Need some Advice Please

[aussiebev 0]

Hi

Im helping for some direction or suggestions about what to do.

I will try make the story short .

I met my partner online nearly 8 years ago.. we went from being good friends to a deeper relationship developing over

the following years that began to have a dream to live a life together.

But with both of us raising children, nothing was ever taken further.. it was always a.. in the future type deal

About 3 years ago my partners health started to seriously decline.. He has CoPD, Emphacema, , Crohns Disease, and the onset of Arthritis on his back... he also has such a bad back that he will require surgery soon.

He began to really doubt how long he had to live.. he was on oxygen 24/7 .. he is only now 46 and on SSI Disability.

The decision to come from Australia to the US was made quick and rapidly.. I applied for a 6 month visa and basically packed up and came.. my priority was to get to him.

Up until this time we had never even met physically.. it had been purely online, phone, letters for 6 years.

I niavely assumed that getting a work visa would be a simple procedure.

Once I got his health back onto a stable ground where I thought I would be able to perhaps work several days a week.. to contribute to the household I discovered the uphill battle I faced..

At the same time I was getting ready to apply for an extention of the visa.. when I discovered one of my daughters actually stole all the money from my bank account in Australia.. ran up bills in my name.. sold my car.. left the rental property that i had been paying rent at for her (she is 21) and trashed the place..then disappeared.

This left me stuck here with absolutely no money aside from the small amount of cash I had withdrawn to pay for my visa extention.

I applied for the visa extention and explained in full detail.. I am broke.. I have no return ticket.. all the details and the visa extention was approved.

But I was told that a third extention would not be.

Having realized I couldnt work here.. or the possibility of obtaining sponsorship for work was impossible unless I returned to Australia.. I had no money.. my partner is on benefits.. we cant afford over 1000 AUD for a ticket.

I started a letter writing campaign to every politician, tried contacting immigration lawyers.. places that help immigrants.. government departments to try find some glimmer of hope.

I was told to get married.. but when I said he was on SSI.. I was informed.. then we wouldnt recognize it.

Besides that the cost of getting married and filing was out of our reach as well.

Every politician has responded.. slowly and it has all been the same.. just quoting me back Immigration law.

Earlier this week I received a letter back from the last politician stating that immigration had advised her....

well basically.. my visa has expired.. and I would need to return to Australia.

My visa expired in June 2009..

I have to face the fact I need to return to Australia.. and then try work to see if I can be allowed back into the country.

I realize I face the strong possibility of a 3 year ban.

But my problem is this.. I cant afford to get back home

My family is unable to help

Im just not sure what to do.

What are my options..

I have seen a form that I can download from the web that asks the US for removal.. but Im not

sure if I should use that or not.

Im sorry for the long drawn out story..

I just am at a loss what to do next.

I appreciate any help or suggestions

[Deb+Steve 13]

What has the Australian Embassy had to say? Do you not qualify for assistance?

[Jennifer1 0]

Sorry I don't have any advice for you because I'm new to the visa process, but I wish you and your partner the very best of luck.

[Sc0tt28 26]

Hi

Im helping for some direction or suggestions about what to do.

I will try make the story short .

I met my partner online nearly 8 years ago.. we went from being good friends to a deeper relationship developing over

the following years that began to have a dream to live a life together.

But with both of us raising children, nothing was ever taken further.. it was always a.. in the future type deal

About 3 years ago my partners health started to seriously decline.. He has CoPD, Emphacema, , Crohns Disease, and the onset of Arthritis on his back... he also has such a bad back that he will require surgery soon.

He began to really doubt how long he had to live.. he was on oxygen 24/7 .. he is only now 46 and on SSI Disability.

The decision to come from Australia to the US was made quick and rapidly.. I applied for a 6 month visa and basically packed up and came.. my priority was to get to him.

Up until this time we had never even met physically.. it had been purely online, phone, letters for 6 years.

I niavely assumed that getting a work visa would be a simple procedure.

Once I got his health back onto a stable ground where I thought I would be able to perhaps work several days a week.. to contribute to the household I discovered the uphill battle I faced..

At the same time I was getting ready to apply for an extention of the visa.. when I discovered one of my daughters actually stole all the money from my bank account in Australia.. ran up bills in my name.. sold my car.. left the rental property that i had been paying rent at for her (she is 21) and trashed the place..then disappeared.

This left me stuck here with absolutely no money aside from the small amount of cash I had withdrawn to pay for my visa extention.

