Bobbie

Congrats

thank you so much guys, and good luck.

Congratulations...it can only be easier from here!

take classes in the states, while i am waiting for my aos. I am here on K1, got married, have my biometrics done and now am waiting for my interview. i would take only one class or so in english, acting, photography, cooking, whatever... it's not that i want to enroll as a student to get a degree.

Well I am not the law, but I would think this is perfectly alright. You aren't getting financial aid through the govt, so why not.

Was in Saltzburg last year, beautiful!

No. There are about a dozen steps before deportation. Roughly, first he could apply for AOS anyway, then that would be denied, then he would fall out of status, then they would notify him he was out of status, then he would have the opportunity to correct status, then that would be denied, then he would appeal, then he would have a hearing, then they would ask him to leave voluntarily, then he would appeal that, then they would enter a deportation order, then they would ask him to turn himself in, then if he didn't they'd put a hold on him, and then if he ever got arrested he'd be transferred to ICE custody and physically deported. All that assumes that everything goes against him at every stage of the proceeding.

It's not that easy to deport someone who's out walking free.

Bad thing......they should get his as*

Maria

Yeah, too bad we have that thing called the Constitution that guarantees due process...

^5

Happy Dance for you!!! :dance: :dance: :dance:

Thank you thank you thank you, finally a new touch!!!!

If you don't see any more touches within the next couple of weeks, I would call NVC and inquire. Trying to call CSC is a waste of time. They won't tell you anything of a decision over the phone, no e-mail, hard copy, etc...nothing. In the last month or so, most of us March Filers were actually approved when we saw our cases "touched". And then didn't see anything after that. We didn't know if we were approved or not. I was advised to contact NVC and I found my case was on it's way to my fiancee's consulate.

how to call NVC? and how to inquire , which case number you give them?

You can contact NVC at 1 603 334 0700. Press 1 then 5 and keep trying if you do not get through the first few tries. Give them you USCIS receipt number that is on your NOA1. They will ask you for your fiancee's name and date of birth. And probably verify your home address and phone. If your case is there or already passed through on it's way to the consulate, be sure to ask them for the NVC Case #. Pretty simple! Best of luck to ya!

Thanks Joe!

That was my next thought....Taxes.

BTW, in Los Angeles County you must have a business license, even for an online Business

I'm finding all of this very interesting. In some areas in Florida you need a license, and some you do not. Business licenses from counties are primarily revenue gathering devices, nothing more nothing less. Well you know they will say more....but I disagree.

Of course there are certain occupational licenses, like Dean, I am a mortgage broker, so I must have that license, and then if I have my own company I must at minimum have a mortgage broker business license (Hey Dean, if I get a CO loan I will broker it over to you!).

However, I have an online business and non one has said anything about getting an occupational license. We actually one an award from the county economic development group about a month ago....and I said, wow, you know this is all out of the house...they said, that is perfectly legal. I don't know if they realize the fedex/ups traffic, but since it is a working neighborhood, the neighbors are generally gone for the traffic and we don't have folks coming to the house to pick things up (although they ask).

Finally it is my business and my SO's business. We are not employees, we take owners draws. This is different. That is why we are not able to just show paychecks or w2's for the affidavit of support. I hope he can work when he gets here....this is a busy business and I would like nothing but to let him handle 80% of what I do now.

Obviously he can fly under the radar, but it is neither of our wishes to do so. We take this whole thing very seriously.

But if he could work, I would be happy to take the owners draw and we can both benefit from it.

Bobbie

I think my parents dont really understand the whole process. Thats great honey, hope you are happy. Hope he is the one for you (just like if I was to get married to anyone).

No one understands why it takes so long, and of course I am not going to go into details ...its more info then they really need.

I am very pleased to report that my application HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!! I called USCIS earlier this afternoon and dialed through to the RFE line, inquiring about all of the touches and the turnaround time for a definite response. The very friendly officer on the phone checked the records and said I was approved! I said "Are you serious?" which in retrospect was probably not the smartest thing to say, and she said "yes, you were approved on Monday June 4." Of course, at that point, the happy tears started and I could hardly make the pleasant small talk that closed the conversation.

