R.I.P Daddy

[gna781 1]

Rick,

Me and my family have done everything legally up to this point in failing to renew my I-94.

I entered on a B1/B2 tourist visa and was given permission to stay (I-94).

We renewed it until we sent in my I-130. We made a big mistake and sent the original I-94 along with my I-130.

Why we did this? I often question myself the same thing considering there was nothing in the I-130 requesting it.

After we sent it off, we had no I-94 to return to the Border Crossing Officers. So we were unable to renew nothing.

I understand this is a biiig mistake.

But again, to answer your question: Yes I entered with a tourist visa AND LEGAL inspection.

There was no illegalness involved.

Gina:

In order to get a good advice here from the VJ Community, you need to clarify this:

Did you enter the US with a tourist visa or enter without inspection (illegally)?

If you EWI then you are not going to be able to AOS, even if married to a USC (but a waiver is possible)

[Dumb/Dumber 61]

First let me start by telling you that I wish I could give you a big hug because I know how hard it is to lose a parent. You are grieving for your father right now and that is the source of your pain. Of course, you want to go to him even though he is not there because you need to find relief for your pain. Running to something that is no longer there will cause you greater pain than you can imagine. Hold on tight to the young man who loves you and let him help you through this pain. It will be harder to go through it alone.

When you can and as soon as you can, contact Immigration Services and tell them your situation. Find out what they suggest. You may want to talk to more than one person to see if you get the same answer. Once you get an answer that you trust, then you have to take steps to fix your life. Your father would want you to be safe and sound. He loves you and I know you love him. Find the strength for him. Live a great and wonderful life for him. You will one day walk out into the sunlight, look up, and you will know you made your father proud.

Many blessings.

[Daniel&Theary 30]

You have my deepest sympathies, since you entered legally I do believe you can AOS if you marry a USC without leaving. Best wishes for a great future

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Gina,

I was in a similar situation.

Both my parents died while I was here in the US, unable to leave the country without triggering the 10-year bar. My mom died on the operating table after 4 or so previous heart surgeries, so even if I had tried to make it in time to catch a flight, I couldn't have been there in time to say goodbye. My dad was 81 and one day he just died, without giving a week's notice.

I studied philosophy in college and have been involved with religion and spirituality for many years previously and afterward. Heck, I even lived in India for 6 months in 1985 when trying to figure things out and find myself, the real me, the one that lives inside the body. There's one thing I've taken from Buddhism: don't let things effect you that you can't change, and don't let things consume you that are things of the past.

Once somebody is dead, there's nothing you can do. Being there at the funeral is paying respect, but the person that passed on won't benefit from it. The only person that's suffering after someone died is you. But you only suffer if you allow yourself to suffer. After my mom died, I reflected on her life and wrote a Eulogy that my daughter read at the funeral. I had my silent moment and an hour of emotional pain, but afterward I made the deliberate effort to look ahead, into the future, not toward the past. I remember the best of my parents and in my house I have one photo in the hall showing me with my parents when I was maybe 6 or 7, and one when we were all at a Luau on Maui, Hawaii, back in the 2001 or 2002.

Life goes on, and the best you can do is to take one step at a time and deal with the challenges life throws at you. There's nothing to be gained for you, your father, or anybody else if you consume your time with thoughts on what you would--or should or wish you could--have done differently.

Look ahead, and live life. Enjoy it, every day of it, because one day it's the end for you, and me, and everybody else as well. Like a beautiful rose, we are being planted, born, grow, become beautiful, and then slowly die. It's the circle of life, and it's nature in its purest form, and there's nothing we or anybody can do about it, so we might as well try to make the best of it.

Edited May 31, 2011 by Just Bob

[gelato 1]

I am sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.

[tru_loves_journey 117]

May the comfort of God help you during this difficult time

What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Gina, I just wanted to offer you my sincerest condolences for the loss of your father. I wish you peace and comfort during this time. You will figure out what to do. Just take it day by day.

