Real Love, but Real Problems?

[san diego 407]

Yes... possible. He needs to go back to his country. Under the circumstances I would recommend getting married in Romania. She needs to find good joint sponsor that can sponsor both of them. Then they have a chance. If I was her I would travel to Romania, get married, file for CR1. In the meantime find a job that would pay above 125% poverty line. I do not think there are a lot of people under the circumstances that would agree to stick their neck out and sign I864 for this couple.. I wouldn't even if this was my brother.. Too much liability considering financial situation of this female.

Edited July 27, 2011 by san diego

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Yes... possible. He needs to go back to his country. Under the circumstances I would recommend getting married in Romania. She needs to find good joint sponsor that can sponsor both of them. Then they have a chance.

The Co-Sponsor only needs to be able to sponsor him (the intending immigrant) which means meet or exceed the 125% poverty level for their household size plus one.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

First, before anything else is said and done, she needs to be divorced. Nothing else can happen until then.

Hope for the best for them....but also love the fact that a food stamp recipient can afford to go on TWO cruises since October of last year.

[san diego 407]

but also love the fact that a food stamp recipient can afford to go on TWO cruises since October of last year.

Love that my taxes were put to good use! I hope her Romanian fiance can come to US soon to take advantage of this wonderful program together with her!

Edited July 27, 2011 by san diego

[Susie4 1]

Love that my taxes were put to good use! I hope her Romanian fiance can come to US soon to take advantage of this wonderful program together with her!

She went on about 7 or 8 total cruises. But as "Crew Family" the cost is only $7 per night. And that's not a typo. SEVEN dollars a night, to stay in Crew area with him. I didn't mean to bring up a sore spot on the food stamps -- she gets those because she was disabled in an accident at work a few years ago and has no chance of re-employment in her field (nursing). But they're essentially her only means of self-support at this time and I thought that might be relevant in the case.

First, before anything else is said and done, she needs to be divorced. Nothing else can happen until then.

Hope for the best for them....but also love the fact that a food stamp recipient can afford to go on TWO cruises since October of last year.

She went on about 7 or 8 total cruises. But as "Crew Family" the cost is only $7 per night. And that's not a typo. SEVEN dollars a night, to stay in Crew area with him. I didn't mean to bring up a sore spot on the food stamps -- she gets those because she was disabled in an accident at work a few years ago and has no chance of re-employment in her field (nursing). But they're essentially her only means of self-support at this time and I thought that might be relevant in the case.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

They met in OCTOBER 2010, on a cruise ship where she was a passenger and he was a bartender.

They have been romantically involved since the cruise. When he went back to his home country of ROMANIA, they were in constant contact and there will be tons of evidence to that fact in phone bills, etc.

He returned to work on a cruise ship, at first on the west coast. Before he got on the ship they spent 2 weeks together in Los Angeles. She went on one cruise, as a full fare paying passenger on the LA based ship to spend time with him.

He transferred to a Jacksonville, Florida based cruise ship to be closer to her. She went on multiple cruises as a "crew family member" on this ship -- shouldn't be hard to get documentation or witnesses to this fact, either.

Yeah, I saw that she went on several as a family member...but those first two were not. Anyways...as I said, I wish them the best.

[Susie4 1]

Yes... possible. He needs to go back to his country. Under the circumstances I would recommend getting married in Romania. She needs to find good joint sponsor that can sponsor both of them. Then they have a chance. If I was her I would travel to Romania, get married, file for CR1. In the meantime find a job that would pay above 125% poverty line. I do not think there are a lot of people under the circumstances that would agree to stick their neck out and sign I864 for this couple.. I wouldn't even if this was my brother.. Too much liability considering financial situation of this female.

A job for her is not possible. She is disabled. In another year she MIGHT be getting social security for her disability but I don't think that will be 125% of poverty level.

[Susie4 1]

Yeah, I saw that she went on several as a family member...but those first two were not. Anyways...as I said, I wish them the best.

Ah, yes, I see what you're saying. I didn't even think about that.... A girlfriend of hers paid for her one that she met him on as a birthday gift... the other one and the two weeks in L.A., I'm not sure about. I was only thinking of them in the sense that they showed "time together" albeit in an odd way, maybe.

