Gary Rich

Thank you for your kind words, and thank you to VJ as well for all the support I’ve received throughout the years. Although my wife and I still have a journey ahead of us, I’m grateful that this part of the process is now behind us. On a side note, my wife misses her mother and father very much. On our way home, she called them to share the news, and now we are trying to make plans for her to travel back home to see her elderly parents. During her time here, my wife was unable to attend her grandmother’s funeral, which was a crushing blow for us.

I know, right!!!

At that moment, my wife was released from the witness stand, and we embraced, overwhelmed with relief, as the court acknowledged the ruling. The judge further stated on the record that he regretted that this case had proceeded to court, noting that it could have been resolved administratively with minimal effort. He admonished government counsel against bringing unnecessary matters before the court. The judge then advised my wife that if her Permanent Resident Card is not received within a few weeks, she should contact her attorney, who may then contact the court directly. The proceedings concluded with the judge offering congratulations and an apology for the undue burden imposed by the case. We are profoundly grateful and relieved. The matter has been resolved, and justice was served. (We were told by our lawyer she will email us the judges decison as soon as possible, just to have )

(Important Update) Good morning. As some of you are aware, my wife and I appeared in court yesterday regarding her immigration matter. We traveled approximately two hours to Northern Virginia, departing our home at 7:30 a.m. for a scheduled 10:30 a.m. hearing. We arrived at the courthouse at approximately 9:30 a.m., completed security screening, and proceeded to the courtroom. Upon arrival, we were instructed to wait for our attorney. She arrived at approximately 10:00 a.m. This was our first in-person meeting, as her office is located in Northern Virginia. After a brief introduction, counsel entered the courtroom to notify the court of our presence. Counsel later advised us that there would be a delay of approximately 20–30 minutes due to the judge presiding over another matter. After that period, we were called into the courtroom. My wife, our attorney, and I appeared before the court. The judge requested identification from the respondent and entered appearances for both parties. From the outset, the judge appeared focused and attentive, particularly in addressing government counsel. The judge then called my wife to the witness stand, where she was sworn in. The court questioned our attorney regarding the completion of background and security checks for my wife and our daughter before they entered into the United States. The judge reviewed the records in detail and directed government counsel to review the same documentation. Government counsel was then allowed to question my wife. The questions posed were limited in number and scope, and all directly reflected information already contained in the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Following this examination and review of the record, the judge rendered an oral decision. The court stated: “I grant your Adjustment of Status, effective immediately.” At that moment, my wife was released from the witness stand, and we embraced, overwhelmed with relief, as the court acknowledged the ruling. The judge further stated on the record that he regretted that this case had proceeded to court, noting that it could have been resolved administratively with minimal effort. He admonished government counsel against bringing unnecessary matters before the court. The judge then advised my wife that if her Permanent Resident Card is not received within a few weeks, she should contact her attorney, who may then contact the court directly. The proceedings concluded with the judge offering congratulations and an apology for the undue burden imposed by the case. We are profoundly grateful and relieved. The matter has been resolved, and justice was served. (We were told by our lawyer she will email us the judges decison as soon as possible, just to have )

You will need to obtain a Certificate of Disposition from the clerk’s office where the case was originally presented. They will charge like 20.00 dollars.. simple

The Trump administration’s crackdown on legal immigration is making it tougher for foreign professionals - doctors, engineers, professors, artists - to get permission to work and live in the United States. Federal authorities are denying more of certain work visas and green cards, vetting professionals’ social media platforms, and applying enhanced scrutiny to foreign employees’ credentials and work plans in the United States, according to interviews with 15 immigration attorneys, a federal official and three policy analysts. Visa holders also have been subject to more searches, interrogations and denials of entry at airports and border crossings, as well as deportation proceedings and visits to their employers by federal agents, the attorneys and experts said. Read More https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-immigration-crackdown-keeping-foreign-162833882.html

Good Morning (Here’s a little joke to start the day.) Over the weekend, my daughter and I were on our way to the store, talking about what happened at the court hearing. She looked at me and said, “Dad, the judge said I don’t have to be in court next month.” I said, “Yes.” Then she said, “That means we’re going to win!” I laughed and said, “More than likely, you will win.” She smiled big and said, “GOOD!” 😄

