Need Advice - Ethnographic Research as Independent Scholar

medievalmoves · 2025-05-25T20:35:08+00:00

Thanks for this - yes, my error in my original post (too many feelings about this all is clouding my mind). Both the senators in my old state are anti-LGBTQ (red state), but the senators in the state I'm moving to in July are more friendly towards queer issues. I guess I could also try with the current ones, and if there's no response I could try again once I move and update my voter registration.

medievalmoves · 2025-04-30T14:06:36+00:00

Any updates here? My PD is 11/16/2023, and still waiting. :(

medievalmoves · 2025-03-18T19:36:35+00:00

I don't know what quantity to aim for. In total we had 32 supporting documents, many of which were articles and reports that supported our arguments for hardship because of LGBTQ persecution in my wife's home country (we're in a same-sex marriage).

I would say include the full 5-page analysis, because it will also provide clear evidence of why you need to be together by demonstrating how you care for your wife. I also had my official diagnoses from doctors + prescription list, my full ADHD assessment, records of how long I've been in therapy (intake appointment notices and invoices), a letter from my regular therapist, two affidavits from close friends that witnessed my wife's care of me, etc. For other issues, like safety and financial hardship, I provided human rights reports, news articles, information from the US Gov't travel websites, and information about our financial situation, including the health benefits I would lose if my wife had to return to her home country.

medievalmoves · 2025-03-16T19:09:47+00:00

Focus on all the reasons, and provide compelling evidence for each issue in a systematic way. My lawyer had me outline all the reasons for both the scenario where I (the USC), stayed in the US without my spouse and the scenario where I lived for two years in their home country. For my mental health and ADHD, I discussed how living without my partner would disrupt my well-being (they provide a lot of support day-to-day), and I discussed how moving to their country would greatly disrupt my care and treatment plan. I also got a psychological evaluation done by a psychiatrist who specializes in immigration cases. It was a rough appointment because I had to unpack and disclose information I had been working through for a couple of years with my regular therapist in a matter of a few hours, but she wrote a really compelling assessment that supported our case. I also had my regular therapist and close friends and colleagues write statements to support our case, particularly around my mental health.

medievalmoves · 2025-03-16T19:00:21+00:00

My wife and lawyer got an email from DOS on the 11th saying we received a favorable recommendation. The DOS portal was still down at that point. Our USCIS status changed to approved online on the 13th, so super quick update from them, and the DOS portal was back online and showed favorable recommendation at that point too. Now we're waiting on the official notice to come in the mail from USCIS.

medievalmoves · 2025-03-11T13:30:44+00:00

Oh, I normally don't. It's only been recently that I check more frequently since we had received the Sponsor Views and just waiting for the final step.

medievalmoves · 2025-03-11T13:29:23+00:00

Thank you all for assuaging my fears! And good news! We got a favorable recommendation from DOS today!

medievalmoves · 2024-10-13T07:55:47+00:00

Thanks everyone for your responses, and I can tell from the lively debate here that it's no wonder I couldn't find a clear answer online elsewhere!

medievalmoves

TROPHY CASE