Advice sought for answering DS-230 item #22

[k.h 0]

My wife is a Chilean national. We are in the process of preparing the documents needed for a CR1 visa and

need advice for properly responding to item 22, "List below all employment for the last ten years".

Here is the situation. My wife has worked for the same employer in Chile for the past 7 years.

In 1999 she went to the UK on a tourist visa. While in London she applied for and received a student visa and took English classes for 15+ hrs/week.

She stayed with an English family working part-time as an Au Pair. After a year, her student visa expired and she applied to renew it. The renewal was denied but she stayed on living with the family, continuing to work part-time as an Au Pair, for around 10 months after her visa expired (she stayed illegally in London for roughly 10 months).

To summarize:

Mar 1999 - arrived in London on a tourist visa; stayed and lived with friends through Dec 1999

Dec 1999 - received a student visa valid for 1 year; studied English at a language school; stayed with English family working part-time as Au Pair

Dec 2000 - applied to renew student visa

Feb 2001 - received notice that student visa would not be renewed

Feb 2001 - Dec 2001 - lived with same English family working as an Au Pair without any visa

Dec 2001 - departed the UK and returned to Chile

Jan 2002 - present, lives and works in Chile

How should item 22 be filled out?

[Ling Ling 22]

Your wife screwed up in London. Hopefully the two of you won't screw up on your Visa application.

You have no choice but to tell the truth. There's another section where you have to list everywhere she's lived since she's been an adult.

Perhaps you're looking for someone to tell you to lie, and hope that you get away with it.

I think you already know what needs to be done. If you're really concerned, you should consult an attorney,

but I would not suggest that you try to falsify or omit any information. Even if it worked...the lie would be sitting there waiting for you someday.

All it takes is for someone to review it, find the lie, and then she could be banned for life...not to mention the possible criminal charges and fees.

[MsMariah 0]

Fill it in honestly Au Pair, years and location and so forth and continue to her present employer. Overstaying isn't as bad as withholding the information would be on your current application. Lot's of people overstay american visas and still get immigrant status.

You could consult an attourney as Ling Ling suggests, but definitely stick with honesty.

Good luck.