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Thiago Bolanos

What should be the next step? I entered legally and am legally in the United States.

By Thiago Bolanos in Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas

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Thiago Bolanos Newbie

Thiago Bolanos   0

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Hello everyone, my name is Thiago, and I recently married my fiancée. She's a citizen and wants to file the paperwork so I can stay in the country. I entered with a visa, and my stay is still valid until November. The problem is, we don't know what to do with the forms, which ones we should fill out, or what to do next. We wanted to do it on our own. There was a lawyer who was charging us 8,000 for the process, but everyone told us my case was very simple and shouldn't be all that. If you could help guide us on what the next step should be, I'd really appreciate it. 

 
Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   44,830

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Welcome to the forums.

With what visa did you enter the US? Did you enter the US with intent to marry and stay?

 

Edited by Crazy Cat

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Thiago Bolanos Newbie

Thiago Bolanos   0

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5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Welcome to the forums.

With what visa did you enter the US? Did you enter the US with intent to marry and stay? 
 

Thank you so much. So I entered on a tourist visa. I'd already been to the United States three times before. Our plan wasn't to get married here from the start. We lived in Cali, Colombia, for a year, but she wanted to return to the United States.

Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   44,830

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

appleblossom Mentor

appleblossom   4,634

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2 minutes ago, Thiago Bolanos said:

We lived in Cali, Colombia, for a year, but she wanted to return to the United States.

 

So did you both return together with the intention of staying in the US? Or she returned and then you visited her later on? Just wanted to clarify as it could be either from what you've written here. 

Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   44,830

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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Posted

***Moved to the Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, and Tourist Visas***

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Thiago Bolanos Newbie

Thiago Bolanos   0

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4 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

Yes, we got back together in May. But not with the intention of getting married. I have my return tickets to return to my country, but she doesn't because the United States is her home. But since we were here, we decided to start a new life and get married in NJ. We already knew that me having a tourist visa and marrying an American citizen could be seen as fraud. But we've been engaged for a year and dating for over three years. We wanted to take the next step of getting married, but we never had any bad intentions.

 

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appleblossom Mentor

appleblossom   4,634

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1 minute ago, Thiago Bolanos said:

I have my return tickets to return to my country, but she doesn't because the United States is her home. But since we were here, we decided to start a new life and get married in NJ. We already knew that me having a tourist visa and marrying an American citizen could be seen as fraud. But we've been engaged for a year and dating for over three years. We wanted to take the next step of getting married, but we never had any bad intentions.

 

OK, and you can prove you were going back for a job or similar, with a leave of absence just for a vacation? You didn't give up your home or sell your car? Just that in the current climate and administration I'd make sure you have plenty of evidence that you didn't intend to stay when you entered, particularly as you entered together. It may be seen as suspicious that your fiancée was planning on leaving you to go and live in another country. 

 

As long as you've got evidence of your plan to return to overcome any doubts, and you're happy to not work for quite some time, then go for it. Follow the guide CrazyCat gave you above, and best of luck. 

Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   44,830

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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10 minutes ago, Thiago Bolanos said:

We'd have to fill out Form I-130 for adjustment of status. Would that be where the whole process begins?

You need to become an "A" student of the process in the guide I posted.  As @appleblossom stated, You will not be able to work or leave the US for up to 8 months.  Good luck on your journey.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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

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