Citizenship Process Update
Daniel's citizenship interview has been scheduled for August 17th. This is way sooner than we
were expecting, and although it's super exciting that things are finally moving along so quickly after such a long wait, this also leaves us with a big decision to
make about what to do next. The citizenship interview and ceremony are closely linked - they could be the same day or within just a few weeks of each other. That
means that Daniel could become a US citizen this month! This is great news and such an answer to prayer, but it's much earlier than expected. Since we applied
for expedited citizenship as missionaries, we are required to leave the country within 45 days of Daniel becoming a citizen (sometime late September or October)
and live outside the country for a year. However, we are pregnant and expecting our second child in late November. After a lot of research into our options, prayer
and seeking the Lord about what exactly to do, we have decided to go forward with the interview as scheduled, but ask for a delay in the citizenship ceremony
until next year. If they grant this request, we would be able to stay in the States to have our baby and would then have time to get the baby's legal documents and
passport before having to leave the country and head back to Asia as a family of 4. However, our lawyer has said that it's not guaranteed or even likely that they
will approve this delay request and we should prepare for the possibility of having to leave the country soon. Since I (Cassandra) will be in my third trimester at that
point and will not be allowed to travel far, the only real option for us is to go to Mexico. Since I used to work with YWAM there, I have a lot of
connections still. One of my best friends in Mexico is a doula (birth assistant) and a YWAM base leader and has offered to help us find a place to live,
connect us with a doctor who can deliver our baby, and provide us with ministry opportunities at their base. Please pray with us that God's will would be done at the
interview, whether that's delaying citizenship until next year or becoming a citizen now.
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