Rose first came to Pittsburgh from Indonesia in 1990 while her husband was studying at Carnegie Mellon University. After her husband graduated, she moved back to Indonesia in 1992. Several years later, in 2010, Rose came back to Pittsburgh with her oldest son who had been born in the US. When she came back to the city, she decided that she wanted to stay and saw an ad for JFCS legal services on a bus stop. She called the number and asked to learn more about our immigration services and was connected with Jamie Englert, the now Director of JFCS Immigration Legal Services.
Jamie talked through Rose’s situation and her options to gain permanent residency here in the US. Rose made an appointment to get more information and worked with Jamie to eventually gain permanent residency for herself, and in 2014 she started the visa application process for her daughter and youngest son, who were still in Indonesia.
Rose’s daughter was approved to come in 2015, but unfortunately, her youngest son’s visa status changed and he was not able to come with her. In the meantime, Rose applied and received US citizenship for herself. In 2018, Jamie worked with Rose and her family to complete the family reunification application process for her youngest son. After two years of paperwork, hearings, submitting documents, and waiting, Rose’s son was approved to come to the US in November 2021. He arrived in Pittsburgh shortly after, in December, where he was finally reunited with his family.
“It’s very exciting! Finally our family is here together,” Rose said. “The process has been long and Jamie is very helpful to us. She is always available for us. She always spares the time to make appointments with us.”
Rose is one of many clients who has worked with JFCS Immigration Legal Services over a several-year period. Many clients work with our lawyers to start the green card application and continue to work with them through the years, updating important information with USCIS, applying for citizenship, and working to reunify with family members who are still living overseas.
“We are very thankful for JFCS—Jamie especially and Jackie too,” Rose expressed. “It’s a very long process, seven to eight years, but we got through everything because Jamie is professional, competent, and patient to help us until this all happened. Our family is finally here together.”
