vip1

Thank you guys! You were absolutely correct, I was able to scratch it out and there was no issue whatsoever! Over reaction on my part
The ceremony was beautiful and really moving as you described Kathryn41!

Thank you guys! You were absolutely correct, I was able to scratch it out and there was no issue whatsoever! Over reaction on my part
The ceremony was beautiful and really moving as you described Kathryn41!

Hi guys,
I've been a lurker for a while now but I figured I would just update you guys. I petition for my father instead of a spouse, so it is not your typical marriage based petition. We shipped all the paperwork on Dec 23rd. On March 15th, we received notification that his permanent resident card had been approved and it was set for production. This came to a surprise as they hadn't even approved his work permit yet. We did not have an interview, nor was I expecting one, but I sure didn't expect his green card to be approved before the work permit.
It's worth mentioning that compared to my mother's timeline, which I applied for last year and it took nearly 9 months, less than 3 months is incredible. Not sure if its related to election year or what but they are definitely being very efficient recently.
Hope everyone's cases gets processed as quickly and efficiently as ours. Good luck!!

Canada's system is similar the US, and recently they started the expelling process for fraudulent immigrants that number in the thousands. IOW, there is a lot of fraud going on everywhere, so they have to be careful.
That being said, I agree with you, it should not be this difficult in the 21st century.
For example (based on my experience with a CR1 Visa)
You should be able to do most all of this electronically. (I've been a professional computer programmer for over 25 years... this is possible with today's technology)
If I were the fat cat at the top of the US Immigration business (and believe me... it is truly a business) here is what the system would look like:
Phase I
1. An immigration applicant would start off the process by creating an account on the master NVC Webserver selecting the type of Visa you need. It could even make recommendations as to what type may work best for your situation.
2. An NVC Case number is created on the spot, and that along with your user account information, and password will let you continue the process.
3. The I-130 form is filled out on-line, and each of the documents you need to submit are requested and you have to upload them into your case file as PDF files (scanned documents).
4. Once all the documents are submitted, and before they are verified by anyone, the system will present you with all of the bills (invoices).
5. Once you have paid all of them (electronically of course), you can press the Submit for Review button.
6. So far, you could have completed all of this in a few hours. No lock boxes, or mailing, or anything so far.
7. The Website will automatically direct your case to the proper USCIS functional / contracted area for processing, and it will send back RFEs if needed. Note, the documents are NEVER mailed... all is done electronically.
8. Once the USCIS contractor or smart system has authenticated and approved the I-130, your case is directed to the NVC for its double checks. Again the data never moved anywhere... still sitting on the master NVC secured server cloud.
9. Once NVC's staff or smart system approves your data, it is automatically scheduled to the correct Embassy based on that Embassy's allotment criteria.
10. You would be requested to bring all the original material with you to the physical interview.
Phase II
Next I would merge the USCIS and NVC groups and remove the entire redirecting process. A single entity would perform document authentication, approving the I-130, 260, etc all the way to releasing for the automated interview selection.
Phase III - Since I am the fat cat at the top and this is a business , I would work with the international immigration community to require all Passports to become Smartcard capable. The Green card, Work Visa, Student Visa or any other kind of visa would be electronically applied to your passport at the end of the interview (if you passed).
I believe this fictional process would shed 90% of the time and frustration in this process for the client, reduce the staff needed at USCIS and NVC (mail handling, etc), and shed the cost of USCIS bulk mailing tons of paper documents each month. This process would not be any more effective or restrictive in fraud detection than the current process. It would make the Immigration business more profitable, reduce the time to legitimately immigrate, and make its paying customers much happier.
For those of you that argue the current process prevents terrorists and fraud. May I remind you that between 400,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the US every year. A terrorist isn't going to put him or herself through this process when there are much easier ways to get people and materials into this country. The INS process is not intended to stop terrorists. It does not even do a good job of preventing fraud according to recent statistics that states it is costing the USA $23 million each year due to immigration fraud.
They can and should move the process into the modern era of data processing, and consider that any couple willing to put themselves through all of this hell and frustration must have genuine good intentions.
Sorry for the long commentary to such a simple question

You don't need a degree unless it is a specialized job. However, this has been changing as the economy took its downward spiral.
I am in school right now, I'm nearly 30. I decided to go back after realizing that jobs I could get 3 years ago today were being more selective and choosing degrees and experience over just a degree or experience. They are being more picky.
I make $100k in 2008, I've been over $60,000 since I was 23 working in sales and working my butt off. Come 2010 I made $15,000, 2011 I made $30,000. This year I should have about $45 - 50,000 made, but I only got my job because of the degree I am pursuing, my GPA, and my life experience. If I wasn't pursuing the degree, I wouldn't have had a chance to beat out 75 candidates for my position.
I hope this helps. I was born & raised American and I feel I have a pretty good sense of the economic & employment situation.

