Our Fall 2011 Newsletter is available for download.
Our web-only extras include:
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The International Learning Center/Meet the Need Organization | 88Nine Radio Milwaukee www.radiomilwaukee.org
Listen to Program Manager Anna Bierer and student Ilunga Wangoy talk about how ILC is meeting the needs of new arrivals.
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Special Report from Instructor Mary Bruce on Culture Night at ILC:
We were all anticipating some dance from four enthusiastic, beautifully dressed young girls from Burma, but unfortunately had a few technical difficulties with the music. Luckily Nora Dahl was on hand and soon solved the problems. Onlookers received the graceful dancers as they clapped along in time with the lovely melodies. The dancers were: Win Thiri-Tun-11, Mhwe Yannt Tun-7, Eh Khu Htoo-9 and Paw Khee-10. Thanks much to student Lwin Then for bringing the wonderful dancers to the event. Their enthusiasm was certainly contagious–they stole the show! I hope that they continue dancing!-
Special Report from ILC co-founder Marilyn Hegge on a long awaited family reunion for student Wells Walusai:
Here is a little background on the whole immigration process.
A lawyer(not an immigration lawyer) first filed the Petition for Alien Relative in November of 2003. Petitons were filed for Aleba, Lenga Lenga and Kamana (Wells’ son.)
Even though the petitions were sent in the same envelope, (this is a no, no) they were all processed separately. It was not until March 2008 that Lenga Lenga and Aleba’s petitions were approved. The next step was to file the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration and pay the $400 fee. When I called the State Dept. I learned that Lenga Lenga’s child had never been added to the petition. (I didn’t start helping him until 2008.) Because of Lenga Lenga’s age at the this time, they were not going to allow the child to accompany her! With the help of Senator Kohl’s office, her case was reclassified so that her son could accompany her.
After waiting many months, the two daughters had their interview at the consulate in Kinshasa, DRC. The consulate asked for more proof that Wells was the father. We finally had to have DNA testing done.
Kamana’s petition was denied because they didn’t like his birth certificate. The girls had the same type. We appealed and after waiting one year his petition was approved. Kamana had his interview recently and he too had to have his DNA taken. He is waiting for the results.
This is a shortened version of the challenges of working with the USCIS. Whew!
