NEW: Read Drew and Nile's experience with the removal of conditions (I-751) interview. Click on the "Interviews and What Not" link on the main menu bar and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

RENDEVOUS BY MODEM

If Nile spent her entire life in the Philippines and Drew spent his entire life in the United States, "How on earth did they meet?" you may ask.

We first met on the Internet early in 1999, in a chat room called #casual of the Undernet network. Drew was one of the founding members and administrators of the chat room when Nile happened to wander in. Nile enjoyed hanging out in the channel so much that she became a regular. We were both in college at the time, so while we worked on our papers and academic requirements on the computer, we multi-tasked by talking to each other online. Over months of talking to each other, we quickly became close friends. When we saw each other's photos, things got even better when we realized that we were also very physically attracted to each other. Over the first year of chatting, we became very close and attached to each other. We often discussed how compatible we were and how we wished that we lived nearer each other so we could meet and see if the attraction would survive a face-to-face meeting.

After graduating from college, Drew saved up enough money for airfare and flew to Manila. He arrived in Manila on March 23, 2001. During Drew's visit, we spent every day together for three weeks and had a wonderful time. Through most of that time we have known each other, we have spent several hours each day talking. We knew each other better than anyone else has ever known us. Meeting in person only proved to us what we already felt. There was no doubt in either of our minds that we wanted to be together for the rest of our lives. The night before Drew left for the States, we professed our love for each other and our desire to be married.

We began gathering documents for Nile's fianceé visa shortly after Drew's return to the US in mid-April, 2001. On September 29, 2001, Nile left the Philippines for good.
We were finally married in October 2001 in a beautiful autumn ceremony in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and have lived together in wedded bliss ever since.