Little victories

In the course of one's life, try as one might, one does not always win. So, when a little
victory occurs, it is worthy of celebration. I'd just like to share this one with you.

During the time that we lived in Tonga (1994-2012), my wife and I adopted 3 Tongan
girls. When we tried to bring them to the U.S., the State Department didn't
recognize the Tongan adoption, so we had to bring them here as tourists,
with "Visitor" visas.

When we all arrived here, we immediately challenged that Immigration ruling.
It has taken us 2 years...and $10K+ in attorney fees...to open the bureaucratic
eyes of the U.S Customs and Immigration Service, and to make our kids "legal."

Today...and here's the little victory...they took the Oath of Citizenship,
at a ceremony in San Francisco!

Hallelujah! We have "legal" children, and they are now U.S. citizens!

I actually cried during the ceremony.

It was all worth it.

Congratulations on being a father and secondarily on their new status as taxpayers!

Little victory, hell, it's a big victory. Congratulations on winning your battle. My hat is off to anyone that adopts. Three of my six grandchildren are adopted, all by one son and his wife, also three girls. As my other son will say when he likes something you have done, "You did good."

HUGE victory!!!!!! Congrats. And may they provide wonderful grandchildren from son-in-laws you can be proud of.

Congratulations, i am becoming an australian citizen in about 2 months, though my path to citizenship was far less arduous than your girls.

Congrats!! I know what a battle it can be, on our fourth year in making our Thai foster-kids legal over here as well... No small victory at all, it is stellar stuff worthy of many cheers:)
Congrats again, to all of you!

Considering the many stories we see about bad parenting, its great to hear a story of such love and commitment to family. Congrats to all of you. Have a special celebration this weekend.

I'll glad everything worked out in the end for you and your family

Consider, that we have laws for a reason. it's not uncommon for folks to go overseas and basically buy children and bring them back here or go through adoption proceedings that can be kind of strange. Unfortunately sometimes honest folks can get snared if things aren't the usual practices.

Congratulations to you and your children,
it is unfortunate that you had to fight that battle but definitely a battle worth fighting.

:tu