For Dajenne and her husband Cristian, their story didn’t start as they envisioned. The couple was apart when Dajenne had their daughter, and Cristian didn’t meet her for months. But after seeking help for their immigration issues, their future shines bright.
Dajenne, a U.S. citizen, met Cristian in 2017 in El Salvador, where she was visiting family. While they had dreamed of marrying in El Salvador and then seeking immigration status for Cristian in the U.S., plans changed when Dajenne became pregnant with their daughter. Dajenne returned to the States, and their daughter was born prematurely.
Without any legal status, Cristian wasn’t able to be there when their daughter was born, while she stayed in the NICU, or when she finally came home from the hospital. In fact, Cristian didn’t meet their daughter for the first time until she was 13 months old, in March of 2023, because their daughter was finally able to travel when she turned one.
Cristian’s immigration journey began before his daughter was born when he petitioned for a K1 visa (fiancé visa) in April 2022 through another law firm. He came to the U.S. in October 2023 with that visa. In December 2023, Dajenne and Cristian were happily married, and it wasn’t long before they were ready to start the immigration process.
Dajenne knew an attorney at our law firm and inquired about him becoming a legal permanent resident. Our attorney explained the process and how to apply. Dajenne began some of the paperwork but wanted to ensure she was doing everything right. The status they were seeking for Cristian was too important to delay or get rejected due to a simple error or mistake. So, our attorney helped with the process and paperwork.
Thankfully, no issues occurred or additional evidence was needed. In fact, the process went smoothly and was easy. In April 2024, Cristian was given a social security number and a work permit. A few months later, in July, he was approved as a legal permanent resident, and on August 1, the family stopped by our office to pick up his green card.
And their story doesn’t end there. Cristian’s green card is a conditional green card based on the couple staying married. In two years, he plans to apply for the conditions to be removed and eventually apply for citizenship. Once he’s a U.S. citizen, he never has to worry about being apart from his family again.
“Kiara was great to work with. She’s very knowledgeable, relatable, and easy to get in touch with. Kiara explained things to me in English and to my husband in Spanish. She was so empathetic and genuinely happy for us. The group was amazing.
What surprised me the most was how quick the process was. I had petitioned for my mother about eight years ago, and there were delays. I suggest doing a lot of research for other immigrants going through the process and then consulting with an attorney. Every case is unique. What you hear isn’t always correct; you must confirm that information with an attorney. It doesn’t hurt to apply. You should at least attempt.”
– Dajenne