akdiver

Have you considered turning the television off?

Well, the thing is, she can be here at most three months before you get married. Truthfully, that is not very long. Hell, I went without any health insurance at all for five years between 1992 and 1997. I was a much more careful person than I am now that I have insurance. (:

Look at it this way - she probably has no insurance now, and the health care system there sucks anyway (according to my wife), so what's another three months? I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you, and if you are that worried about it, just get married right away and put her on your insurance. You have a readily available solution if it is that much of a problem.

So get a divorce and go back to whatever country you were living in before you came to America. After all, you only came here to be with your wife, right? So what's the problem?

After I apply for a social security card with my EAD, approximately how long until I actually get it? Sorry, I'm sure this has been asked, but I couldn't find an answer (yes I used the search button and properly too I think).

About 1-2 weeks.

But you should have applied for your SSN when you first got here, then you would have it already. Oh well.

Good luck!

AKDiver

My (then) fiancee was not covered by health insurance before we got married. She did have to make one visit to the doctor, it cost about $350 for something pretty minor.

You can:

a). Get travel insurance for her.

B). Get some kind of short-term policy thing.

c). Go without

d). Get married as soon as she gets here, and put her on your insurance.

Good luck.

Right, there's a big issue in this country about illegal immigration that encompasses people from all over the world. It's not only about Mexicans. Therefore, saying "illegal Mexicans" instead of "illegal immigrants" is both inaccurate and offensive since they are not the only illegals in the country.

I think you are deluding yourself. When the media (Congress, the President, whomever) mentions the big problem with illegals, the media is talking about illegals from Mexico. Newsflash!! Hello!!! No one is talking about or is real concerned with the flood of illegal immigrants coming in from Canada, the U.K., Hong Kong, Cambodia, or other such places. While they may be coming in, it's not the problem people are talking about. If you don't understand this, you're just not paying attention. If you need convincing, go out and get yourself a map. Then look at the country just south of the US and note the large, unprotected border there and compare that with the population of illegal immigrants in the neighboring states.

Cheers!

AKDiver

find your comment that they should be saying "illegal Mexicans" incredibly offensive when there are illegals in this country from all over the world.

Why?? Maybe he wasn't talking about illegals from all the other countries in the world - he was only talking about the illegals from Mexico. Why is that so offensive?

Cheers!

AKDiver

So a child who was brought here at age three (when they had no say in the matter), does not know the language of their native country, has no experience living there, has no family there or place to live there, should simply be returned to the country where they were born?

Absolutely - preferably at the expense of the country where said child originated.

the US government does not hold hold a child responsible for illegal presence prior to the age of 18

One of many faults of this government.

Doesn't the fact that the US government gives citizenship to children born in this country mean anything to you?

Absolutely it does. It means that too many people are getting citizenship for free when they shouldn't, and it creates a reward/incentive for people to come here illegally, have a child who gets automatic citizenship, and then petition to stay in spite of the fact that they broke the law because deporting the parents while leaving the child is somehow wrong. In my book, child would never gain citizenship automatically and all members of this little family would be deported with a permanent bar on re-entry.

For that matter, I think citizenship should only be obtainable via satisfactory service in the armed services. Maybe then it would mean something to those who have it.

But as an ESL teacher I have had personal experience with children in exactly this situation and I certainly feel for their predicament. It's hard for me to understand people who don't.

It's hard for me to understand those who do. I am SO TIRED of hearing the argument of "but think of the children" for every issue under the sun. So, what? When you turn 18 and are no longer a child you're automatically scum of the Earth? Hell, it's only then when you start paying taxes and become a useful member of society!! I say, "but think of the adults!!!"

Cheers!

AKDiver

We met while on vacation in Egypt (actually, I was on my way back from Tanzania), and no, we had no language barrier at all. My English is pretty good (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

WOW. So if a child was brought into the country illegally by his parents at the age of three, for example, and had no option or choice, it makes no difference to you? I never said anyone should have sympathy, just that knowing the story behind it might make some difference when it comes to your reaction to it.

None at all. The child is here illegally and should return to the country of origin at the earliest possibility. Not doing so upon turning 18 and being legally responsible for one's own decisions is in fact a choice by this child to break the law and should be punished accordingly.

In no case should such a child gain some advantage over legal immigrants via the act of coming here illegally, even if such an act originates with the child's parents.

And no, I don't think children born here of illegal immigrants should automatically be granted citizenship - and neither do the governments of many countries.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Well that was exactly my point to John. It's pretty hard to pass judgement on someone who came into the country illegally without knowing the story behind it. . .

No it isn't. It is atonishingly easy. You come in illegally, without any regard for our laws, and you want sympathy for whatever situation you may have? Give me a break - and get the ###### out of my country. I don't care WHAT your story is.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Has anybody heard of using a POA to speed up process? Is this pie in the sky thinking?

thx Rob

Uh,using it in what way? To do what? How would it speed anything up?

The POA (limited) simply to sign her name-as per her instructions and intentions. If possible, a POA is one document which gives the authority to sign as intended without the need to go back and forth with any other forms.

A Power of Attorney only allows someone to represent you in a special status. The timing is not influenced by the POA. Are you applying for K-1, K-3, or something else?

K-1 but a limited POA would permit me to sign each necessary form on her behalf. If it is permitted it is fairly straightforward and efficient. thx again, Rob

This really does not seem like a reasonable way to go if you ask me. In order for it to be valid, then of course the POA would have to be in Russian and you would have to go out of your way to prove she understood what she was doing to give you the POA, etc. etc. Besides, while it may give you legal authority to sign her name, that doesn't mean the consulate has to accept it and your signatures as being the legal equiv to hers. I know if I worked at the consulate, I sure wouldn't - I would require hers just as a matter of principle - to show that she really knew what she was getting into, etc. There is generally a perceived power inequity in these marriages anyway as far as most people are concerned - a POA would just exacerbate any perceptions people may have in that regard.

