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Homeland Security paperwork delays weddings By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 17 minutes ago
Red tape is holding up wedding bells for an estimated 10,000 U.S. citizens waiting on the Homeland Security Department to design new paperwork so they can apply for visas for their foreign fiancees.
A new law, approved in January, required Homeland Security to retool visa application forms in an attempt to protect foreign mail-order brides from abusive American spouses. But the department, which oversees immigration services, failed to meet a March 6 deadline to produce the paperwork. And that has had unintended consequences — snarling the immigration process for thousands of other couples.
A Homeland Security spokesman estimated that at least 10,000 couples have had their plans jilted even before they got to the altar.
On Tuesday, the department said it would send out additional forms to the visa seekers for more information that should satisfy the new law's protections.
"Mine never got approved. It's just sitting there," said Bill Hall, 41, a construction foreman from Burlington, Vt. He applied two months ago for a visa for his fiancee, Debbie, to immigrate from Canada with her two sons. In separate interviews, the couple said they have been dating for six years.
Homeland Security acknowledges the bureaucratic delay is "certainly an inconvenience," said Chris Bentley, spokesman for the department's Citizen and Immigration Services.
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i waited since january for my petition to be approved it was approved in 26 days but we had to wait till june26 for his interview
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