running out of time, needs help...

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

hi all,

when i petitioned my fiancee (now my wife) about a year ago, i also included her 14 year old son from her previous marriage. when the petition was approved and they both got their visas, my wife and i decided to let her son stay with her ex-husband in HCM city and will just follow us later. the problem is his visa will expire next month (Jan 8th) and my wife and i are not ready yet to take him due to financial reasons. right now, i am the only one working and my wife is still attending school and not to mention that i just filed her AOS and we are still waiting for her "work authorization permit" which i think will take at least 90 days.

my question is what am i supposed to do now? is there some kind of an extension i need to file so he can stay in HCM for now and now lose his visa?

please help!!!

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

Anybody out there who can help??? PLEASE....

[john_and_marlene 162]

If you don't get him a visa based on the Follow to Join option within the required 1 year, you can always petition for him as your stepson using the I-130 since you were married before his 18th birthday.

Regardless of which path you take, get his passport renewed as soon as possible.

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

If you don't get him a visa based on the Follow to Join option within the required 1 year, you can always petition for him as your stepson using the I-130 since you were married before his 18th birthday.

Regardless of which path you take, get his passport renewed as soon as possible.

thanks for the reply but it's kinda unclear to me. You see, my stepson already got a US Visa (K-2 Visa) that was issued the same time as my wife's US Visa and it will expire on Jan 8, 2009. I just want to know if i need to file some papers so i can extend it for a cuople of months more and not go through the "hassle" of re-applying his petition again.

[Dakine 26]

If you don't get him a visa based on the Follow to Join option within the required 1 year, you can always petition for him as your stepson using the I-130 since you were married before his 18th birthday.

Regardless of which path you take, get his passport renewed as soon as possible.

thanks for the reply but it's kinda unclear to me. You see, my stepson already got a US Visa (K-2 Visa) that was issued the same time as my wife's US Visa and it will expire on Jan 8, 2009. I just want to know if i need to file some papers so i can extend it for a cuople of months more and not go through the "hassle" of re-applying his petition again.

Old saying! "A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush."

When dealing with USCIS I'd triple that number.

[john_and_marlene 162]

If you don't get him a visa based on the Follow to Join option within the required 1 year, you can always petition for him as your stepson using the I-130 since you were married before his 18th birthday.

Regardless of which path you take, get his passport renewed as soon as possible.

thanks for the reply but it's kinda unclear to me. You see, my stepson already got a US Visa (K-2 Visa) that was issued the same time as my wife's US Visa and it will expire on Jan 8, 2009. I just want to know if i need to file some papers so i can extend it for a cuople of months more and not go through the "hassle" of re-applying his petition again.

He either uses the visa by Jan 8 or you will have to file the I-130 and wait all over again. The 1 year Follow to Join option cannot be extended.

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

If you don't get him a visa based on the Follow to Join option within the required 1 year, you can always petition for him as your stepson using the I-130 since you were married before his 18th birthday.

Regardless of which path you take, get his passport renewed as soon as possible.

thanks for the reply but it's kinda unclear to me. You see, my stepson already got a US Visa (K-2 Visa) that was issued the same time as my wife's US Visa and it will expire on Jan 8, 2009. I just want to know if i need to file some papers so i can extend it for a cuople of months more and not go through the "hassle" of re-applying his petition again.

He either uses the visa by Jan 8 or you will have to file the I-130 and wait all over again. The 1 year Follow to Join option cannot be extended.

Thanks a lot for the clarification and appreciate your help......Happy holidays to you and yours!!!

[What's next 1]

I'm not sure what finacial difficulties you are in but it's gonna be cheaper and less stress bringing him over now than later.

I'm not Suzie Orman, but downgrade everything you do financially. Don't eat out as much, don't go out as much, have a frugal xman this year. if you smoke, stop smoking, if you drink, stop drinking. find a cheaper place to stay, rent or mortgage. buy generic instead of name brand.

I don't see how a 14 yrs old kid will do that much damage. he's gonna be eating all the time, but that's about it. he's probable not gonna go to school until next year. you can get some clothes from goodwill.

do what you have to do man. get a loan, work a another job.

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

I'm not sure what finacial difficulties you are in but it's gonna be cheaper and less stress bringing him over now than later.

I'm not Suzie Orman, but downgrade everything you do financially. Don't eat out as much, don't go out as much, have a frugal xman this year. if you smoke, stop smoking, if you drink, stop drinking. find a cheaper place to stay, rent or mortgage. buy generic instead of name brand.

I don't see how a 14 yrs old kid will do that much damage. he's gonna be eating all the time, but that's about it. he's probable not gonna go to school until next year. you can get some clothes from goodwill.

do what you have to do man. get a loan, work a another job.

i wish it's as simple as you think but cannot elaborate on every detail regarding my "financial difficulties". we don't eat outside anymore and i don't drink and smoke and i've done everything possible even look for a second job. But in these tough times, it's very hard.

[luckytxn 2,264]

14 year old kids can eat a whole lot. Trust me on this.

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

14 year old kids can eat a whole lot. Trust me on this.

hehehe.....i know coz i got 2 from my previous marriage.

thanks and "happy holidays to you"

[Teacher Mark 53]

I've been thinking about this post today and I have to say that I would hate to be in your situation. Have you thought about the possibility of HCMC not re-issuing the Visa because of your finances? I don't know if they could, but I wouldn't put it past them. What about the boy? I think he would feel angry, like he's being left behind.

I really think you should get him here. Reach out to your local charities for help. You may be surprised. People want to help, but you have ask!

Here is a post about Angel Food Ministries:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...food+ministries

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/about/

They could provide food assistance. Good luck.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Here's the closest locations to Laguna Niguel, CA:

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.a...p;search=search

If nothing else you can save some money on your food bill.

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

Here's the closest locations to Laguna Niguel, CA:

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.a...p;search=search

If nothing else you can save some money on your food bill.

Thanks a lot for the link bro.....appreciate the help!!!

[JoeyLuvPhuong 0]

I've been thinking about this post today and I have to say that I would hate to be in your situation. Have you thought about the possibility of HCMC not re-issuing the Visa because of your finances? I don't know if they could, but I wouldn't put it past them. What about the boy? I think he would feel angry, like he's being left behind.

I really think you should get him here. Reach out to your local charities for help. You may be surprised. People want to help, but you have ask!

Here is a post about Angel Food Ministries:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...food+ministries

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/about/

They could provide food assistance. Good luck.

Thanks a lot about the thought and your concern. i was told that if his visa expires, i can always file an I-130 for him as long as he's under 18. with regards to asking for help, she did asked her aunt who owns a beauty shop here in L.A but was turned down. her aunt told her that i should be the one who needs to take care of this problem. it hurts but what can we do?