I applied for the visa extention and explained in full detail.. I am broke.. I have no return ticket.. all the details and the visa extention was approved.

But I was told that a third extention would not be.

Having realized I couldnt work here.. or the possibility of obtaining sponsorship for work was impossible unless I returned to Australia.. I had no money.. my partner is on benefits.. we cant afford over 1000 AUD for a ticket.

I started a letter writing campaign to every politician, tried contacting immigration lawyers.. places that help immigrants.. government departments to try find some glimmer of hope.

I was told to get married.. but when I said he was on SSI.. I was informed.. then we wouldnt recognize it.

Besides that the cost of getting married and filing was out of our reach as well.

Every politician has responded.. slowly and it has all been the same.. just quoting me back Immigration law.

Earlier this week I received a letter back from the last politician stating that immigration had advised her....

well basically.. my visa has expired.. and I would need to return to Australia.

My visa expired in June 2009..

I have to face the fact I need to return to Australia.. and then try work to see if I can be allowed back into the country.

I realize I face the strong possibility of a 3 year ban.

But my problem is this.. I cant afford to get back home

My family is unable to help

Im just not sure what to do.

What are my options..

I have seen a form that I can download from the web that asks the US for removal.. but Im not

sure if I should use that or not.

Im sorry for the long drawn out story..

I just am at a loss what to do next.

I appreciate any help or suggestions

Hmm, quite the pickle you got yourself into. Other reply suggested the Australian embassy...that would be a good place to start. Otherwise, I suppose you could contact ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and do a self-deport (its actually called something else but I forget the term for it...the concept is the same though).

[aussiebev 0]

What has the Australian Embassy had to say? Do you not qualify for assistance?

Thankyou for everyones advice.

Our phone is only a track phone so I couldnt phone them until we buy extra minutes next month.

But I have sent a detailed letter to the Embassy out in the mail today.. explaining everything.

so hopefully I will hear back from them quickly.

I think I have the form for the self deport , I found it on the web somewhere.

The person indicated that once its sent in it happens quickly.

Im just wondering how quickly?

Ive already started getting everything ready here so that all I basically need to do is grab and I can be ready to leave within the hour.

Hopefully I would have more time than that tho

Again, thankyou for your help and suggestions

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Why exactly can't you get married, then file for AOS and find work here?

[daboyz 36]

Why exactly can't you get married, then file for AOS and find work here?

Sounds like will not be over the poverty guidelines.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I think I have the form for the self deport , I found it on the web somewhere.

The person indicated that once its sent in it happens quickly.

The program is called "Scheduled Departure"

Im just wondering how quickly?

90 days usually - if you have the means for self-transport, shorter if you do not.

However, this will not change your status, and since you are out of status more than 180 days, you will have a 3 year ban if you attempt to re-enter the US.

Source

(note - this was only a pilot program, in 5 cities, for a certain amount of time.)

Edited January 21, 2010 by Bobby+Umit

[sachinky 465]

Contact the Australian embassy. They will provide you with the passport, ticket you need to get home. You WILL face a ban should you attempt to reenter the U.S.

[aussiebev 0]

Why exactly can't you get married, then file for AOS and find work here?

Its a catch 22 situation with the marriage

As my partner is very very very ill.

His medications cost in excess of . I thought it was only 500 a month.

But it I totalled it up last night and it they cost close to 700 a month.

When he and his wife seperated 10 years ago, the informal deal made was

he would sign over the house to her.. and she would maintain him on her health insurance plan.

If he gets married, he would be removed from that.. and being on ssi he only gets 825 per month.

Without medications.. it would be a very short period before he passed away.. it is that critical.

We have looked into the cost of health care for him and the prices are insane.

His spend down with Medicaid i think is 375 so he would need to spend 375 a month before there was any

reinbursement or assistance.

And to top that off.. because he is on SSI.. he falls below the poverty line so they would not recognize it.

We have tried everything and every avenue

[sachinky 465]

Can you get a joint sponsor?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

What do you really want to do?

Voluntary departure requires you to purchase the ticket, and the 3-year ban would still be triggered upon your departure. It can be overcome with a waiver, but that cost money and takes time.

Bottomline for practical purposes: if you leave the US, you won't be coming back anytime soon.

If you want to stay, and to work, you'll need to file for AOS. For that you'll need money and a sponsor. Put effort into this. Is your partner divorced or just separated from his wife?