veronicabiondi

@Family by contact visits you mean visits in person? Being married, I'm allowed to sit next to him but you only get one hug when you go in and when you leave but other than that you can't really do anything else and if you try it the CO will end the visit. I mean on Saturdays, visits tend to be more "free" so he might squeeze in an extra kiss but that's about it and that is too risky!

@JamieCO1 I believe I mentioned the crimes of husband. It was the first message I posted so your comment is really "redundant" (to put in a nice way). I must say, that some really good people have reached out and they have helped a lot but then you get the other category that is either rude and insensitive (not that it affects me) or their comments are completely irrelevant. I'm not saying that because I welcome only "convenient" truths but you observe human nature. I would personally never comment on someone's story just for the shake of saying something--anything, its just "dummy" (there are other names too). For those that judge me because of my man, know that I wouldn't change him for the best richest free man out there. I see a lot of couples in the free world where they have/enjoy all the freedoms that we don't, but they are miserable and pathetique. They are all around us, you see them in the pub, on your way to work, on your way home, on the station. You can "smell" an unhealthy couple from miles away. Those people that will eventually get my application when the time comes, will scrutinize me, that's for sure. But I trust that they have they experience to detect what's real and what's not, beyond the prejudice and the silent "thoughts" of "what is she doing with an inmate", they will be able to see that we are just one more married couple. For those nice people that had something positive to say either here or on PMs, when we got married, same day 3 more couples got married. Our pastor stopped, he looked at us and said to me and my husband "for some reason, I have a very good feeling about you two". That's all I have to say. I usually, don't bother replying to irrelevant messages but it happened that a lady PM'ed and confessed how ostracised she feels because her husband is an inmate. That there annoyed me. You have no right to judge and jump on forums making unnecessary comments. It's just..useless.

@Palawan That's right. I suppose it won't add any value to this thread if I start debating with various people and their "knowledgeable" answers. I can tell you that I have a bank account in the US and I'm nothing more than a foreigner that travels on ESTA, so...! Well, little more than that I hope since I'm about to pay the first tax this year..and I also have SSN?

Marriage has not been consummated. Not sure why I have to feel like Catherine of Aragon at this moment....!!

Ok, let me clear something. I'm not wealthy. It happens that I'm good at what I do and companies pay a lot for those skills. Yes, that allows me to enjoy a certain lifestyle and I am an independent woman but I'm not wealthy. Why some women marry prisoners. I would certainly not advice it and I will not discuss my personal story in detail but it happened. It happened to me and I made a choice. Few years ago, when I visited him, I saw an elderly inmate. He was very old, his wife was there, taking care of him. She was so energetic and bubbly and I won't forget how she was looking at him. Before he needs anything, she would bring it to him. She married him while in prison many many years ago. They never shared a bed together but you could feel that bond, a bond that even free couples don't have. What do you say about that? Should we all go and start marrying law breakers? No, my point is that it can happen. Regardless how this works out with immigrations, I know we will grow old together and we will figure it out, some how it will work. As long as there are possibilities, it will work out, just not with the timelines we would hope for.

@JeanneAdil I understand your concerns. Unfortunately, he was an addict. His story is really common. Like many of those US youngsters that despite the good family background, they make bad choices. His family created something of great value but he didn't have access to it. That's family history and it's in the past. My husband never asked for anything but as a couple we are trying avenues and we try to create possibilities.

OK. An Inmate can own a property. In his case, we have checked for a potential civil suit or court fines and we are safe on this one. But if that turned to be a problem then I can just rent it out on my name so that could be some proof of income in the US. On the top of that, I also have funds in my US account.

I think we lose context with the last few suggestions? The man has a property, right? So not sure why on earth this is not "an asset". If we also rent it out, then he will also need to pay taxes. That there would solve problems. There are inmates with properties.

ok. What if we rent out the place?!!!!!

Husband comes from a good family. His father was a successful businessman and a retired decorated Air-force veteran. Unfortunately, he passed away very suddenly in 2012 so all inheritance came to the procession of "the step mother". Step mother does not like me and that's very mutual(from the first time we spoke over the phone). After very careful consideration and acknowledging the risks, we have cut off communications. We've decided to progress without her no matter the risks. So, we won't use that avenue ever. I prefer to visit my husband every 3-4 months for the remaining of his sentence than asking favours in such sensitive matters.

We are in the process of transferring full ownership to him. So 100% not 50%. Assuming I apply and I get rejected, right? For whatever reason they feel (I don't have something in mind). How do i get to see him if he has to do all remaining years?!!! I don't want to risk that. I've heard that once you get rejected, it would be difficult to even travel then.