Thank you, Brother. This journey has been a long one… and honestly, it’s taken a lot out of me. My only question now is whether my wife and daughter will get a 3-year or 5-year green card — but at this point, I’m just grateful we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The stress has been real. Unless you’ve been through it, it’s hard to explain the emotional weight this process puts on you. If I could tell anyone one thing, it would be this: don’t ever put yourself in a position where you end up in removal proceedings. Even if your case is strong, even if you have faith you’ll win, the toll it takes on you and your family is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But through it all, God’s been good. And I’m just thankful we’re still standing. 🙏🏽💪🏽

Good morning VJ Folks, I wanted to give everyone an update on our case. Yesterday, my wife and daughter had their court date at 1:00 p.m. The hearing was done via Zoom — and to my surprise, there were about 15 other people with hearings scheduled at the same time! I honestly thought it would just be us. The judge started by calling the other cases first, and wow… some of them were pretty serious — involving criminal records or overstays for various reasons. When the judge finally called our case, our lawyer spoke and explained everything. As the judge reviewed our file, he glanced over at the DHS lawyers like he was thinking, “What are these people even doing here?” Then he asked my wife and daughter to state their names. After that, he looked right at the DHS side and said (and you could tell he was irritated), “This little girl should be in school right now — why do you even have her here?” He then looked down at his calendar and said, “Alright, your case is adjourned until December 15th, 2025 — these people don’t need to be here today.” Keep in mind, some of the other people’s cases were pushed out all the way to 2026 or even 2027! Afterward, our lawyer confirmed that December 15th will be our final hearing, and that everything should go smoothly from here since my wife and daughter have already completed their biometrics and everything else. So, in a nutshell, our case should be finalized on December 15th, 2025! 🙏

It's only going to get worse!!

A new policy from the Trump administration could leave thousands of immigrants scrambling to keep their jobs while they await renewals of their work permits. Previously, many immigrants were able to extend their work permits automatically upon submission of a renewal application. Now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is doing away with that policy, and forcing people to wait until a renewal request is approved before any extension. ( Read More ) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/work-permits-trump-homeland-security_n_69041248e4b00c26f070f792?origin=home-whats-happening-unit

Good Afternoon, I’m not sure of your timeline, but when my wife and daughter arrived on K-1 and K-2 visas, we timed it so that the school year was just ending. This gave us all summer to find the right school for our child. Since it’s November now, it might make sense to wait until summer for her arrival to avoid rushing school enrollment, or to have her arrive a bit later.

Here’s a small update from USCIS — my wife’s and daughter’s cases have been re-consolidated, which actually saves us about $1,500. However, the hearing has been pushed back to 11/5/2025 Still good news..

And that’s the strangest part—my wife and I talk about it all the time. This whole mess began last November, when the new administration took office.

You have no idea, in the amount of stress that USCIS is causing.. a total mess

I disagree. USCIS already charges some of the highest application fees in the federal system — and yet inefficiencies persist. The issue isn’t just a lack of funding; it’s how the existing funds are managed. More money without structural reform could just feed bureaucracy. Instead of more funding, USCIS needs accountability, modernization, and transparency to make sure the resources they already have are used effectively.

( my quote ) I agree with you. Right now, going to court is a gamble you simply cannot afford. The courts are completely backed up, and you will almost certainly end up spending far more money than you ever expected. It’s a slippery slope under this administration. My wife and I are already paying the price for the tiniest mistake — thankfully ours was minor, but it still cost us dearly. If your case reaches the courthouse, the costs will explode, especially if it moves into any removal proceedings. This system is stacked against ordinary people, and every misstep comes with steep consequences.

I agree with you. Right now, going to court is a gamble you simply cannot afford. The courts are completely backed up, and you will almost certainly end up spending far more money than you ever expected. It’s a slippery slope under this administration. My wife and I are already paying the price for the tiniest mistake — thankfully ours was minor, but it still cost us dearly. If your case reaches the courthouse, the costs will explode, especially if it moves into any removal proceedings. This system is stacked against ordinary people, and every misstep comes with steep consequences.

