need urgent help please

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

[quote name=help ' timestamp='1322886997' post='5035507]

no. i have been at home raising our 2 children.

he also has all my documents/greencard/social security card and i have no means of transport so looking for work is extremely hard

wise up and get your documents from him... enough playing. You should have returned the moment you were placed in a house with filth ... that's the start to a bad future.

[help :( 2]

It is ILLEGAL for him to keep your green card away from you. You need to get that back so that you can get a job (or get child support via a divorce order?). I don't know about all the resources that you can get, but you need to dump this guy and fast. He is NO good for you OR your children.

And yes, you have nearly all the rights of a US citizen. The exceptions are that you can't vote or take public office and maybe a few minor other things. But you have about 99% of the same rights as an American citizen.

He sounds like a ####### and I hope you can get out of that situation because it sounds like he is manipulating you for his own ends. Please do not give into him, for your sake and your children's sakes. Do you have family or a support system in Australia? What do they say?

Now to get to the green card question: When you got your green card, how many years were you married? If it was more than 2, then you should be okay and don't have to remove conditions, like a previous poster had said.

we are in the process of divorce. he was given temporary custody since he lied and said he was starting a job in a couple of weeks, and that he had foodstamps and his family was supporting him, while i was not eligible for any assistance at all so the children would not be provided for. I am currently trying to fight this as they are being returned to me STINKING, and dressed in tshirts and sweatpants with a spring coat while its snowing. (i get them during day and on weekends, he has them overnight)

we were married 3 years. my greencard expires in 2016 and i thought it was non conditional.

[mr and mrs 187]

[quote name=help ' timestamp='1322936840' post='5036034]my greencard expires in 2016 and i thought it was non conditional.

that sounds like you have a 10 year green card, meaning that the conditions of your residency were removed (probably in 2006?).

get a firm idea of what you want for yourself and your children in the future. you will need to be able to be strong to withstand the process to untangle your life from seemingly icky husband and be a good mother to your (and his) kids.

get a lawyer. asap. (any expenses incurred are an investment the welfare of yourself and your children.)

make sure your kids are as safe and healthy and nurtured as possible, where ever they are.

reach out to your community for support. you need help.

[help :( 2]

that sounds like you have a 10 year green card, meaning that the conditions of your residency were removed (probably in 2006?).

get a firm idea of what you want for yourself and your children in the future. you will need to be able to be strong to withstand the process to untangle your life from seemingly icky husband and be a good mother to your (and his) kids.

get a lawyer. asap. (any expenses incurred are an investment the welfare of yourself and your children.)

make sure your kids are as safe and healthy and nurtured as possible, where ever they are.

reach out to your community for support. you need help.

thats what i thought.

i want to return home if possible, if not to live as best i can, return to my degree and get a good job.

this is the part im having trouble with. My pro bono lawyer had to withdraw since my husband repeatedly broke the protection order and police were called.

my husband cleaned out and closed the joint account so now i have no means of getting money to pay a retainer fee. noone else is willing to work probono, or to take the case and pursue him for fees. It is a small town with maybe half a dozen firms that service it

[mr and mrs 187]

great! you have a plan! (going back to australia, with kids, for a better life.) now you just need to make it happen.

you will be able to get a lawyer. there are groups (such as the catholic charities) that help with situations like this. dont feel like you dont have hope.

monday is not far away and you can start by calling women's groups and the catholic charities.

remember that in the meantime, before you go back, there will be a (long?) period of time when you are still in the US. you need to make that time the best you can. dont postpone your life for better days that are expected in your home country. try to start right now! think positive and grit your teeth.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The way I understand your initial post, you were already married for over 2 years by the time you activated your IR-1 visa, so you are an (unconditional) permanent resident without having to remove conditions of your residency.

You can return to Australia at any time, could even ask the Australian consulate for help and they would forward you the money for the ticket, but your main issue are your children. As U.S. citizens, they are required to leave the U.S. with a U.S passport, and you won't get one without your husband's written permission. You could -- perhaps -- get them Australian passports (they all now have to obey to this: MUST READ! ) and make a run for it, but the U.S. embassy in Australia could still press charges against you for child abduction, which is not something you would want to deal with once being home down under again.

