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Chip Gilea gets permanent residency after long ordeal
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PERMANENT RESIDENT: Chip Gilea of Austintown immigrated to U.S. from Romania as a child but was jailed for nearly a year while the government threatened to deport him. He was released but waited another year for his permanent resident card, which arived in time for the holidays.
AUSTINTOWN — Virgil Ciprian “Chip” Gilea’s green card fits inside his wallet, but the possibilities it provides are immense.
“I’m ready to move on,” said Chip, 31. “It was a test and I passed it and I’m ready for new challenges.”
Chip, who immigrated to the United States at 15, was jailed for 11 months under threat of deportation. After being released in November 2008, he applied for his permanent resident card, commonly called a green card, in April.
He finally received it late last month.
“I feel like I was carrying this weight and now that weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” Chip said.
His family is relieved too.
“Everyone is happy,” said Virgil, Chip’s father.
“Our life is changing in the right direction,” his mother, Minerva, added.
Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com