J1

[LeaAndBen 0]

I forgot to ask. Since I was in the USA for my travel month that means my I- 94 was expired for a month. I know that they allow au pairs to travel for one more month after their visa expires but since I didn't have a visa it really worries me. Was I illegal?

[KIMCORENE 0]

I forgot to ask. Since I was in the USA for my travel month that means my I- 94 was expired for a month. I know that they allow au pairs to travel for one more month after their visa expires but since I didn't have a visa it really worries me. Was I illegal?

I don't have a certain answer for you, but I think when you extended your program, you got a second grace period. Did your I-94 have a date or just Duration of Stay (D/S)? You could check with the Dept. of State for clarification- www.state.gov

[LeaAndBen 0]

just a D/S. does that make a difference?

but there is also a date which is when i returned to visit france during my first year as an au pair when i was allowed to come back in the usa since i had a visa.

[KIMCORENE 0]

I really don't think you were necessarily "illegal"- I may be wrong. Even if you were, though, as the spouse of a USC now filing for AOS, that is not held against you, so no worries there.

[rubyred 0]

hi guys,

great to see a J-1 thread! i didn't find one when i first signed up here, but browsing the forums tonight i saw this.

i'm from nz and don't have to worry about a waiver. me and my fiance aren't married yet as we're still deciding if we should just do the AOS here, or if i should go back to nz and apply for k-1.

my biggest question: how do they make you prove you did not come with the intention to marry or immigrate?

i had never been to the US before, and my fiancee has never been to nz: we met online 2 yrs ago and our first meeting in person was when i arrived here on my J-1 in july 2008. i feel like we're in a predicament - on the one hand, that 18 months of knowing each other before i arrived goes towards evidence of a long-term 'association', but on the other it also could provide grounds for claiming we had intent to marry before i came here. i've also lived with him since i arrived, so if they look at our address history, maybe that could be damaging? but then i feel like the fact we HADN'T met in person before i came DOES go towards proving i had no intention to marry. i don't have any ties back home - like a job contract or a mortgage - to prove i was definitely planning on returning.

really looking for some help and advice on this issue.

[LeaAndBen 0]

I don't think you should worry too much as long as you knew you wouldn't get married when you came. A proposal can happen without even knowing about it.

I arrived as a J1 and I met my husband during that time and I was about to go home but he asked me to stay. I had no intention at first to get married.

And I personnaly think you should get married now that you are on a J1 since it will be a long process while back in your country if you ask for a fiance visa. You will be away from each other for a long time.

[KIMCORENE 0]

I have no idea how to prove I had intentions to return to my home country...I had just graduated from university and had decided to take a year off before grad school. My husband and I met while I was in the process of applying for the visa and we got engaged six months later and married six months after that. Now, I'm wondering what to say should the topic of intent to return comes up in the interview.

[LeaAndBen 0]

I can't proove either that I was about to go back home. Maybe I can show them my flight ticket and the cancellation I made a week before flying. But all my family was so happy to see me again. But there's really no real proof...

[LeaAndBen 0]

I need some advice. What did you girls do with your last name? Did you change it? Will you change it after getting the green card?

I would love to carry my husband's last name and keep my maiden name as a middle name but since I already had a social security number, I don't want to delay everything with changing it. and changing all the other kind of papers too...

[KIMCORENE 0]

I use my married name on some things-like AOS and associated stuff.

[LeaAndBen 0]

what about your passport? did you make the change already?

if you don't make the change, is that going to be a problem when you travel?

[KIMCORENE 0]

what about your passport? did you make the change already?

if you don't make the change, is that going to be a problem when you travel?

Nope- didn't change my passport. I was advised to take my marriage license with my passport and green card when I travel- to show the name change. I didn't;t change my SSN cause here they said I need my EAD, so I'll get that done soon.

[raphandarrin 0]

hey guys, my interview is tomorrow, hope everything goes well....

[Hope10 0]

hey guys, my interview is tomorrow, hope everything goes well....

I wish all the best and good luck! Stay positive

[LeaAndBen 0]

good luck! hope everything goes smoothly

hey guys, my interview is tomorrow, hope everything goes well....