Prayers, positive energy, and good wishes really worked. Now on to NVC, I guess!

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: Happy Dance For YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My reasoning:

I'm just not ready to know what an 8 pound baby feels like coming out of my #######.

*wiping coffee off my monitor*

Excuse me while i change my pants

APPROVED!!

2nd touch and Im THRILLED

Thank you thank you thank you, finally a new touch!!!!

Hi Dwar49

How is everything?

I am thinking about you very often.

When I am here I can't stop coming by this forum.

This forum is for sure a very tough place that I will never forget.

It was my worst nightmare when I didn't knew if I was bought or sold.

So I want so much to wish you good luck and tell you that you must not loose your courage.

Many thoughts from

Anette

Thank you Anette, I felt your post was directed in the general world direction, so I took it to heart. This is a terrible process, when you think it is stressful, and then the stress on the relationship, it is very hard some days.

Thank you again.

Bobbie

I find it interesting that people always say, well go home if you divorce, why would you want to stay here....well, here isnt a bad place to be. Remember, we all love living in the USA. Frankly, if I had to move to Germany to be with my SO, and we broke up, I think I would want to stay there for a while too. But I am not with him just in case i get the chance.

I dont blame anyone for wanting to stay in a place they know they can do pretty well in, with our without marriage. Yes, marriage is how many people get here, but just because they are not married doesnt mean they want to go home. As far as going with out your family, I moved across the country from mine. I would love to be living there, but, the pay isnt there. So I stay here.

Welcome to the USA, sorry for the JERK you married. If you are lucky he will sit in jail for 18-24 months for not caring for his children and you can just be the wife who is at home waiting.

Bobbie

I have been married about 2 months now to a foreigner who was here on a work-exhcange visa, which expired right before we got married. We were friends during his entire visa stay, but we only dated 1 1/2 mo before marrying. He is still living with me in the U.S. at my home.

My natural desire was to sponsor him to get his perminent residence here, which we were on the verge of putting the application in the mail (I-485, I-130, I-864, I-765, etc...). But some things have happened since we got married, which increasingly got worse, that make me feel unsure about sponsoring him (extreme emotional abuse, control, cutting me off from my friends/family, sleep deprevation..etc... and phsyical restraints... never hit me though..at least not 'yet'). I had discussed/argued with him about the way he was treating me and told him that I didn't feel comfortable/safe with it. He said he would stop, but kept doing it. It all came to a breaking point a week and a half ago, when I was ready to leave the marriage due to all of this(and buy him a flight back to his country). I finally called my family to help me. My friends and family tell me to get out of the relationship now... but after 4 days of separating (I spent the time at my family's house) he is promising to change, etc.. and seems very genuine. I have been back with him for a week now, and we have seen a marriage counselor (who seems good) twice, and I am getting personal counseling as well. His intentions seem genuine...but how can I judge at this point?

I think he loves me... it is believable from what he says now and how he has acted this last week... but I have had my doubts, since marrying, about what his true intentions were in marrying me. I believed that we both loved each other. He always acted very hurt if I brought up questions/concerns addressing the possibility that his intentions weren't purely due to his love for me.

My fear in sponsoring him is due to the financial responsibility I would be agreeing to in the affidavit of support until he becomes a U.S. citizen....and then having things not work out in the marriage (this is not my hope)...and then me still being stuck with the responsibility of ensuring I maintain him at an above povertly income level to ensure he doesn't go on public assistance, etc...

My dilema is that if we do work on this marriage and stay together... I will want him to be here legally and able to work, but I don't want it to be due to him knowing he can get his perm. residence through me. As it is, his J-1 visa is expired. He was living with me (rather than returning to his country) until we could get the application mailed in, which I've read elsewhere that although technically it is illegal, usually it isn't a problem to get the perm. residence approved (as long as he didn't overstay his visa 180+ days). So he can't have a driver's license in my state, no permission to work, etc... Even looked into the possibility of him going to school as an international student but was told since his visa was expired, and he wasn't in his home country, that they couldn't apply for the student visa.