[Julie y Pat 67]

USC should get the divorce taken care of first, and as much as possible try not to lie. Maybe documentation of the financial difficulties of living separate households can help with the one year apart rule. Though living in the same home, they were separated and not living normal married life. But I don't think anything else would prevent them from marrying while he is legally in the US. If he is able to stay for six months, that is quality time to build evidence of a bonafide marriage, an opportunity I think a lot of CR1 filers wish they could have. Of course he would have to be home in Romania for an interview, and I'm not sure how long petition approvals are taking right now, but it should be enough time to find a reliable cosponsor for the affidavit of support. And it would also give them a chance to make sure the marriage will work, kind of a safety net for the USC to make sure she isn't being used for a greencard, because he has to go back to Romania to finish the process, with her support to be successful, and that any violations of his current visa as far as overstay could jeopardize his career if he needs a valid visa to be employed on a ship that docks in the US.

[Susie4 1]

USC should get the divorce taken care of first, and as much as possible try not to lie. Maybe documentation of the financial difficulties of living separate households can help with the one year apart rule. Though living in the same home, they were separated and not living normal married life. But I don't think anything else would prevent them from marrying while he is legally in the US. If he is able to stay for six months, that is quality time to build evidence of a bonafide marriage, an opportunity I think a lot of CR1 filers wish they could have. Of course he would have to be home in Romania for an interview, and I'm not sure how long petition approvals are taking right now, but it should be enough time to find a reliable cosponsor for the affidavit of support. And it would also give them a chance to make sure the marriage will work, kind of a safety net for the USC to make sure she isn't being used for a greencard, because he has to go back to Romania to finish the process, with her support to be successful, and that any violations of his current visa as far as overstay could jeopardize his career if he needs a valid visa to be employed on a ship that docks in the US.

Thanks for all of the helpful info!

[Used to be broken 147]

Thanks for all of the helpful info!

He can maintain his employment and if he continues in that field after they marry it might qualify for the support requirements. Crewman cannot adjust status so if AFTER she is divorced they can get married he can go do another 6 month stint, schedule time in Romania for the interview and sign back up for the next 6 months for the support requirements. Will have to check into the changing of the crewman credentials to see if this is possible but it might be.

[Boiler 44,858]

Seems she has no ties or income in the US.

Sounds a lot simpler for her to move.

[Harsh_77 716]

Yeah, I saw that she went on several as a family member...but those first two were not. Anyways...as I said, I wish them the best.

Bingo first couple were paid out of pocket as full fare passenger.

Seems she has no ties or income in the US.

Sounds a lot simpler for her to move.

uhhh no... then she would lose the food stamps amd social security.....

[Susie4 1]

Bingo first couple were paid out of pocket as full fare passenger.

uhhh no... then she would lose the food stamps amd social security.....

Ties to US are her family and she has a 12 year old daughter as well who she would not be able to take out of the country. And please can we not make this about her foodstamps? :-( I'm sorry I mentioned that before but I had concerned about the rules for the alien in regards to public assistance and the foodstamps is the only "thing" she has. So I thought that it might further complicate the legal situation here. Went on a cruise that was a gift from a friend, fell in love, and just doesn't know what to do now. But is in such a hurry that I worry that missteps will break her heart AND ruin any chances he has of living here, which is something he would obviously like to do. While *I* am not 100% convinced (yet) that this isn't about a green card for him, I do know it's about love for her.

I have gotten a lot of good feedback that may be useful so far. Thanks everyone! :-)

[freetv 7]

Any thoughts on anything they might be able to do going forward to make it so that they will have a chance? I think they really are in love and really do want to be together. Is the only way that is going to happen if she goes to his country?

Here is the BIG problem though.. ssd is only 800-1200 a month... most likely she would get 700 or so and 400 for her kid... that means her yearly income is $13200 and I believe that isn't enough for three people (I haven't checked the numbers since I had to back in 2008 or so). If she really loves him she needs to find a job (but at 4 years she is getting close to the magical number of 5 years wait which is when they approve you), so now she is looking at another year waiting... So why not just tell the truth in court and wait the year to be approved???? Now she still has another problem even after she gets approved... if she finds a job to make up the $2000 or $3000 gap ssi will take that "extra" money out of her check so that begs the question, "why wait the year?" What I am saying is this: If she really loves him she has to find a job.. there is no way around it, the government made it 125% for a reason (to exclude ppl that rely on benefits). Also wanted to add.. are they really going to have a happy life being forced to rely on her ssd? That seems to rule out a co-sponsor even though it is a way that could work.

Edited July 28, 2011 by freetv