You are not eligible for means tested benefits as long as you have not been a resident for 5 years, but you will get them, and in the worst case scenario your husband -- being your sponsor -- will have to pay the government back for it.

Look . . . if you don't want to leave the U.S. without your children and without having to sneak out in the dark, you need a plan.

Try to find another pro-bono attorney again.

You will need money and for that you'll need a job.

Get your Green Card and passport back from your husband. If he tries to give you trouble, tell him that you will report him for document theft. Get a new SS card from the SSA. It's free of charge.

Get an Indiana driver's license.

Once you have made some money, you can fight better. Divorce him. Ask the judge for spousal and child support. Seek full custody of your children. If you do, you can take them with you!

If not, try to make a life in the U.S. Indiana wouldn't be my first, second, third . . . . . fiftieth choice, but you can't take the children across state lines or your husband can press charges against you.

Once you live in somewhat orderly conditions, reevaluate your situation. Worst case scenario is that you'll have to stay in the U.S. for 18 years. By then you may want to stay anyway. Take it one step at at time and stay focussed.

Become a U.S. citizen in 5 years.

Never give up, never surrender!

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.

Edited December 3, 2011 by Brother Hesekiel

[help :( 2]

i have alot of things scheduled for monday, including meeting with a lawyer to see if she will take my case, and filing for contempt of court against him for disposing of assets and failure to bring the children as scheduled.

my eldest son is dual citizen, both US and AU passports. the baby is only US as my husband refused to sign his paperwork, which is the problem. i contacted the embassy and they cant do alot to get me out of US without the baby's passport and AU citizenship

i will call around charities monday, if anyone knows of any to try first i would appreciate any guidance.

i have filed application for foodstamps, medicaid and TANF online, it says i should have a phone interview in up to 5 days, so if i can at least get the food situation taken care of i wont have to worry so much.

who do i file theft of documents with? police or immigration?

[Boiler 45,942]

Does not matter if they have or do not have their Australian Passports.

There is the Hague Convention on International Child Kidnapping, the US and Australia are both signatories.

I would report the issue to the Police.

Does not matter if they have or do not have their Australian Passports.

There is the Hague Convention on International Child Kidnapping, the US and Australia are both signatories.

I would report the issue to the Police.

Does not matter if they have or do not have their Australian Passports.

There is the Hague Convention on International Child Kidnapping, the US and Australia are both signatories.

I would report the issue to the Police.

Does not matter if they have or do not have their Australian Passports.

There is the Hague Convention on International Child Kidnapping, the US and Australia are both signatories.

I would report the issue to the Police.

[mr and mrs 187]

Never give up, never surrender!

amen to that. (and thanks for the correction about ROC.)

OP, im VERY glad you have meetings for monday! good girl! i think you are on your way to getting this sorted out.

[help :( 2]

amen to that. (and thanks for the correction about ROC.)

OP, im VERY glad you have meetings for monday! good girl! i think you are on your way to getting this sorted out.

sorry for late replies, gooling my eyes crossed right now

does anyone know how to find which attorney represented a case? there is a similar case last year in my state, id like to call whoever the attorney was

[help :( 2]

some good news, i found 2 attorneys that may take the case.

one cant help until january if i havent found anyone else, the other is getting back to me tomorrow, so fingers crossed ^^

also filed for foodstamps, and for contempt of court over the closed bank account (disposal of assets)

REALLY hoping things start turning around...but it is a relief i found such good advice here =)

[MalaysianGirl 26]

To OP: I'm really so sorry to read about your situation (in your initial post), but YAY for some things moving along and good updates! I don't have anything useful to add (sorry ) but I do wish you all the best and am thinking good thoughts for you and your children.

[mr and mrs 187]

[quote name=help ' timestamp='1323137527' post='5039247]REALLY hoping things start turning around...

you are the one making it happen!

but it is a relief i found such good advice here =)

im relieved that you have a computer with internet access and were able to ask for help. : )

A+ for today. im happy to know that you seem to have found some real hope. there's more to come!

[somsK! 0]

I don't know what to say.. but I read your stories. Good thing you have a connection with the internet to get help. Prayers for you..

[S and P 9]

http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/howard_county_assistance_progr.html

here is a link to some assistance programs in Howard County, there are food banks that may be able to help you out until you can get food stamps.

so sorry to hear of your situation, I pray for a positive outcome for for you and your children.