In short, I think it's a bad idea.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Yes we can buy the items - but because we don't have a store credit card we miss out on the 20% discount - HOW LUDICROUS IS THAT??????????We can't get a credit card therefore even if we wanted to we can't get anything on credit - so if we can't get anything on credit HOW CAN WE GET A CREDIT HISTORY??????????????

It is basic economics. They offer the discount if you use their credit card because MOST people who do this will not pay the balance in full right away, and they will more than make their money back on the interest. If you pay cash, then they will not make the money back from you, so why should they give you the discount? It's just asking them to give money away.

Get with the modern world, and get yourself some credit. Having credit does NOT mean you have to be in debt.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Has anybody heard of using a POA to speed up process? Is this pie in the sky thinking?

thx Rob

Uh,using it in what way? To do what? How would it speed anything up?

Even if he was born in Russia, has a Russian passport and becomes a US citizen, he will have to pay money to cancel his russian citizenship or pay money to renew his russian passport.

Yes, and?

After he is given a US passport, even though it will say he was born in Russia in it, it would not matter, they will NOT ask him for his russian passport, that's a fact.

That's fine - but it does directly contradict a lot of information I have already read on this topic, based on the experience of other people who WERE required to present their Russian passport (no, I didn't memorize the sources).

I think the bottom line is probably YMMV.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Why? Did he approve your green card?

I had no idea Jesus was a USCIS employee!! Wow!!

Cheers!

AKDiver

As far as I understand, you need US passport to be somewhat trouble free in Russia. So when you enter Russia, you use your US passport and visa, that way they see you as a citizen of another country when they stop you on the street for a routine check. You can still be a citizen of Russia, just don't show them that passport. Since you are probably not a US citizen yet, I would avoid going back for now. In fact, even with the US passport as a US citizen, if they wanted to, they can still get you, for anything they want and then good luck proving them wrong. As far as I know, and I lived in Russia for 14 years, it's not about your rights, cops can pretty much do whatever they want, especially in Moscow, but I am sure you know that since you lived in Russia. In your case I would consult an Immigration Lawyer in your local Russian community.

Bad advice.

If he is a Russian citizen, then he cannot get a visa to visit Russia like a foreigner. This precludes using the US passport to get into the country (i.e. no visa). Even IF the Consulate were to give him a visa by mistake, when he gets to the border and look in his passport, if they see Russia as his country of birth, then they will require his Russian passport to gain entry into the country. The complication is that if you travel into the country with a Russian passport, as a Russian citizen, there is nothing it can to for you. Any problems are between a foreign country and one if its citizens, and is no business of the U.S.

If by chance, he was born in the U.S., but has Russian citizenship for some other reason (like maybe born of Russian citizens), then MAYBE he has some hope - if people make mistakes and dont catch things - but it isnt anything I would want to risk.

Cheers!

AKDiver

so let me get this straight..all these changes will go into effect October 2007?

if that the case..i and filing like a mofo when this man gets here..just do it all when its cheaper

The document read fiscal year 2007, which would be June.

I dunno where you get June from. The federal fiscal year is from 1 October through 30 September.

I am sorry that I offended so many, but most of the comments stink of envy.

Wow! You sound so sincere and contrite, and worth of admiration for your admissions - and then you blow it. What a cad.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Well, it's not George raising the fees, it's DHS. And if that includes biometrics and the EAD and AP fees, then it's not that much more. They could make it a real bargain by not charging to renew EAD and AP, which is what they morally should do, IMO.I'm gonna wait and see what you get before I get my panties bunched.

"The Bush administration" doesn't make a move without orders from Bush - that should be pretty clear to everyone by now. And no, it doesn't appear it will include EAD or AP. It does say " But the agency plans to eliminate other costs those legal residency applicants often pay while they are waiting for their permanent residency to be final" but it doesn't say what "other costs" they are talking about.

Whatcha gonna do about it anyway? Not file?

Doesn't affect me - my wife already has her PR card.

Note that the article specifically mentions raising the biometrics fee from $70 to $80.

Yeah, but it's only $10 - not much to write home about there.

Cheers!

AKDiver

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2837116

I would apply quickly if I were you. Bush wants to raise the fee for perm residency, rather significantly - from $325 to $905!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2837116

We filed for AOS/EAD/AP all at the same time, and for us, it was definitely worth it.

She got the EAD about two months before the AOS interview. About a month before the AOS interview, she used the EAD to get a really good job, which she could not have gotten if she didn't have the EAD. So, for us, it was a no brainer Even though we only "used it" for two months, it was critical to have.

The AP was a complete waste, but only because I am judging after the fact. Another possibility is that the AOS was delayed, and maybe something happened with her parents (got sick or whatever) and she needed to make an emergency trip home. In this kind of situation, we were prepared.

So, in my view - if you're short on money, do not bother with the AP, but definitely get the EAD. Look at it this way - if she gets any kind of job right away, she can make back that fee in the first week of working. Even at min wage, say $7/hr, at 40 hours that's $280 right there. To me, it's a no brainer.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Do you have a job???? If you have a job and a credit score over 700, you shouldn't have any problem getting a $5000 loan. If you do NOT have a job, then it is unlikely you will get a loan, since as far as the bank is concerned, you have no way to pay it back (free money from the husband doesn't count).

Cheers!

AKDiver

You must be kidding.