For those adjusting on the VWP...

[Johnnie J 0]

People, people....stop making Richard feel bad. We ALL have different stories, backgrounds, problems and situations that have spark off many things. So everyone with an attitude chill for a min.

I entered the US with the intent of visiting my fiancee and ended up getting married because of family issues.

I think we shouldn't judge anyone, post as well as msn conversations are sometimes mistaken or misunderstood.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

People, people lets not divert the true purpose of this forum. INFORM. We should not judge nor harass anybody just because he/she intends, doesn't intend etc. We should just inform them and at the end let him/her make their own decisions, we are all adults here, i think, ok? Pointing fingers is not going to help a bit. Bottomline is, he/she, and only he/she, will be the sole recipient of the results and if his/her green card is approved or denied should be based on the truthfulness of his actions.

Edited September 10, 2008 by GueraYTavo

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

Well said, jjsr and GueraYTavo.

[bluegreen 0]

I adjusted this way, and it was really smooth for me! Well, I was not here on VWP, but as a visitor (Canadians don't have VWP).

Just so you all know:

We were trying to work out which visa to go for: K1, CR-1 or K3. I was educated about all three visas and had done my research. I had even asked some q's on here with a different user name (I forgot all the info I used to start the account, including the email account, and began a new one later).

I ended up having some flexibility with my new business and decided to spend the winter in the US with my sweetie so we could figure out exactly what our next move would be, which country to live in, when to get married and just spend some more time together.

When I entered, I did not have the intent to immigrate ON THAT TRIP. I had the intent to to think about immigrating some time in the future. But not on that trip.

We ended up getting married on a whim in Vegas.

I realized I could file for AOS from within the country, because I had not had intent to immigrate when I entered.

Yes, I did it this way in the end because it was more convenient for me and I did not want/need to wait out a longer process. It was not convenient to drop everything at home, change my plans and have to pick up the pieces later. But it was convenient to be able to become a permanent resident sooner. No, I did not plan this before I left home. Yes, I was absolutely thrilled to be able to shave months and months of time off the process.

No, I don't feel that I abused the system. I did not commit visa fraud because I did not have intent to immigrate when I entered, which I can prove as much as it is possible to prove such a thing.

Can we PLEASE stick to the facts here on this subforum, and have it continue to be a safe place for people to seek answers to their questions and support from our fellow immigrants. We aren't IOs or private investigators, so let's not try to be.

You do NOT need special circumstances to adjust status from a non-immigrant visa. You just need to have entered without the intent to immigrate. Period.

No one is under any moral obligation to return home and file a spousal visa if they do not have some kind of life threatening/life-altering reason to stay. I didn't. My circumstances changed. It was simply more convenient and I don't feel as though I should feel apologetic or guilty about that. Why on EARTH would I return home, away from my husband, in order to file a visa which was not necessary for me to file, if I was perfectly able to manage to tie up my loose ends in Canada from home in the US.

The option is provided by USCIS, and as long as it is available, it is legal and acceptable, and no one here should really be standing in judgement of anybody who chooses this option and who also fulfills that ONE criteria-they entered without the intent to immigrate.

[Hydey 0]

Thanks for the really helpful info bluegreen, i appreciate it. Does yourself or anybody else have any AOS from VWP interviews that they could share here?

[bluegreen 0]

Sure, it's here: Review

Also, here is a topic I started about intent evidence for my interview : Here

Remember I didn't actually enter using the VWP, but as a Canadian visitor. However I am sure it is assessed in the same way (main difference being that Canadians do not get an I-94 and are allowed 6 months of every 12 months rather than 90 days).

[antda 13]

Hi Richard and Everyone,

Likewise, as posted on my VJ timeline (see the link below on my signature for more info), as in my situation, I also "Visited, married, and adjusted". This is my story, mentioned below:

"Once Upon A Time": Ant travelled from Canada to the USA to visit long-term boyfriend D, Married husband D in a spur-of-the-moment elopement here in the USA, next applied for and was approved for US Green Card Permanent Residency...

Chapter 1 "Visited": Ant and D being harassed at the USA/Canada border for 2 hours was "not a picnic in the park" for them. They then made Ant get a B2 Visitor's Visa Passport Stamp and I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Card to visit the USA, even though Canadians are exempt from such. Oh well, as what originally was a two week vacation visit ended up being a happily married lifetime together for them in the USA.

Chapter 1 Timeline: 1 Day.

Chapter 2 "Married and Immigrated": Married and Filed the I-485/AOS, I-130, I-693, I-864, G-325A, with a good immigration lawyer on this "unusual" case. The AOS interview only took about 15-20 minutes. Quick and simple, as the Immigration Officer only asked Ant and D a few questions and they showed them the required listed evidence. The case was approved and Ant's passport was stamped. Ant's 2yr US Conditional Green (creamy white) Card arrived quickly by USPS (1 week later). Did not apply for the EAD or AP. SSN Received 2007-01 which was delayed due to verification of immigration status. US 5yr Driver's License Received 2007-01 quickly due to no-testing transfer from former Canadian Driver's License.

Chapter 2 Timeline: 7-9 Months.

Chapter 3 "Conditions Removed": Filed the I-751/ROC jointly by Ant and D. Also enclosed 100+ pages of required relevant joint evidence with the application.

Chapter 3 Timeline: ? Months. (Currently at this stage of the immigration process...)

The Waiting Continues...

Hope this helps. Good luck, everyone, on your immigration journey!

Ant (Still in the immigration process at the I-751 stage...)

[ quote name=FirmRich' date='Aug 22 2008, 02:46 PM' post='2142108]

I wanted to see who was out there, like myself adjusting status from the VWP. I am stressed and scared as i;m sure you all are and wondered if anyone would like to respond, and leave either an aim SN or msn or something where each of us could chat, or private message here.

Where are you coming from and how far are you in the process?!

Look forward to hearing from you,

-Richard

Edited September 18, 2008 by AntandD