This is what is taking place right now

Good Afternoon, I just wanted to share a quick update. My wife and daughter had to refile their I-485 applications. USCIS has received the package, and so far, everything looks fine. My daughter has a master hearing scheduled in October. What happened is that the court separated their cases, but our attorney is working to have them combined again. The reasoning is simple: if the daughter is approved, then the mother should be as well. That said, the attorney has told us this is a very weak case against us. USCIS has already approved all of our other applications without any issues, and it’s not as though we committed fraud or anything of that nature. I’ll continue to keep you updated as new information becomes available.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-trump-deportations-us-visas-deportable-violations_n_68a76d66e4b03a473eb1c9e8#comments

( This Administration is cracking down... I just got this email from USCIS, website. Please be careful when submitting any documents or other materials. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is restoring robust screening and vetting processes to detect aliens seeking to defraud or abuse the immigration system, including aliens who make false claims to U.S. citizenship. We are also actively increasing public awareness among aliens and the public about the consequences of committing immigration fraud. Aliens who use false information or deceitful practices to unfairly obtain immigration advantages will face serious consequences. We are updating USCIS Policy Manual Volume 8, Part K, Chapter 2, to clarify the application of Matter of Zhang, 27 I&N Dec. 569 (BIA 2019), to the false claim ground of inadmissibility. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date. The clarified policy guidance: Specifies that the decision in Matter of Zhang supersedes all prior DHS policy and guidance that provided a defense to the false claim to U.S. citizenship ground of inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) based on an alien’s knowledge or legal capacity; and Explains how we consider age, knowledge, and mental capacity when determining whether an alien had the subjective intent to achieve a purpose or benefit under the INA or any other federal or state law. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any prior guidance on the topic. For more information, see the Policy Alert. https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-k-chapter-2

We’re still waiting, but we’re staying prayerful and keeping life as normal as possible. My advice is—don’t let your mind run in circles. Keep moving forward, one day at a time, and trust the process. We’ve found that focusing on small, positive things helps. For us, our daughter is starting school next week, and that’s where our energy is going right now. Finding something good to look forward to can make the waiting a little easier.

Good Morning Visa Journey Family, I just wanted to share a small update with you all. This week, my wife and I heard from our attorneys regarding our case. They told us they’re working to have all fees waived for our refiling. Since we already paid once—and have proof of that—they believe we have a strong chance. They also pointed out that our case is so weak against us that the judge may remove it from her calendar entirely, meaning we might not even have to go through a video hearing. In their pleadings, our attorneys are asking the judge to approve our green card status and order USCIS to approve our case as well. But from what I’ve learned, USCIS (under this administration) seems to care more about money than anything else. We’re still being prayerful, and I’m doing my best to keep my wife calm through it all. Thank you all for your support—it means a lot to us.

There are so many red flags here. First of all, you haven’t even met each other in person. And by the way—please stop using COVID as an excuse. I met my wife during COVID and still traveled to her country in the middle of that whole mess. If you’re serious, you’ll make the effort. If I were you, I’d take some time to really listen to the seasoned Visa Journey veterans. They’ve been through the process and know what works and what doesn’t. USCIS and consular officers aren’t going to ignore a relationship that exists only online—especially when there’s a significant age gap. That will raise eyebrows at the interview, and you better believe they’ll dig deeper. Here’s some specific advice: Meet in person before filing—a strong in-person meeting with photos, travel history, and time spent together is key. Document your relationship—save call logs, messages, video chats, and any evidence of ongoing communication. Be honest and consistent—your stories need to match during the interview. Prepare for tough questions—especially about age, culture, language barriers, and financial stability. Don’t rush into filing—immigration officials can easily tell when a relationship is being forced for a visa. This process is hard enough when everything is legit. Make sure you're both on the same page and fully understand what you're signing up for. Still, I wish you both the best and hope it works out in a real and honest way.