At the moment the property is empty apart from the basics. There is a lady that I pay to occasionally visit and check things like electricity, cameras etc etc. I only have it to avoid hotels plus I have all my clothing there so don't even need a suitcase when i travel to the States. I finish work then go straight to the airport and wait for my flight. I don't even need to check in. That's how I do it. But if it would help to rent it out then we could consider. I also have an account and a Social Security number because I have to pay certain taxes for this property. Bottom line is that I'm confused, I really I don't know whom I should trust for information. Attorneys and (excuse my French) were rubbish, not because they didn't give me the convenient truths that i wanted but because every one gave a different version. Only one said something valuable that I really noted it down: "US immigration system is designed to keep immigrants out". On that basis I decided not to file for some years and resume in few years time. However, husband disagrees, he really wants me there and I also want to be there with him, under the same time zone, under same city etc etc etc but I'm really scared and irony is that money is not the problem here. The other problem is ESTA and CBO's. Every time I visit, my heart rate increases. I always try to keep my answers short but then I also feel bad because I'm not some illegal immigrant with bad intentions. I respect the system and I always leave on time. I have been in the States 10 times since 2019 ( I couldn't visit him for nearly 2 years because of COVID) and in these 10 times, I've never even been anywhere except my husbands local prison. I haven't even been to anywhere outside that area because my purpose is him not to go around (Ok I loved AppleBees..the steaks were awesome). trying to be little funny here but the point is that someone said to me "Why do you want to move if he's not out". That was really a stupid question for so many reasons. We are no different that other married couples. I can't begin listing the reasons why that question was so idiotic.

Thank you Rocio0010. If that's indeed the case and he needs to meet the financial requirements(I was literally told the opposite from attorneys that I paid for consultation), then we are in the process to add him as the main owner of the property that I purchased in Ohio. We have initiated that process so basically he will have assets. Would that count? Thanks

Thank you for your reply what your reply is incorrect. That's not what I read here https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/income-requirements-for-green-card/ (Can I include income from the relative seeking the green card?) I can tell you that more than few attorneys have also advised that we can use my assets and they have also provided references to the law. I can also provide more links to support that. Among all the difficulties, this was never the problem.

No, I don't want to do it through work. I'm not interested to search for routes to the States like I try to sneak in. My only reason is my marriage, nothing more nothing less. If I can't enter this way, then I better never file and wait for him to be released.

look, I'm not bragging here but I'm making nearly 50k USD per month and that's straight from my work. Why do I need a joint sponsor?!!! I understand that this requirement is to ensure that the "immigrant" won't burden the state. I understand that but I was told that we can use my assets as long as its continuously traceable.

Hello, I'm a British/Greek national. I live in England but my husband is incarcerated in Ohio. He has been incarcerated for the last 20 years. We met in 2018 and we got married in 2019. We followed the process from the beginning until then end. We received the warden's approval, we went through the process and we got married . I really need some advice from anyone who has experienced similar thing. So far so good. Earlier this year, we decided to hire an Immigration attorney so that we can kick off the US Spouse Visa application process. They all discouraged me. Only 2 accepted to take my case and that with conditions. His release date is 2034. He was sentenced for armed robbery and involuntary manslaughter. He has been eligible for Judicial release but he hasn't filed yet. I hired one of the best attorneys in Ohio, to represent him for the judicial process. He's filing next year although we do anticipate that he will get rejected first time. Before I go into detail, I must say that I never had a problem hiring an immigrations attorney in the first place. They charge a lot of money but so be it, the problem we had with most of them is that they didn't know how to handle such a case. Mr.A would say this, Mr.B would say the other. To me that was/is a problem. If I was to pay 20k$ you better tell me where I stand and not "I will let you know". After chatting with more or less 8 different attorneys, I decided to pause and not to do anything. I had arguments with my husband(yes, he's my husband despite what people think), that we have to keep looking for another attorney or me trying to reach out online for help (so this is what I'm doing). He really does not understand why is it so difficult. I do (but that's because I'm the immigrant). So here are some details for those who need context and think they can help. My husband has nobody, no financial support from anyone in his family. I'm the only one he has. Thankfully, I'm doing financially well. I'm a software architect and work as a contractor in the UK. I bought a property in Ohio and I managed to add my husband as an owner of that property. The property has a value of 300,000USD. Outside of that I have a property in the UK, cars plus a few bank accounts. I have business accounts and HMRC(uncle Sam) books that show taxes, payments etc (in other words I'm not a drug dealer). All my income is traceable and linked to the work I do. I visit him every 4-5 months. I have also been supporting him financially since we got together. Phone calls via GTL, Commissaries, food/hygiene, recreation, Video Visits all in all, his expenses are roughly 10,000USD annually since 2019. Again, all that is traceable. I have met his step mother and my mother has also visited him. I have been travelling on ESTA every time and I don't stay more than 7-8 days. I'm there just to visit him and then next day after the last visit day, I'm going home. One attorney said to me "You can try a working Visa". I'm not interested to migrate to the States to find work!! I have work. The reason I want to move is my husband, that's all! If we file and I get rejected, we will have more problems. I prefer to visit him on ESTA rather than go a head to apply, get rejected and then never see him again for years. I'm a 40 years old female professional. I don't have children, I don't have problems. I've always lived a very routine--professional-quiet life. I Went to university and then afterwards started working like a dog, as many of us have. I married a US prisoner because when I saw his picture first time accidentally, the time stopped for me. I loved him very much and he loved me back. We made this choice, to walk this path no matter how hard it is and we don't regret it. With this honest message, I call out anyone who had similar experience. What did they do? Also, did they hire an attorney or they file themselves? Thanks for reading.