Permanent Residency Process

Our residency process this year is different than past years.  After five consecutive years of residency, the process changes from a one-year residency to a two-year residency.  In addition to the usual support letter from our sending church in the states and a letter from the church here, we have to submit a police report and a medical clearance.  Abundant Life provided our support letter when we were in Kansas City at the end of April, so we were able to start the translation process as soon as we returned to El Salvador the first week of May.  

As always, church friends help us out.  Last week, William Flores took us to the police department to request the police report.  After taking our mug shot and our fingerprints we were told to return in five business days to pick up the official report.  He took us back this morning and they were ready.  Dr. Colato did the medical clearance letter and brought it to church with her last Thursday.  The office administrator at Vida Nueva had our documents ready for me to pick up this morning.

I picked up the translated documents from Dr. Kleinhenn, a government-approved translator, last week.   

So, today I am making copies and putting everything in the order it appears on the government document.  We will be taking everything to the immigration office tomorrow morning.  Submitting the paperwork and having it accepted as complete (meaning nothing is missing) is the first step in the process, which includes an interview and possibly a home visit.  

Please pray that our paperwork will be complete and accepted tomorrow.  We feel it is important to have the process well underway before we leave for Bogota in just under three weeks.