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rambil

J-1 visa holder - AOS - greencard

By rambil in Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)

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rambil Rookie

rambil   0

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Hello Everyone, 

 

I am new in this forum but I have heard it so many times on reddit. 

 

I will try to explain my situation as less as complicated. I came here with J-1 visa and subject to a two-year rule. During my stay I met the LOML, so I started for looking into waiver application. I hired a lawyer for this because I was told that it is a very complicated case as per my lawyer as well. Even though I was (a year) early to file for NOS, the lawyer suggested to gather all the documents I needed and secure a retainer, so I did. It was a long process because I had to get some documents from my home country which is very challenging and we end up going back and forth. I was really overwhelmed with everything to the point that I just wanted to leave US but my then BF (US citizen) and I really fell in love and decided to get marry. We thought after getting married the process will be a lot less complicated but it is not. 

 

Long story short, I did not able to get my waiver before my visa expired. I was so scared and overwhelmed that it affected me mentally. In 2018, I got my J-1 waiver approved but the final decision from USCIS took much longer. in 2019, my first approval notice got lost in the mail and my lawyer had no idea how it happened. I don't want to blame anyone but I have a gut feeling that my lawyer's office lost it (all my notices are mailed to lawyer's). I had to submit Form i-824 and pay again for the approval notice. 

 

Fast forward to December 2020, I received the form i-612 finally!! I told my lawyer about it and he said to me "great! We can set up and appointment and bring your check with you" that did not sit right with me especially to my husband. Also, last year was tough for everyone and paying 10k for a lawyers fee is just too much for us. So I told my lawyer that I will not going to hire him to represent me and that I will look into my options but he said that he is willing to work around our budget. I am just worried that he would not prioritize my case since I'm paying less than others. Plus I never really felt any urgency from this lawyer. Now, I am at lost. I have been researching about Boundless and Simple citizen to help me with my green card application.

 

First of all, thank you for taking your time to read this. I'm sorry it is long and probably confusing but I really needed help and I know a lot of people who relayed in this community so much. I hope you can share your insights how to start this application because I could not live like this anymore. I need to get my status legal. Thank you so much in advance. 

 

 

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,659

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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This a DIY site, most people do not use a Lawyer or a 'service'. I think I have seen 3 posts today from people using a service and have been given misinformation.

 

Obviously up to you how to proceed, $10k seems very steep.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

rambil Rookie

rambil   0

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54 minutes ago, Boiler said:

This a DIY site, most people do not use a Lawyer or a 'service'. I think I have seen 3 posts today from people using a service and have been given misinformation.

 

Obviously up to you how to proceed, $10k seems very steep.

Thanks for replying. I'm also looking into DIY but my former lawyer said my cases is more complicated than I thought that's why I came here. 

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,659

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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Posted

You have your waiver so what complications do you have?

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,812

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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Posted

Moved from Site-Related Discussion to Waivers forum.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

Chancy Grand Master

Chancy   6,241

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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Posted
On 2/25/2021 at 7:55 PM, rambil said:

The only concern that I have is that I overstayed my visa, that is why I am scared of filing my green card application on my own. 

 

If you are adjusting status based on marriage to a US citizen, your visa overstay will be overlooked.  Follow the AOS guides here on VJ and file your I-485 package ASAP.  If you have any specific questions on the process, post them here -- https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/130-adjustment-of-status-from-work-student-amp-tourist-visas/

 

rambil Rookie

rambil   0

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On 2/26/2021 at 10:56 PM, Chancy said:

 

If you are adjusting status based on marriage to a US citizen, your visa overstay will be overlooked.  Follow the AOS guides here on VJ and file your I-485 package ASAP.  If you have any specific questions on the process, post them here -- https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/130-adjustment-of-status-from-work-student-amp-tourist-visas/

 

Thank you for replying. 

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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