He says he wants to stay with me, and work on the marriage. He says he is willing to change. I love him, but don't want to end up in an abusive relationship. I hear it is more difficult to leave the longer you stay. I want more time to determine whether or not to sponsor him, to determine whether or not his promises are genuine and true. I also need more time to make sure my decisions are wise (since looking back I wasn't so wise to marry him so quickly, but I can't change that now).

In the meantime, I want him to be able to stay legally somehow (so I don't have this pressure to sponsor him), and be able to do normal things like work (legally). I don't want to feel obligated to financially sponsor him b/c now I feel unsafe doing so...and don't want to be financially obligated (by the U.S. gvmt) to a man who may end up being my x-husband if he reverts back to this controlling/abusive behavior. I want to know if there is any way that he can be here legally? even as a non-immigrant? (I know he could be sponsored to be a Perm. Res. by an Employer, but he has no degree completed yet). Is there some other kind of visa I do not know about that he could apply for while living in the U.S. married to a U.S. citizen? Without the intention to be a permanent resident? I read about the K-3 visa...but we would have to send him back home, then bring him back here again...and that could be renewed annually, but I'd still have to provide the affidavit of support??? This doesn't seem to be any better an option than the first. Is there an agency out there that may help with getting him sponsored by an employer, and placing him in a job, even though he doesn't have a degree (the skilled worker option???) and his visa is already expired.

Someone please offer some good advice.... I have good people helping me in the emotional dept. etc... but on top of the marrital issues there is this sponsorship/legal #######, which most people do not know about. I want to know that if he is working on things with me that it is because he loves me and wants to be with me...not so he can use me to get perm. residence. I'm trying to do things right and legal (which is why he isn't driving nor working).

Thanks.

I am sorry that you are going through this. I don't know what to tell you but I can tell you with 100% certainty that he will not change. Oh, I am sure he is genuine and I am positive that he is being sincere when he tells you he will change but the truth is, he has no control over it. There is something wrong with him and the problem is not something that he can fix on his own. I am telling you, as God is my witness, the only chance he has for change is with professional help. And even with professional help, there is no guarantee.

I have been through the exact same thing and I almost died for this so called man who told me time and time again that he would change. He was always very genuine too and I was naive and believed him. When i finally realized that he was not going to change because he just didn't know how, I left him. He ended up taking me into the El Paso desert, made me get out the car, start walking, and then he made me count to 100 because he did not want me to know when he was going to shoot me. After torturing me with his shooting game, he made me get back in the car. He then drove me to his house, handcuffed me to the bed and raped me for 2 days until one night, he fell asleep with the keys on his chest and I was able to grap the handcuff key with my free right hand. I unlocked the handcuffs and ran out of there naked.

Please do not wait around for him to change. Even though he has not hit you yet, be prepared just incase he will one day. This just breaks my heart! I usually do not post personal stuff about my life like this but I felt compelled to do so. I just could not resist the urge.

You are very brave to share that, in an effort to help this woman. I hope she realizes this and takes it to heart.

I am very glad you survived, and now, you thrive!

Bobbie

I became self employment (one person LLC) as of last year. I am sending following docs to my wife for interview:

- 3 years IRS transcript

- A letter from the company I work as "Independent Contractor" (don't have pay stub, since it is a business)

- LLC certificate

I would appreciate your suggestion.

Thanks much.

Hi there

We are in much of the same boat. I and my SO are self employed together, duel member LLC. I will be sending the irs ...but we have been self employed 2 years.....and then I have had another 1099 job for the past few years....and another single member LLC.....

(my head hurts)

I have been trying to think about having my CPA write a letter to state how much I have taken for 2007 and what I will be taking as an owners draw...

It is very hard when you do several things to earn money and you are piecing them all together to try to show you are in the guidelines of what they require.

Good Luck

They got mine on March 5th and I have one touch....and nothing...

If you are a vendor or sell at any of the Oktoberfests around the country or in Canada, I would like to speak to you. We are German Importers and would like to talk about doing some business together.

Please email me at, bobbie@mydirndl.com

*** I am a K1 person in this forum***

First off, I highly doubt they have the internet in the govt offices. I would hope not, not open internet access anyhow.