[tan&tuyet 15]

Dear Gina,

I know we haven't met or anything but I am so sorry for your loss. I know it is hard to move on but you have to for your dad because he would want you to move on with your life. Don't give up on anything!!!

[Mykenmimo 1]

So sorry for your loss Gina, Do not give up or lose your focus. things might seem very cloudy the days ahead but hang in there and get busy with work, study or anything. No one knows what the other person is going through but we all here VJ family are ready to help you and support you.

[Mrstate 1]

Hi Gina,

Since you came here legally you have a good chance to AOS but that is thru marriage, it seems like you have the love of your life and is in a good faith relationship, when one day both of you are ready to settle down things will get better. I had waited for a very long time for a decade, my grandpa died and there is no way I could come back without being banned. I waited for a long time to one day find someone who will love me and my daughter and God did answer my prayer I met my husband and we've been together for 4 yrs now. looking back I was thankful I made the right decisions, you may not get the answer now but one day when you can come back home and tell your dad he inspires u and that you didn't give up even when he was gone. wherever your dad is Im sure he is looking after you and will be happy that you have a good life ahead of u.

Hi Gina,

Since you came here legally you have a good chance to AOS but that is thru marriage, it seems like you have the love of your life and is in a good faith relationship, when one day both of you are ready to settle down things will get better. I had waited for a very long time for a decade, my grandpa died and there is no way I could come back without being banned. I waited for a long time to one day find someone who will love me and my daughter and God did answer my prayer I met my husband and we've been together for 4 yrs now. looking back I was thankful I made the right decisions, you may not get the answer now but one day when you can come back home and tell your dad he inspires u and that you didn't give up even when he was gone. wherever your dad is Im sure he is looking after you and will be happy that you have a good life ahead of u.

[gna781 1]

Hi there I read what you left on my post and I just wanted to thank you personally for your kind words. My dad's death has been nothing but easy on me but Im getting throught it and slowly but surelyIm keeping my head up. Again thank you so much for your words! After talking to a couple people on the phone from USCIS I havbe decided on staying here and AOS through marriage to my boyfriend. We want to start soon so we have to begin our research and boy am I greatful for this website because so many of you have been so nice and helpful and I am truly grateful for it. I hope your journey is going great as well!

-Gina

First let me start by telling you that I wish I could give you a big hug because I know how hard it is to lose a parent. You are grieving for your father right now and that is the source of your pain. Of course, you want to go to him even though he is not there because you need to find relief for your pain. Running to something that is no longer there will cause you greater pain than you can imagine. Hold on tight to the young man who loves you and let him help you through this pain. It will be harder to go through it alone.

When you can and as soon as you can, contact Immigration Services and tell them your situation. Find out what they suggest. You may want to talk to more than one person to see if you get the same answer. Once you get an answer that you trust, then you have to take steps to fix your life. Your father would want you to be safe and sound. He loves you and I know you love him. Find the strength for him. Live a great and wonderful life for him. You will one day walk out into the sunlight, look up, and you will know you made your father proud.

Many blessings.

[gna781 1]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONES KIND WORDS AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO TOLD ME TRUTHFUL WORDS. I HAVE TO KEEP LIVING LIFE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. I FEEL A LOT BETTER NOW FROM WHEN I ORIGINALY POSTED THE ORIGINAL MESSEGE AND AFTER MANY TALKS ME AND MY BOYFRIEND ARE GETTING MARRIED. AOS THROUGH MARRIAGE IS SOMETHING IM NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH BUT I WILL START READING ALL THE FORUMS TO FAMILIARIZE MY SELF WITH ALL THE INFORMATION. AGAIN THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORDS!

[Messybrownhair 251]

Hi, I am so sorry for your loss.. I know you will find the strength to persevere through this. God bless you..

You said you sent in your original I-94 on a I-130 petition, what happened to that?

And do you have passport stamps as well?