I think that a lot of people say they are doing it the LEGAL way and its unfair for those who are not, however if those millions of people had the opportunity to come here a LEGAL way they would, paying the same amount of money and waiting the same amount of time that you guys (a lot of them pay thousand and thousands of dollars just to make it across the border, to then have no rights inside the country). The only difference between you and them is that there is no legal way for them to immigrate, they were not fortunate enough to fall in love with someone that could petition for them. Aside from a spousal visa, an immigrant visa is really hard to get for the common people with no out of the ordinary skills.
As a person who was brought here at age 10, and feel myself more American than anything else, I think this amnesty is going to give many young adults and kids that are in the same situation I was in a few years ago the opportunity to give back to the country that has given them so much. I am currently finishing my environmental engineering degree, and was able to do so just because I met and married a USC. If these wasn't the case I would still be illegal and not being able to fulfill my potential. I feel that I have as much to give and contribute, and love this country probably more than some of you guys that are just getting here after being raised somewhere else.
All I want to say is that for those of you who think that we didn't do it the legal way because we didn't want to, it not always true. Sometimes we didn't have a choice like you guys did, so consider yourselves blessed.

I think that a lot of people say they are doing it the LEGAL way and its unfair for those who are not, however if those millions of people had the opportunity to come here a LEGAL way they would, paying the same amount of money and waiting the same amount of time that you guys (a lot of them pay thousand and thousands of dollars just to make it across the border, to then have no rights inside the country). The only difference between you and them is that there is no legal way for them to immigrate, they were not fortunate enough to fall in love with someone that could petition for them. Aside from a spousal visa, an immigrant visa is really hard to get for the common people with no out of the ordinary skills.
As a person who was brought here at age 10, and feel myself more American than anything else, I think this amnesty is going to give many young adults and kids that are in the same situation I was in a few years ago the opportunity to give back to the country that has given them so much. I am currently finishing my environmental engineering degree, and was able to do so just because I met and married a USC. If these wasn't the case I would still be illegal and not being able to fulfill my potential. I feel that I have as much to give and contribute, and love this country probably more than some of you guys that are just getting here after being raised somewhere else.
All I want to say is that for those of you who think that we didn't do it the legal way because we didn't want to, it not always true. Sometimes we didn't have a choice like you guys did, so consider yourselves blessed.

I think that a lot of people say they are doing it the LEGAL way and its unfair for those who are not, however if those millions of people had the opportunity to come here a LEGAL way they would, paying the same amount of money and waiting the same amount of time that you guys (a lot of them pay thousand and thousands of dollars just to make it across the border, to then have no rights inside the country). The only difference between you and them is that there is no legal way for them to immigrate, they were not fortunate enough to fall in love with someone that could petition for them. Aside from a spousal visa, an immigrant visa is really hard to get for the common people with no out of the ordinary skills.
As a person who was brought here at age 10, and feel myself more American than anything else, I think this amnesty is going to give many young adults and kids that are in the same situation I was in a few years ago the opportunity to give back to the country that has given them so much. I am currently finishing my environmental engineering degree, and was able to do so just because I met and married a USC. If these wasn't the case I would still be illegal and not being able to fulfill my potential. I feel that I have as much to give and contribute, and love this country probably more than some of you guys that are just getting here after being raised somewhere else.
All I want to say is that for those of you who think that we didn't do it the legal way because we didn't want to, it not always true. Sometimes we didn't have a choice like you guys did, so consider yourselves blessed.