Secondly, I am sure they would be in trouble for surfing the net, they are paid to do a job, not look for "chat".

Finally, I think it would be more likely that someone from a fraud unit or or someone who is developing a plan to better the system would read these types of forums, but not the average adjudicator or processor.

Hi there- I wasn't sure which forum to put this in... but this seemed the closest! Haven't been on in quite a while since our journey is pretty much over (for a few years, anyways) but thought maybe you all might have some input into our friend's situation.

One of our friends was adopted and finally moved to the US just under 4 months ago. He met the missionary family at home and they hit it off. They did a lot of work together and had a good relationship for quite a while, so our friend was excited to live with them.

Well, since his arrival, things have changed. They changed his name, won't let him out of the house- even into the yard- and force him to study, often literally, from morning until he goes to sleep, seven days a week. But they won't let him go to a regular school - they insist on homeschooling. The other day he tried to walk to his nearest neighbor's house (about 5 miles away.. ) and she drove after him and brought him back home. When company comes over, they warn him that he's not allowed to talk to them. We've sweet talked the mother, but we're the only ones he's allowed to call- and even that is shaky ground and she listens in. And the mom recently took away his documents and greencard and hid them. (he knows where they are though....)

So. He is a good guy, and he fully intended to stick with this family. I know it looks bad to leave after just a few months, but they're making him crazy. Honestly, he calls us crying. And I don't think it's healthy. I know they're not beating him up, forcing him into prostitution, or doing anything illegal, but it's mental torture.

He just turned 18, and has applied for citizenship, based on the adoption, but that hasn't followed through yet. I guess all I'm wondering is if we rescue him and get him out of there, can the mom chase him down and get him deported? My first inclination is that he's an adult, and has a green card so he should be fine... but is that true? What if he waits for his citizenship? Any ideas?

I sent this off to my old lawyer too, but I'm not sure if she's still practicing- so if anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated! You are all so wonderful and I thank you so much for helping out with all of our personal visajourney and any other questions I've had.

It almost seems a call to to child services is necessary.

While he is homeschooled, can he pass competency tests?

And that just seems abusive to me.

Rescue this kid!

Mmmm we are late Feb senders, March received......the air is heavy with anticipation....

GOOOO MARCH!!!

Does the divorce have to be final before you apply?

My fiancee said that if he comes to usa on tourist visa and marries me, he can stay? Is that right?

I read some depressing stuff on a petition, but it seemed to apply more to getting the spouse to usa, is this fiancee visa jsut as bad or is it pretty easy? How much money total does it cost if you do it yourself? And is it 4-6 months or so?

Yes as the others said you have to be free to marry before filing the (K1 Visa) or else you will get rejected.

No he cant come and stay with you and just marry and stay for good,you guys might want to file K1 Visa.

Read the guides here on VJ and you guys can look into K1 K3 etc.

Fees are being increased starting July 30th. The total cost will probably be in the $3000 range by the time your fiancee applies for citizenship. But you dont have to pay all the fees at once. And citzienship is optional.

Yep the fees are going to be higher starting from 30 July 2007 : http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

I was divorced in Feb and the waiting period to remarry is in August. Do I have to wait until August to start the filing? That was my question.

The guides say, YOU must be free to marry. YOU will be free to marry in August, per your state. You must wait until August.

why does your flag have Morocco? Is he Mexican or Moroccoaian? LOL like that, I just made it up!

Thanks to everyone for your replies so far. I'd be curious to read other peoples forums/stories that are similar to mine. What are other common immigration forums? Has anyone else read a similar forum to mine? If so, can you send the link?

