discoverusa

Your lawyer is trying to scare you unnecessarily. Don't worry about it and reapply when you have continuous residence. 

2 minutes ago, discoverusa said:

This is sad, but I noticed after few years of solid US work experience and strong references your background doesn't matter that much anymore. Have your fiance visit Finding work in US section on visa journey to prepare for work search. It's also a very good resource for immigrants waiting for EAD to exchange ideas, share success stories and to vent about looking for work. 

Also, there was a discussion at one point that oftentimes immigrants get rejected by recruiters because they think we will require sponsorship. 

2 minutes ago, fellaamazing said:

When I changed my name 10 years ago, I started receiving thousand times more calls. However in IT field, myself being from Pakistan and my degree from university there , 100% of time gives me rejection, no matter if I scored 100% in the programming tests and have 100% great answers in interviews. Both by white and Indian hiring managers.

This is sad, but I noticed after few years of solid US work experience and strong references your background doesn't matter that much anymore. Have your fiance visit Finding work in US section on visa journey to prepare for work search. It's also a very good resource for immigrants waiting for EAD to exchange ideas, share success stories and to vent about looking for work. 

7 hours ago, Verrou said:

1. enter US with K1 visa with current name

2. apply for SS with his current name. note he cant work without an EAD. he need to have EAD to work and not just SS. just marry with USC didnt give him right to work until he got his EAD

2. get marry in the US

3. file AOS with new married name ( means all application will filled out with new name). his current name become maiden name. attached marriage certificate, that's legal document that acknowledge he take ur last name. bear in mind, he cant change his first name with that married certificate. he can only take ur last name because it considered not a "name" change

4. he will get EAD/GC with his current first name + ur last name. he can use that to apply for DL, etc

5. in the mean time he can use his new american first name that he pick, socially, just not legally. i never changed my name at all when i married my US spouse. not even take his last name too. but when i applied for job, i put his last name on the resume because my last name is foreign and i didnt get any single call from hiring manager because of that. the moment i put his last name on my resume, companies start to call me believe it or not. when a company finally hire me, i gave them my EAD with my legal name obviously, and by then they dont care because they indeed want to hire me. i use my husband's last name for everything like dry cleaning, ordering food bla bla bla. 

6. no need to change his passport with new name, because he doesnt need too. thousand people did this without an issue

7. wait till naturalization and he can change his first name, middle name, last name whatever he wants without cost

This is so true about sounding or presenting less foreign. Once I dropped my foreign degree from my resume I got a lot more calls from recruiters. Also, I think my foreign degree also aged me (think age discrimination). Once I left my US University only on the resume I got a lot more calls and invites for interviews. Sad, but true. 

12 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Show your relative this.  Both visas will take about 18 months from filing to interview.  You are correct in your analysis.  It will take a long time from K-1 to actual Green Card.

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1 
  More expensive than CR-1
  Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)
  Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 6-8 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 months) 
  Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period 
  Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
  A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
  In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice 
  A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  K-1 entrant cannot file for citizenship until after having Green Card for 3 years.
  Once an I-129F has been approved, delaying the case is difficult to impossible if the need arises.

CR-1/IR-1
  Less expensive than K-1 
  No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required. 
  Spouse can immediately travel outside the US 
  Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival. 
  Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US 
  Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.
  Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  The clock for citizenship filing starts immediately upon entry to the US.
  A CR-1/IR-1 case can be delayed indefinitely at NVC if the need arises. 
   

 

I love this list!

Are you looking to visit or live in US?

If she entered before your two year anniversary as a married couple she will receive two year conditional LPR card. 

Moving to US first makes perfect sense. I imagine it would be he hard to figure things out for two newbies, unless you have family here that can help you in the beginning. 

I know someone with prior arrests who got quoted 5K from a lawyer just to take the case. This is in Fairfield County, CT. 

He didn't end up hiring a lawyer and got his Citizenship. We obtained all court and police records and truthfully answered all questions. 

12 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Medi~Cal is free so why wouldn't you and no 5 year wait.

 

I have not come across Sponsor involvement before, after 5 years they could naturalise to get out of that anyway 

 

 

Wow! No wait, this is interesting. I guess CA is a place to be for a new LPR. 

I am only familiar with CT rules. Sponsor income and asset deeming still applies even after 5 years for elderly LPR (not applicable for magi medical aka Obamacare). Unless the exceptions from affidavit of support occur (LPR becomes a US citizen, sponsor dies or LPR earns 40Q). 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised the politics of particular state play a big part in access to public assistance. 

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

They are in LA so Medi-Cal. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/default.aspx

Is medi cal better or easier to obtain for an elderly LPR? 

I am curious, because in CT even an elderly LPR will not qualify for Medicaid until after five years have passed as an LPR. Even after five years proof of sponsor income/assets is required in order to be considered for Medicaid (there are few exceptions to this requirement). 

Non issue. Undocumented people get married all the time. 

14 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Typically, it's been recommended here to wait 2 years.

That can be very satisfying.  We ought to make USCIS pay us back for all of our trauma, so how about using the papers for a weenie-roast, or fireplace kindling?   

I did exactly that! Burned everything in the fireplace. It was indeed very satisfying 😂

I never even logged in to check after oath ceremony 😂

I would also include a letter from your father in law specifying the dates you both lived with him as a married couple. It's an affidavit from your first "landlord."

Nothing wrong with MIL wanting to visit her new grandchild. She should just reapply and see what happens. 

My Mom got her tourist visa after a very quick interview back in 2015.

Good luck!

Any updates on your situation?

By far the easiest step of immigration journey is getting US Citizenship. She can file online. Just make sure she meets continuous residency requirements and other criteria. 

Start planning and researching about cost of medical insurance for your elderly in-laws. Unless they are still young enough to work and get a job that offers health insurance. 

I filled my Mom's DS-160. I was on Skype with my Mom while filling out the form. No issues. She got a approved. 

Please let us know how it went at the airport. 

It's really easy. Check off the box that states I am not a US Citizen and mail it back. You will receive a response shortly by mail stating you are disqualified from jury duty. 

Happened to me twice before becoming a US Citizen. 

18 minutes ago, Gaps0214 said:

Excellent idea 😀 I just did that with Patty Murray. 

 

Do you think I should write to the other one as well?

 

We all get two US senators to ask for help. Have you had any experience getting help from them with your immigration issues with federal agencies?

 

Thanks again.

I only dealt with one at the time.