CR1-family issues

[Mark321 0]

Hello everyone,

I'll explain briefly my situation.

My name is Mark and I arrived in US in august 2016 on a CR-1 conditional visa and, since then, me, my wife and her 2 kids are living together in Alabama. Our financial situation is not good, many unpaid bills and my wife is the only financial provider . Since I got my legal resident card, SSN and the local driving licence I've been trying to find a job and have been to many job interviews with no success. My education is in finance and, in order to get a job in this field I need to go through an american accounting/finance school which I don't have the money for. I'm willing to work in another fields and learn new skills but most of the local companies here require you to have hands on experience. Being almost desperate willing to take any job I would find, I found some trucking companies which are willing to train me and offer me a job as a truck driver.  We had a big argument at home, my wife accusing me of leaving her because I would away from her all the time and threatening me to divorce me and force me to go back the country I came from. We got to the point that we have physical altercations, my wife hitting me and scratching me few times out of frustration. If she decides to divorce me what possibilities I have in these conditions not to lose my status here?

 

Thanks very much for any help! 

[Springrain22 427]

Every man can find a job.

[geowrian 22,335]

Where are you in the process? Do you have a conditional (2 year) green card or a "full" (10 year) green card? If you have a conditional green card, then she can divorce you but you can do ROC by yourself with a divorce waiver. If you have a 10 year green card, then there's nothing for you to do. Either way, she cannot send you back home. You're not property. Once you have a green card, a spouse/ex-spouse is not needed to stay in the country legally.

 

If there are physical alterations, seriously consider calling the police...even to just get it documented. That;s never right.

 

That said, I do suggest looking at counseling first. As for the job, try a minimum wage job just to get started and see if things improve. If not, then the job probably wasn't really the underlying issue.

[Mark321 0]

Thanks for the quick response, 

I'm on 2 years conditional green card. I went to many places in search of a job, many of employers told me to fill an website job application, did that and got no positive responses, the only companies who accepted my application were trucking companies.

 

[geowrian 22,335]

1 minute ago, Mark321 said:

Thanks for the quick response, 

I'm on 2 years conditional green card. I went to many places in search of a job, many of employers told me to fill an website job application, did that and got no positive responses, the only companies who accepted my application were trucking companies.

 

Thanks for the update.

She can divorce you, but she cannot send you back home. You can ROC without her via a divorce waiver, so don't worry about the immigration aspects of her threats.

[Mark321 0]

Thanks geowrian very much for the help. I'm thinking that when the time will come in 2018 to apply for ROC I will have to provide proof of employment which at this point I don't have so that makes things worse for me if I don't get a job whichever that is. I have to prove that I'm not a burden for this country no?

Edited March 14, 2017 by Mark321

[geowrian 22,335]

14 minutes ago, Mark321 said:

Thanks geowrian very much for the help. I'm thinking that when the time will come in 2018 to apply for ROC I will have to provide proof of employment which at this point I don't have so that makes things worse for me if I don't get a job whichever that is. I have to prove that I'm not a burden for this country no?

I'm not as familiar with the ROC process itself, sorry. But I don't think financials or public charge concerns come into play (http://www.visajourney.com/content/751guide). You just have to prove the marriage was entered into in good faith. Co-mingling of finances is something they look for, but the actual amounts shouldn't be an issue.

 

Plus, you'll be able to do the trucking jobs...

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits forum.

[neilsqueen 433]

7 hours ago, geowrian said:

I'm not as familiar with the ROC process itself, sorry. But I don't think financials or public charge concerns come into play (http://www.visajourney.com/content/751guide). You just have to prove the marriage was entered into in good faith. Co-mingling of finances is something they look for, but the actual amounts shouldn't be an issue.

 

Plus, you'll be able to do the trucking jobs...

This is correct.  You will not provide anything about your employment.  You will need to have plenty of proof of co-mingling of finances such as tax returns, bank accounts, IRA's, lease or mortgage paperwork, etc.  It would be a good idea for you to start collecting necessary proof now so as to not run around at the last minute when you do submit your ROC paperwork.  Go to www.uscis.gov and research ROC info. 

[Michael and Ganna 103]

Mark, If you are close to the gulf coast check out the fishing/shrimp boats for a job

[Sukie 1,439]

I have a suggestion.  There are companies that can take your educational qualifications and "translate" them into qualifications that are understood by American companies.  Many Australians have to do this, as their "normal" university degrees are earned in three years as opposed to four years like the US.  I found a company like this for someone else once using Google.  Try it.

 

The US has recently made getting an accounting degree a helluva lot harder (5 years of undergraduate work - not 4), and I'm not sure you can take the CPA exam without a degree now.

 

If you get your education "translated" - you may have a better chance of finding employment in your field.  If you are willing, and your finance background included a bit of accounting, then try local accounting firms - as a clerk to start.  Or, after you get your credentials into "US-speak" - try local banks as a teller.  Check with your local Small Business Association and see if you could qualify as a counselor.

 

Good luck. 

 

Sukie in NY (originally from Alabama)

[Jorcruzina 15]

As somebody that works in the financial field myself i can give you hands on advice. 

I first moved to America 2005 when i got married to my first husband. As soon as i received my SSN i started working in retail yet hated my job- every single day. Met a friend that works in bank and applied there. They took me in as a Teller and since then i worked my self up to a corporate mortgage loan officer. Actually never graduated. Started university, wasn't for me. 

You might have to start with a entry position but as soon as you prove yourself you will get far with hard work and dedication. Took me 6 months from being a Teller to become a personal banker. I know it is hard since you already have experience but getting in the door is the most important part. 

Most big banks are very diverse and happy to employ foreigners. I started out at Bank of America and had absolutely no bank experience. 

 

You can do it. Just apply at big corporate banks. 

 

[Mark321 0]

Thanks everyone the advice, that means a lot to me. 

[Jawaree 717]

Many companies shy away from newbies (silly but factual) strong accent, adapting a bit slower

so try any place even McDonalds, after 90 daus, you'll have lingos, ways & more insight. Have

you tried Greyhound for driving, at least you'd only be gone one overnite sometimes, how about call

centers....best wishes bro...dont let this tear you both apart

[candybabe 46]

On ‎3‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 11:49 AM, Mark321 said:

Thanks for the quick response, 

I'm on 2 years conditional green card. I went to many places in search of a job, many of employers told me to fill an website job application, did that and got no positive responses, the only companies who accepted my application were trucking companies.

 

Did you think about temp work through an agency - My background is similar and I faced the same "lack of experience" hurdles - was in Finance in Europe, came to the US, got a temp job as an Accounts Payable clerk for $12 / hour with a large company, an entry level, with no benefits. But money is money so I understood I have to work my way up. Which I did, within the same company pretty quickly.

 Almost 10 years later I am an internal auditor and pretty established in my career.

The point is, as a temp worker, accounting & finance is a pretty transferable skill across continents.