Overstayers, share your experience here.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

sanaay

It will never happen.... too many people who only see their way as being the right way.... and are too willing to jump on threads if they think what the person is/has done is wrong... even if USCIS allows it....

Kezzie

p.s fully paid up member of the grandparents club... so well over 30.... haha ha

[meauxna 15]

You are probably 30 if not more and you didn't have to do this when you were younger, not as young as us at least.

Did I hear a glove thrown down? Why Meaxna, I believe you're not a day over 29.

(Maria -- this is all in good fun -- I'm not making light of *your* age or immigration experience.)

hmmm, I think my 29th might've indeed been the last birthday I acknowledged.....

Maria: I hope you and your husband can talk about some of your feelings. It sounds like it's very upsetting to you to move right now. I really hope everything works out well.

sanaay: I agree the thread went totally out of control. I don't think there's anything to discuss on the overstay issue... If I were an overstay, no way I'd expose myself to what people here have to say. And, there's nothing to discuss, other than "I'm nervous!", answered with "You'll be OK!". There's nothing additional overstayers can do to mitigate their situation and every one of the many experiences I've read show that the overstay is not an issue at the AOS interview. Not even a scolding.

[sweetestcherry 0]

I was just making my point....as you said immigration rules are pretty tough and they're not a joke. Believe me, I am tired of dealing with this. My life is controlled, our life is controlled, we need to prove this, we need to prove that. You have no privacy, everything you do as a couple needs to be documentated. Sometimes it feels like I'm a prison or something. And most of these things affect the marriage too. I see a lot of couples here in Italy and they live normally, the way wo should but we CAN'T because immigration is always right by our side to keep our company. I have never killed anybody, I have never committed a crime or anything like that. I love to respect people and I love to be respected by them, I am just a normal person....and still I am asking myself why I need to report everything I do to them like I am in jail.

You make it seem as if Immigration is purposely picking on you only, when in reality, all they're doing is making sure you and every other immigrant that comes here follows the law and does so for the right reasons/purposes, and not to get immigration benefits only.

You should not complain and blame the Agency for being how they are and doing things the way they do, but should instead complain and blame the thousands of immigrants that come here with ulterior motives and/or purposely try to circumvent US immigration laws to their advantage, for example by marrying USCs fraudulently or using/abusing Immigration laws to their favor, thus being the ones really making things harder, lengthier and frustrating for legit immigrants such as yourself.

I don't really think that's a fair statement at all. Regardless of the motives behind why the Agency monitors each of us, and the fact that they do it to everyone, Maria is completely valid in how she feels. My husband (from N. Ireland) often feels the same way, to the point where he almost feels imprisoned in a country that he's dreamt of since he was a little boy.

And let's be honest here: how much good are all of the laws and regulations really doing if more people than ever before are illegally immigrating to the United States? And if the "good guys" (and I use that term loosely) are finding it harder and harder and more ridiculously expensive to complete the US Immigration process legally?

Look, I don't have the solution to illegal immigration and I certainly won't pretend that I do. But clearly, what we're working with currently does not appear to be accomplishing what the government had intended. I think what scares me even more is this growing anti-immigrant sentiment that seems to populating a lot of the US these days. It makes me sick.

Edited February 28, 2006 by sweetestcherry

[maria_b84 0]

Yep thats what I meant. Probably they felt so free that they didn't need to blame it on immigration. Well lucky them! They're YOUNG and even FREE good for you guys

Good luck even if you don't need at all...

Maria

[dmartmar 1]

Do you work for the USCIS? I don't know why you're so angry that I'm complaining then.....that can be the only explanation, plus the fact that you don't have aeither any timeline or information on your profile....

I am not angry at you for complaining at them. I am just stating that you being angry at them has no justification. Frustrated at the way they do things? Yes, that I can give you credit for. But being angry at them b/c of other immigrant's fault has no validity.

And I have my reasons for not including my timeline, which do not concern you. My situation is and was very different than yours.

Anyways, if you could stop being against me, that would help. Thanks.

I am not against you. You seem to be against me AND the Agency.

Good luck!

Edited March 2, 2006 by dmartmar

[maria_b84 0]

Well the fact that I am frustrating and angry (as you said) at the Agency is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS as well, so go make a comment somewhere else and LEAVE ME ALONE.

And yes, I am against you if that makes you feel good. Good luck to you too You do a good job investigating

Maria

[grida 0]

Please don't pass judgement on people who overstayed their visa. Most of the time there were reasons behind it. I didn't find out about my status till I figured out that my former employer and immigration lawyer totally messed my H1B. I was convinced that everything was good until I found out later that they haven't been doing what they said they did.