I have an appt. with an immigration lawyer this week to find out more details about what the options are (other than me sponsoring him). I'm going alone... and I think he plans on talking to an immigration lawyer on his own as well. We had our first real talk (after me drawing the line in the sand two weeks ago) about how he feels about me not sponsoring him. The discussion lasted about 2 hours.... and basically he sees me not sponsoring him as something that is preventing the goal of getting our marriage to where we want it to go (hello).... but I said if he loves me enough (enough to give his life for me which he says a lot) and really wants to work on this marriage, then he should be willing to go back to his country to apply for a new visa (school??) that can be renewed until he finishes school. If by that time (2+ years from now) I feel safe sponsoring him to get a greencard, then I can make that call then. It would give me time to see if the way he has been the last two weeks (nice guy, not controlling like he was before, etc...) remains consistent for the time it takes him to finish school... He keeps telling me that if he leaves the US now (on an expired visa) he will not be allowed back into the country. I'm not sure that his comment is entirely accurate, but I will ask a ton of questions to my imm. lawyer this week. In the end... you are all right that it is his responsibility (which I told him) to figure things out for himself...and make sure he gets legal.

BTW..... although it would be nice to feel no shame in the situation of marrying too soon, I unfortunately do. I don't have a problem admitting my unwise decisions (even to my family, Friends - which for some was difficult), but I still feel the shame (esp. since everyone warned me against marrying so quickly). I'm reading a great book by Lundy Bandcroft that is helping me to understand the minds/tactics of "controlling and angry" men(people)... and what to look out for. So, this is helping me a ton in understanding the games he may play (even if unconciously). Right now it is hard to tell if he is using tactics or not... since of course, he is on his best behavior now. And now I'm the one (under a ton of stress (good stress, but still stress) on top of my issues with him) looking like the selfish/mean person...b/c I am getting fed up & frustrated with him so easily....and somehow the last two weeks (since the big family intervention and me leaving for a few days) he is for the most part, keeping his cool....and I've had a short fuse a couple of times and have yelled. *sigh*

Good for you. Amazing that now you blow your cool and you remember...OOOoo Ya, I get to be upset also, dang this feels good to be able to express this......

Do protect yourself, and I know how you feel. I have stayed single for over 20 years for the same reason. I dont want to look stupid. If I dont get involved and I dont break up, then I wont look stupid. I call them "silly" issues. I have issues looking silly....but as someone told me, bobbie, do you look down on me when someone else does something bad to me...and I say, oh no..i realize you did the best you could...and she says, bobbie, if your foreign mail away male (my honey) and you dont work out, I wont look down on you....Its nice she says this, but I still think wow humiliation...blah blah blah...but without the risk, no reward. Doesnt mean it works out, but simply means you are in the game!

Don't let the fear of what people will think stop you from doing right. Some will talk if you divorce, but many more will talk if you show up with a broken leg or worse. When you divorce, people might say wow she was married quick, I knew it wouldn't work out. THey say that for a month....6 months down the road, they will say, she doesn't mess around, when she made a mistake, she fixed it.

Its like business. If you try and it is a failure. Get the heck out. Let the people who talk, talk. THey dont live your life.

I really need help.

We want to make sure that we are counting the correct number of household for us to determine if my fiance's income is above the 125% guideline. He has 3 children (15, 18, 19 years old) who are living with her ex-wife. He is providing financial support to his youngest son only. His wife claims them in her IRS.

How should my fiance count the number of household, should he just add his youngest son, plus me and my 2 children (k-2)?

VilmaF,

I would think the technical answer is no - if the son is not claimed on his IRS Tax Returns, he would not claim him as within his household. That said, it may be a result of the divorce (which I don't know the answer to) that the ex-wife is allowed to claim the son on her taxes.

Is his income that close that one person changes things?

now see, I had read something that made me think he would claim the child as part of his house hold, due to child support , and maybe it was the "partially dependent" place on the affidavit of support. You would think the rules would be more clear on the paper work.

OK, now how about this?...

I've been "unemployed" for a year as I have been caring for my grandmother, who has Alzheimer's. However, as of January I am being paid. But I do not get an official paycheck from her estate. Sometimes I get a check and other times I get cash.

So what to do? I'd like to be able to show the income, as yearly it would be over the 125% poverty level. I also have a co-sponsor, my parents, who are in charge of my grandmother's estate.

I'm really not sure how to handle this.

Insist on checks, all the time, every time.

Get a co-sponsor.

Take an additional job.

the age which doesnt know which link to post

Modern