Eddy's Visa

This is a blog post that I have been thinking about for a while and I have been putting off. I'm not sure why, probably because it is a topic that I don't even like thinking about. Eddy's visa. I have mentioned things in passing in other posts, but have not specifically explained what the situation is. I will start with explaining the basics, because most of you are probably like I was 2 years ago, in that you don't have any personal experience with immigration laws, or if you do, not immigration laws for someone from a 3rd world country.

(Side note: The purpose of this post is not to state any political opinion about immigration or immigration laws. The purpose is just to share the personal experience of my husband and to ask for prayers. I am also not an expert on immigration or immigration law. What I state in this post is the information that has been given to me by people who have been through it themselves or by lawyers that we have spoken to.  Also, in this post I am talking about our attempts to get Eddy a visitor visa, not a spousal visa or anything else of the sort.)

A Little Bit of Background/Common Misconceptions

The first major misconception that I have come across in talking to Americans about Eddy's situation is that these are Dominican laws that are keeping Eddy from traveling to the US. That is incorrect. I, as an American residing here in the DR, have to abide by and work within Dominican immigration laws in order to live here. Eddy, as a Dominican, wanting to visit the US, has to abide by and work within American immigration laws in order to travel there.

The second misconception is that you only need a visa if you want to live or work in the United States. That is also not true. Even to just visit, Eddy needs a visitor visa. You may think that something like that would be easy to get. Also not true, not in the Dominican Republic. Why? because they believe that once you get to the United States, you will not leave again. That you will stay and live there illegally. When trying to get a visitor visa, the most important thing is to try to prove that you will come back to the DR that you will not stay in the US. Why do they think you will stay? Probably because so many people have done just that. Because of this, I understand why the laws are what they are, but it is still frustrating when you (or your husband) are being honest and don't have any intent on staying, and really do just want to visit.

Misconception number three: Now that Eddy and I are married, getting a visa for him to visit should be much easier. I wish. Having read the previous paragraph, you may have already connected the dots on this one. In case you haven't, let me tell you that being married to an American does not help when trying to convince the American officials that you will not stay in the US to live. In fact, in their minds, the risk of that is much greater. There is an assumption that any non-American who is married to an American has the goal of living in the United States. Now that we are married, it is actually more difficult to get a visitor visa.

We have been placed here in the DR permanently by our mission organization. We do not know how long God will continue to call us to serve him here or when He will lead us somewhere else. However, if Eddy receives a visitor visa, we will only be visiting. We will definitely be coming back to continue our work here in the DR.

Why do we want Eddy to visit the United States?

First and most importantly: ministry purposes. Our mission organization has invited us to the North American Conference in June. This would be a great opportunity for us to build relationships with other missionaries, for the leaders of the mission organization to meet and get to know Eddy, and for us to learn and grow as missionaries and leaders. Also, we have been invited by our supporting churches to present about our ministry as well. It is very important that these churches meet and get to know Eddy and for us to represent our ministry together. This summer we will also need to be working on raising our personal support. Having Eddy in the states with me would help tremendously with that as well.

As you can see from reading about our situation, the chances of Eddy getting a visa are slim to none. It is a very long shot. We learned this the hard way last summer when we tried and failed to get him a visitor visa. However, the reason that we are trying again is because our chances of getting a visa for him have improved because of these invitations from our mission organization and support churches. Also, our mission organization can attest to the fact that we are placed here in the DR and will be returning.

Secondly: family and personal reasons. It would mean so much to my family to have Eddy home with me this summer. He is a part of our family and he should be there for family celebrations and family camping trips and just to experience everyday life for a little while. Also, on a very personal level, I just really want my husband to come with me to the United States. I do not want to be separated from him for six weeks in the first year of our marriage. I do not want to go and present to all of these churches by myself. I want him to experience family night. I want him to be at Sunday dinner. I want him to meet my grandma and my aunts and uncles and cousins. I want him to see the house that I grew up in and hear all of the stories that go along with it. I want him to see me with my family in a relaxed setting. I want him to come with me to my home church. And most of all, I want him to know me in a way that he can only know me by seeing for himself and experiencing the place where I grew up and became the person that he fell in love with and married. I have learned so much about Eddy by watching him with his family and hearing all of his childhood stories, (seeing where he used to play baseball with his friends as a kid, where he used to go swimming in the creek and always got in trouble.) I want him to learn about me in the same way.

Our God is an Awesome God

I stated before that our chances have improved because of the letters of invitation, but the odds are still very slim. However, we know that when it comes to God, the odds don't matter. We could have the best odds, it could be that 99% chance that we will get the visa, and if it is not God's will, we won't get it. We could have a 1% chance of getting the visa (which is closer to reality) and if it's God's will that Eddy go to the states this summer, he will get it. God is bigger than immigration laws. He is in control and what He wills to happen is what will happen.

Revelations 3:7b-8 "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

On May 7, we have our appointment at the American consulate. On that day God will reveal, in regards to this particular door, if he will open it, or close it. The desire of our hearts, for all the reasons listed above, is that Eddy receives this visa. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Philippians 4:6-7 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We know that above all, God's will will be done. If we receive the visa that day, we will know that it was only because of God and may He receive all of the glory. If we are denied the visa that day, we will be disappointed, but we will know that it was in God's hands and that everything that happens is for the good of those that love Him. Over the next couple of weeks I will memorize Philippians 4:6-7 and I will pray over and over again that He helps us not to be anxious and that He gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding.

I would like to invite all of you to join us in prayer for this situation. Please join us in "letting our requests be made known to God" and pray that God may grant Eddy this visa. But more than that, please also pray that God would provide peace and acceptance of the decision (no matter what it is)not just for me and Eddy but also for my family, his family, our church members, the school staff, friends, ministry supporters, and everyone else who will also be touched or effected by it.

Thank you all for your love and support and your prayers.

Prayers

The school is going through a trial right now and it is very difficult on everyone.  I cannot share too much about what is going on right now, but I would like to ask for your prayers and share a story of what happened to me today.

Today has been an especially difficult day for me.  I care so much about this school and the children that it reaches out to.  I don't want to see any harm come to the school or the children.  As I pray, read the Bible, and listen to Christian music, God is helping me through it.  At a particularly difficult point today, one of the assistants popped her head in to ask me to watch the kids for a minute (the teacher is out on a personal day, so she was by herself).  It was during their play time, and usually the kids don't pay much attention to you if you come in at that time, but today one of the little girls stopped playing, came over to me and gave me a gigantic hug.  I know that God touched her heart to do that, because it was exactly what I needed.  This child in particular is one that is part of our sponsorship program, her family struggles financially, and if our school did not exist she would not be receiving a good education or a Christian education.  Serving these children is my motivation.  It is a calling from God and He will give me the strength and determination to continue no matter what obstacles arrive. 

Thank you all for your support and your prayers.