To those who castigate illegal immigrants I say: try living it.
Some people were brought to this country as a child and had no say in it. Some made questionable decisions that seemed like a good idea at the time. Others still just came here in search of a better life for themselves and their children.
Life is not as black and white as the Republican party perched on their ivory tower would have you believe.
Living in fear that this day could be your last amongst your family is no way for anyone to live. I'm not one to quote the bible, but since the Right seems to be in love with it I am fairly certain it says to examine the plank in your own eye before trying to remove the speck in your brother's. Perhaps the entire US population (sans native Americans, of course) should self-deport back to Europe? I'm fairly sure none of them had papers when they arrived here. The bible is big on punishing children for their parents' sins, after all.
At the end of the day it's about treating people as human beings, with compassion and dignity. Did some of them break the law by coming here? Certainly. Does this mean that none of them are worth helping, that we should just spit on them? No it does not.

Please keep us updated on your results in case this happens to someone else, good luck!!! :-)

Yes they do, they are admitted under the terms of a B2 tourist visa at the border, without having to apply for one. If she lied at the border, then it will still matter. If she didn't her current status will not matter, but she definitely overstayed, and is accumulating illegal presence. She seems to be shocked that she is an "illegal alien" but she is certainly not here legally.
As was pointed out above, if the AOS is already sent and accepted for initial review, now the OP is in a new period of authorized stay.

Yes, of course you are an illegal alien. You know full well you came on a tourist visa and you do not have permission to live in the US. You have overstayed your allotted time and are now accumulating days of illegal presence. Luckily, that will be irrelevant/forgiven once your Greencard is approved.

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to write in case someone is in the same situation as me. Well, after a lot of research and a talk with a couple of lawyers I came to the conclusion that it is ok for residents to apply and take grants from FAFSA. The reasoning behind it is that since this is something completely optional with educational purposes, and it's decided on a merit base system, residents do not have to repay any grants offered. Hope this helps

Bob 4 Anna has given you the right answer. If your fiance and you did not intend to get married and have her remain in the US to adjust her status while on this visit, and while she is here, the two of you decided to go ahead and get married, you are allowed to do so, and then apply from within the US for her adjustment of status from a tourist visa to a permanent resident. Since she did not enter with intent to remain in the US on this visit, this is a legal option. If the two of you had planned to get married and have her remain afterwards, then that would be fraudulent as it was knowingly using a visa issued for one purpose - visiting - for another purpose - immigrating.
She needs to understand that once you have made this decision to marry and adjust status (get a green card) from within the US, she cannot leave the US or this option is no longer legally available. She will basically be restricted to remain within the US until after she has applied for her green card based upon her marriage to a US citizen, and received either the green card itself, or at the very least permission to travel called 'Advance Parole'. If she has overstayed her tourist visa by the time she applies for AOS, then she is better off not leaving the US even with an AP as there is no guarantee of re-entry and it would mean having to start the whole immigration process all over again from the beginning with a spousal CR-1 visa.
So, you have three legitimate options under your current circumstances: a) get married now and apply for her permanent residence status aka get her green card; b) get married now and she returns home before her 90 day visitation expires, and you sponsor her for a CR-1 spousal visa allowing her to return legally to the US as a permanent resident; or c) file for a K-1 visa, she returns home after her tourist visit is over, she obtains a K-1 visa allowing her to return legally to the US in order to marry you and apply for permanent residence status, you get married and she applies to become a permanent resident.
As Bob 4 Anna mentioned, you do need to read up on the various steps involved. The immigration process doesn't stop with her getting to the US and getting married. There will be a number of additional hoops for the two of you to jump through even after she gets her green card. Information will help you make sure you don't do something foolish that will compromise your ability to live happily ever after in the US.
Good luck.

Actually,
If she's in the US now you can get married and file to Adjust her Status without her having to return to her home country.
Here is the guide to Adjusting Status.
And here is the sub-forum for Adjusting Status.
You'll get a lot of naysayers telling you that it's Immigration Fraud but that is only true if her intent at Point of Entry was to do this.

Unlike a used car, people do not come with a money-back guarantee. It's therefore wise to establish whether or not a couple is compatible before getting engaged and filing for a fiance visa.
I feel sorry for that woman who just gave up everything at her home country to travel thousands of miles to a foreign continent to marry the love of her life, only to find out she's not as good as your petitioning husband bargained for.