Did you overstay before getting your GC?

[zooch76 9]

Hey Everyone,

First things first - I'm so glad I found this site! Everyone on VJ has been such a great help and provided so much information - thank you so much!

Now, down to my question....

We are getting married this Friday (July 30) down at the courthouse (the "real" wedding is scheduled for next September but we wanted to get the GC ball rolling). We will be filing all the GC paperwork as soon as we receive our marriage certificate in the mail (they say about ten days after we tie the knot). Everything is ready to go, and for the most part I'm not worried.

However, one things that is in the back of my mind is my overstay. From what I hear, most overstay situations are forgiven when you marry a USC but I am still a bit worried. On our marriage day, I will have been in the USA for 13 months, or about seven months in overstay situation.

Can anyone here provide specific examples of an overstay situation that they were in and it wasn't a problem and the GC was issued? Or, I hate to say it, an overstay situation where it prevented you from getting a GC? If possible, please let me know how long you were in overstay. And of course I will not lie on my application but how should I respond when they ask me about overstaying in the interview? I mean, I am pretty much asking for legal residence after admitting to breaking the law!

Also, I do know that I should not leave the USA until I receive my GC, and I don't plan on it!

[zooch76 9]

Also, I'm not sure if it matters or not, but I entered the USA most recently as a visitor from Canada (no passport stamp, no I-94, etc.). Prior to that I had various USA statuses such as TN (3 of them), H1-B, and F1.

[trillium13 84]

My husband overstayed his VWP for several years. Not an issue.