Applicant/Petitioner JAMES, CHRISTOPHER
Receipt # EAC9924251877

Beneficiary KALAVROUZIOTIS, POLI
Notice Date August 25, 1999







Personal Statement: September 1, 1999

I met Poli Kalavrouziotis in New York City while she was visiting the United States on May 1, 1998. I remember this date so clearly because it was a a rainy Friday night, and I had just moved form Flushing to Brooklyn, and I was returning the apartment keys to my former roommate, Paul Donnelly, who managed a bar on 52nd and 7th avenues called Rosie O'Gradie's. I was having cocktails at the bar when a group of tourists entered. Poli was one of the tourists. We began to talk; I was fascinated with her: It was unreal how much we had in common, from opinions on world events, to foods that we liked to eat. I gave her my contact numbers, as she was going to be finishing out her tour in Montreal, Canada that weekend; afterwards, she was going to be coming back down to New York City to stay with relatives in Astoria for an additional nine days. I walked her back to her hotel, gave her a kiss, and said good-bye. She had indicated that she would call when she got back into New York, and several days later, she did call. We arranged to spend the following Sunday (05/10/99) together, in which we toured the city. (Please see photo). I was able to see and spend the day with Poli two more times before she was to return to Australia.

Once back in Australia, Poli and I began an almost daily conversation over email, via fax, and over the phone that culminated in my decision to visit Australia that following August. (Please see passport, travel receipts, photo, personal letter and emails).

The relationship continued, and I spent the following December-January with her and had the opportunity to meet her family. (Please see passport, travel receipts and emails).
Poli came to visit the United States a second time the following spring over Easter. (Please see travel receipt and photo)
I have since returned to Australia this past August to spend time with her and her family, all of whom I adore very much. (Please see passport, travel receipts, personal letter, photo and emails) I am going to be going back to Australia this December-January to spend Christmas and New Years there. We intend to get married in the United States in the spring of 2000.

Christopher James