thanks to the lovely J! And all the prayers. I knew if God wanted me back in the US, He would make the way, with 18 hours to spare! Lol
The test of faith was to stay in peace. I did pretty well, actually. From the original learning of Rachel’s wedding and the fear of missing it to those final hours has been quite a journey, just one angle on a very challenging and fortifying journey. I am not the me I was when I left Oz seven months ago. I am a much enriched and more deeply grounded daughter of the King.
The Next Step
Now, it is full swing into family and sewing and celebration and special friends. Rache has plans for my next two weeks, which I feel very pleased and privileged about. I don’t think either of my girls have ever gone so long without seeing me and both are very excited to have me home. Matt too, I know he needs a mum fix. I will also see Paulie ( son #2) and my most grown son, Parrish, for the first time since he left for Taiwan in July 2014-both he and his Taiwanese lady love
I am so grateful for this splendid and very joyful occasion for bringing us all together.
I’m not at all sure 5.5 weeks (38 days) will be anywhere near enough to ease my home sickness, but I have a blessed assurance of great things opening up from here and of God doing some wonderful things that only God can do. I feel a season of trials and testings are closing out. I know there will always be more, as long as I live and breathe, but a distinct new chapter is opening, almost as if it coincides with Rachel’s rite of passage into marriage, bringing a fresh anointing and a new mantle of matriarchy.
Watch and wonder at what God is about to do!
Post Script
As soon as I landed, I saw a photo from Larrie in a private message, of my EAD Card, which had arrived, whilst I was in the air!
I concluded that God had His reasons for why He wanted us to do things the other way. He always has souls at the heart of His agenda, He is never haphazard, and He is soverign over all things. In the bigger picture, I'm sure, there was a reason for the apparent misconnection. :)
I concluded that God had His reasons for why He wanted us to do things the other way. He always has souls at the heart of His agenda, He is never haphazard, and He is soverign over all things. In the bigger picture, I'm sure, there was a reason for the apparent misconnection. :)
