I can't do it

[justins wife 0]

Ok I'm new here and I don't know any of the abbre's for things except for AOS. So here goes

I arrived in USA for a vacation with my two children on feb 21 08. While here I met my now husband and we got married on May 16 08. I stayed here obviously and intended to file for permanent resident status or whatever it's called. But we have not been able to find the money to file the papers and due to the situation being kinda complicated we cannot find a way to do it now either. Here is the situation we are in.

1/ I am 35 yrs old but have a criminal record with about 30 minor convictions. They are all older than 10 years old and most of them stem from one act of utter stupidity when i was 18. None were violent but one was for marijuana. The rest are fines for parking infringements etc. I have a copy of my convictions from the NZ police.

2/ I have been in the USA for almost one year so I am well past my 90 day stay.

3/ I did not have intent to stay here when i arrived but now obviously I want to stay and need to stay to be with my husband and our family.

4/ I left New Zealand because of an abusive ex partner and moved to Australia in 2006. I do have lawyers papers from NZ proving that I left NZ in fear for my life and that of my children. I can also get statements from my NZ family doctor, social workers, my sons school in NZ, my NZ lawyer, NZ police and my previous employer who is a social worker CEO for a charitable organization in NZ regarding my ex partner and fear for my safety. Could I apply for asylum due to my life being in danger if I was returned to NZ? If not is there anything else I can do?

5/ My husband is supporting me and will support me and my children in the future but he is self employed and last year his income after expenses and materials was under $5000. Similarly this year his taxes show an income of $4000. Obviously this is below the poverty line and therein lies the problem with that.

6/ At the moment we are able to afford rent food and other expenses like electricity etc but will not be able to find and extra $3200 to file the papers for AOS and certainly we cannot afford an Immigration lawyer which i think we would definitely need. We can probably find another sponsor for me and the kids to say they will be financially responsible for us.

We are very happy here. My kids feel safer than they ever have before and my husband and I are in love and trying for another addition to our family, he has taken on the responsibility of my two kids and is a great daddy for them. We have friends that can attest to our marriage being a legitimate one. But unfortunately noone that could loan us the money to help us become legal in USA. I'm at a loss. I cry nightly and I am constantly worried. If I am deported back to NZ I would definitely be in real danger of being killed and my children having no mother or at the very worst their lives being in danger from my ex partner also. I guess that's it for now but if anyone can offer advice I owuld very much appreciate it.

cheers

justins wife

[bassagitator 1]

Why would you be in grave danger if you were to return to your country? Will answer the rest of this once i knwo why

[justins wife 0]

Why would you be in grave danger if you were to return to your country? Will answer the rest of this once i knwo why

Because my ex partner will kill me. He was very violent and has just been released from jail last week after serving 2 + yrs for 35 chrages of violence, attempted murder, driving charges, threatening to kill etc etc. (in NZ). he has made threats via phone, letter and messages through other people. I also have correspondence from the prison CEO confirming that he was threatening to kill me from jail.

[bassagitator 1]

Ok well I was going to suggest you could apply for political asylum, but that would nto work in this case.

I dunno what to tell you, You HAVE to be able to show that your partner can supposrt you 125% above the poverty line. And if you cannot show this then you will not be able to file. Teh INS is NOT leiniant on this whatcsoever. And in order to file you will need 1010.00 + 355.00 to file the forns.

Maybe consult an attorny they ussually offer a free first session.

[Penguin_ie 6,000]

Asylum won't work as yours is a domestic problem, not a political issue. Also as you lived in Australia before, you may not be returned to NZ but Australia, not sure.

For not meeting the financial minimum, you could get a co-sponsor (a friend of family member of your husbands).

Problem being, the drug conviction (and the others, but this one;s the biggie). But if you can show you are "reformed" (attended counselling, clean drug tests), you can usually get a waiver for that.

I think you need to find a way to come up with the money for AOS.... maybe a loan, if not from a bank from a friend or your family?

[Kez/JWolf 6]

You can not claim political Asylum as your issue is not political. Your only option is to file for Adjustment of Status for yourself and your children. If you cant afford the fees then you can apply for a "Fee Wavier" http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD You will still need to find a co-sponsor as your husband does not earn enough.

You can also try contacting the Catholic Charities to see if there is an immigration Lawyer who can see you for free or at reduced cost. There are options open to you. you just need to search for them.

Hope this helps

[vanee 13]

Would your husband consider taking on a job, at least for a year or so? If he's earning that little as a self-employed person, he might be able to continue with that work when he isn't at his job. That would help with the money part of your problem.

[FRJ 0]

besides your finances, i dont see whats complicated about your case. first off, its 1300 to file, not 3200-unless u were referring to filing for your kids also. i would suggest you get a sponsor so that you go over the poverty line. i dont think all that other stuff has any bearing on your AOS filing. take it one step at a time..secure a sponsor, secure the funds necessary to file, and go thru the forms deligently. make sure you are honest about your convictions or whatever.

[payxibka 10,048]

besides your finances, i dont see whats complicated about your case. first off, its 1300 to file, not 3200-unless u were referring to filing for your kids also. i would suggest you get a sponsor so that you go over the poverty line. i dont think all that other stuff has any bearing on your AOS filing. take it one step at a time..secure a sponsor, secure the funds necessary to file, and go thru the forms deligently. make sure you are honest about your convictions or whatever.

actually her total filing fee for the three I-130's & I-485's will be somewhere between $3,275 & $4,095 dependent on the age of the two kids. In addition she will need three medical exams at who knows what cost.

