US Immigration from Australia

OK; long story bear with me.

I applied for my GC via Marriage. At the interview, our agent suggested putting my married name (lets say last name is : B) on the card. Which I agreed too, as I aiming to commence the process with my consulate to change my passport to my married name anyways, which has been a complete BUST!

I receive my GC. My first name, last name (married name), and country is WRONG. Like completely wrong.

I then file an i90 and hand my Greencard back in.

I also then obtain my first 551 (stamp in my passport, which is my maiden name).

A year goes by.... no I90, but I need to travel internationally. I apply ONLINE for a replacement 551. It arrives in my married name.

Another year goes by.... no I90. But the time comes to remove my conditions, which I apply for.

In the mail, I receive a Notice of Action 797 in my maiden name, which extends my 551 for 48 months and allows me to travel and work.

So now.... I have a Passport with my maiden name. A 551 (expired) with my married name. and a 797 notice with my maiden name.

I travel to Colombia. thankfully, they allow me to travel back to the States, but I get held aside Stateside. Obviously the issue is the ONE document (expired 551) in my married name. It obviously confuses Airport USCIS.

They told me to file a form to have the 551 transferred back into my maiden name and a form to change my GC in process back to my maiden name.

But for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the document. Can someone help?

Hello All,

My wife and I have been married for two year and just gave birth to our first child 6 months ago.

My wife is Australian and has entered the US several times with an ESTA since 2017. During the pandemic she overstayed for over a year, but she was able to apply for an ESTA and visit the US last year. Not sure if her overstay will effect her green card application if she was still able to get an ESTA.

We currently reside in Malaysia where we gave birth to our daughter, but next week we are planning to visit the states while I start a new job. We are planning to stay for maybe 8 months and I have been looking into applying for a green card to avoid any future travel issues. Otherwise we would have to make visa runs to reset the ESTA. With a child this is not ideal for us.

Is it possible to apply for the green card once we arrive under an ESTA? Also how long would we have to reside in the US? I am looking into using a service like simple citizen to get some support with organizing the documents since I feel like my situation more complex and I can t afford a lawyer.

We intended to go back to Malaysia to visit after about 8 months. Our goal is to have the freedom to stay in Malaysia and US free. Thanks for any advice on the matter!

Does anyone have any information regarding IR1 interview wait time for Sydney embassy?

DQ date: 28/11/2023

Hello, start off by saying I do not want to apply for naturalization even though I know it is easier for military.

My husband got orders to Japan and I am on his orders and will be accompanying him.

My i-751 is pending. Has anyone had to fly back to the states and have their interview? what rough timeframe did they give you between receiving the notice and the interview date. I don't know how realistic it will be for me to fly back short notice.

Thanks,

Hi! I first joined up here about 12 years ago

I was a naive, enthusiastic future resident of the USA who had just married my US-born husband and needed to Adjust my status. Although I knew my husband had an offense from 20 years ago, I had no clue that the USA gave a damn about the criminal history of the petitioner!

To make a long, tear-filled story easier here is the outline

2012 - married US Citizen from tourist visa

2013 - First application for AOS by marriage - with attorney but not one with AWA experience

2013 - First NOID - Got Psych report and as much evidence as possible sent off

2015 - Denied

2015 - Reapply for AOS - same attorney but we are better versed this time

2016 - NOID - new reports, fresh proof

2017 - Denied

2017 - Reapply 3rd time - yet more info provided

2018 - NOID - 3RD Psych assessment, at $3000 a pop

2021 - Denied

2021 - Reapply BUT with a change - we switch application from my husband as a sponsor to my eldest step-son and suddenly, no issues

2021 - RFE for Medical Exam only!
2024 Jan 13 - email from attorney to say we have finally been APPROVED

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THAT MAY HELP OTHERS WITH AWA ISSUES

1. Get an attorney WHO KNOWS THE AWA, not just any migration attorney. We had a wonderful, kind, generous attorney, but this was in no way her field of experience.

2. Be prepared to pay a lot of money, not just for your attorney but also for the reports, copies of offenses, parole decisions, probation records etc. You will need copies of everything. Fresh Psych reports will almost always be needed and they aren't cheap.

3. Despite all your efforts and money, the odds are you will not win. Our choice, if my stepson had not wanted to help, would have been to take it to court in front of a judge and plead for common sense to prevail.

4. If you have any alternative method of filing that does not involve the person with the conviction being used then take that option like I did. I know this is not available to everyone, but some of you may benefit from this suggestion.

5. All in all, I think this cost 12 years, $30,000 US or near enough, nearly caused us to divorce several times due to all the stress, and interfered with my right to work and hold a driver's license. I've been too scared to leave for 12 years to visit my home or parents in case I could not get back into the USA.

6. If you can find any other way to apply, sponsored by a stepchild in my case, or try employment-based immigration, etc, I'd say try anything before having to try beating the AWA.

7. I am open to private messages from others who just need moral support or someone to listen to, but I can't offer legal or immigration advice more than I have said above.