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Ok well I was going to suggest you could apply for political asylum, but that would nto work in this case.

I dunno what to tell you, You HAVE to be able to show that your partner can supposrt you 125% above the poverty line. And if you cannot show this then you will not be able to file. Teh INS is NOT leiniant on this whatcsoever. And in order to file you will need 1010.00 + 355.00 to file the forns.

Maybe consult an attorny they ussually offer a free first session.

How does this apply?

[Wabbit R 0]

You should look for a co-sponsor to file an affidavit of support for you because if you don't there's no way you are going to get approved. Also, one person on here mentioned going to charities or your local immigrant organizations... they are always willing to help. If your husband would want you to keep you here, then he'll have to think fast and find himself a job while you're doing paperwork if you want to file for your children too, which is of course a very good move. I understand how hard this can be on you and your husband.... It was expensive for us too and there's just me and my Husband, nowadays every penny that comes out of our pocket counts, but you know what, it will al be worth it in the end. You may also want to look at fee waivers (uscis.gov) and if you want to talk to a real person, make an appointment thru INFOPASS (you'll find this at the website too) so you an go to your local USCIS office and get advice from someone regarding your case.

I don't think your convictions in the past will be a problem whatsoever... Just be honest about them and don't be scared to tell the truth, because they'll find out one way or another.

Ok I'm new here and I don't know any of the abbre's for things except for AOS. So here goes

I arrived in USA for a vacation with my two children on feb 21 08. While here I met my now husband and we got married on May 16 08. I stayed here obviously and intended to file for permanent resident status or whatever it's called. But we have not been able to find the money to file the papers and due to the situation being kinda complicated we cannot find a way to do it now either. Here is the situation we are in.

1/ I am 35 yrs old but have a criminal record with about 30 minor convictions. They are all older than 10 years old and most of them stem from one act of utter stupidity when i was 18. None were violent but one was for marijuana. The rest are fines for parking infringements etc. I have a copy of my convictions from the NZ police.

2/ I have been in the USA for almost one year so I am well past my 90 day stay.

3/ I did not have intent to stay here when i arrived but now obviously I want to stay and need to stay to be with my husband and our family.

4/ I left New Zealand because of an abusive ex partner and moved to Australia in 2006. I do have lawyers papers from NZ proving that I left NZ in fear for my life and that of my children. I can also get statements from my NZ family doctor, social workers, my sons school in NZ, my NZ lawyer, NZ police and my previous employer who is a social worker CEO for a charitable organization in NZ regarding my ex partner and fear for my safety. Could I apply for asylum due to my life being in danger if I was returned to NZ? If not is there anything else I can do?

5/ My husband is supporting me and will support me and my children in the future but he is self employed and last year his income after expenses and materials was under $5000. Similarly this year his taxes show an income of $4000. Obviously this is below the poverty line and therein lies the problem with that.

6/ At the moment we are able to afford rent food and other expenses like electricity etc but will not be able to find and extra $3200 to file the papers for AOS and certainly we cannot afford an Immigration lawyer which i think we would definitely need. We can probably find another sponsor for me and the kids to say they will be financially responsible for us.

We are very happy here. My kids feel safer than they ever have before and my husband and I are in love and trying for another addition to our family, he has taken on the responsibility of my two kids and is a great daddy for them. We have friends that can attest to our marriage being a legitimate one. But unfortunately noone that could loan us the money to help us become legal in USA. I'm at a loss. I cry nightly and I am constantly worried. If I am deported back to NZ I would definitely be in real danger of being killed and my children having no mother or at the very worst their lives being in danger from my ex partner also. I guess that's it for now but if anyone can offer advice I owuld very much appreciate it.

cheers

justins wife

[Goldfee111 3]

to be honest...its a shitty situation...i dont know why u brought urself and ur kids in this situation???i mean before i take such a big step i make clear that i can afford that....u have not only the response for ur self..u have two kids where u have to take care of...and i dont know why ur husband not take a second job to make more money....when u are here almost a year, why u not look for a sponsor imidiatly???now u are in the situation with overstay..be illegal...ur kids are illegal...do u think this is the right way???

and how u wanna afford a laywer....u can expect they charge 2000$ for the prozess....sorry ...really..maybe that sounds now hard..but u was save from ur husband in austria....so the right way would be save some money for the prozess there and then come in the us...and then u would be legal and ur kids too...

i wish u good luck u will need a lot of them

[Jasman0717 9]

[because my ex partner will kill me. He was very violent and has just been released from jail last week after serving 2 + yrs for 35 chrages of violence, attempted murder, driving charges, threatening to kill etc etc. (in NZ). he has made threats via phone, letter and messages through other people. I also have correspondence from the prison CEO confirming that he was threatening to kill me from jail.

I don't think I would return either

[Goldfee111 3]

jasman but her husband is in new zealand...and she was in australia before....

[Alxmrt 0]

jasman but her husband is in new zealand...and she was in australia before....

but if he has repeatedly informed her that he will kill her a 3 hour trip from nz to sydney would be nothing........

i wish you all the best and i hope you can get your AOS submitted asap