As for the document from uscis regarding overstay and unauthorized employment, here is the link to the document http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/LPReligibility.htm and I quoted that particular section below:

If "otherwise eligible" to immigrate to the U.S., immediate relatives may adjust status to LPR (get a "green card") in the United States even if they may have done any of the following:

* worked without permission,

* remained in the U.S. past the period of lawful admission (e.g., past the expiration date on your I-94) and filed for adjustment of status while in an unlawful status because of that,

* failed otherwise to maintain lawful status and with the proper immigration documentation, or

* have been admitted as a visitor without a visa under sections 212(l) or 217 of the Act (which are the 15-day admission under the Guam visa waiver program and the 90-day admission under the Visa Waiver Program, respectively).

Please note: If a person came into the U.S. illegally, that person is barred from adjusting their status to LPR (cannot obtain a green card) even if he or she marries a U.S. citizen or otherwise becomes an immediate relative. An immediate relative must meet the eligibility requirement of being “inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States.”

Hope this helps.

-fic

This is interesting.

So- does it mean that: if someone e.g. worked illegally while was legally in US - and e.g. met spouse while was working illlegally - can this person admit that worked illegally in front of immigration officer - personally I don't think so.

For me - telling immigration officer that you worked illegaly equals deportation.

I wonder how is that.

I would want to hear more opinions.

[meauxna 15]

This is interesting.

So- does it mean that: if someone e.g. worked illegally while was legally in US - and e.g. met spouse while was working illlegally - can this person admit that worked illegally in front of immigration officer - personally I don't think so.

I've read multiple posts over the years from people who did just that. They're happy PRs now.

[grida 0]

This is interesting.

So- does it mean that: if someone e.g. worked illegally while was legally in US - and e.g. met spouse while was working illlegally - can this person admit that worked illegally in front of immigration officer - personally I don't think so.

I've read multiple posts over the years from people who did just that. They're happy PRs now.

You mean they did just that - meaning admiting immigration that they worked illeagally?

[Kez/JWolf 6]

It is forgiven at interview if you are up front about it..... if you hide it and they know about it they will look to see what else you might be hiding from them... much better to be truthful and get it forgiven...

Kezzie

[meauxna 15]

This is interesting.

So- does it mean that: if someone e.g. worked illegally while was legally in US - and e.g. met spouse while was working illlegally - can this person admit that worked illegally in front of immigration officer - personally I don't think so.

I've read multiple posts over the years from people who did just that. They're happy PRs now.

You mean they did just that - meaning admiting immigration that they worked illeagally?

I mean exactly that. Here's one: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showpost.ph...41&postcount=15

[notrepetiteashley 0]

My husband came from Canada with NO visa, they border guards just let him in and we discussed our situation with USCIS many, many times. The minute he came to this country (we were already married) we went to USCIS and they said he could stay and do AOS because we had filed the 1-130 from Canada.

Now, the fun part: After calling USCIS phone reps AND officers themselves and receiving the info that he was still in status, one fine day we found out he had actually been out of status for nearly 2 years! Why would USCIS over and over again tell us we were fine when I, paranoid, called to make certain? My husband became out of status because USCIS told us he was in status and he wasn't. Does that make us bad people? No.

There are always exceptions to the rule. If USCIS forgives certain things at the AOS interview, they have their reasons. If people think the laws of this country are so important, then respect them, including the one that says overstay is forgiven! If you don't like it, this is the most passive aggressive place to state so. Talk to your congressperson. Arguing on a website does nothing.

Personally, I'd like to hear people's actual *experiences* no more of this debating the right/wrongness of a law that EXISTS anyway.

[friedicecream123 0]

ashleycraigen,

I was the one that started this topic but resigned not long after because some comments here actually stressed me out even more while already being stressed out thinking about my fast approaching interview. Now that I am done with my interview and was approved, I would like to share my experience and hope it would help some people.

The interview was really easy. I think the officer could tell right away if you are a legitimate couple or not.

Under USCIS status of my I-485 form, I wrote OVERSTAY in capital letters and when I saw the officer going through that form and I could see the "OVERSTAY" and I am sure she could too but she didn't mention a thing about it. Same with "current employment", I wrote down my current employment with a start date before I received my EAD and that was not mentioned by her either.

So, my advice is to be truthful about your status and not hide any information and you should be ok.

Good luck everyone!

PS: Ashleycraigen, I graduated at U of Iowa and lived in Des Moines for 2 months for a summer internship. My husband is originally from Iowa and we are visiting IA in 2 weeks before visiting my parents in Asia for 6 months. I'm glad to see a "fellow" Iowan on this board.

Edited March 31, 2006 by friedicecream123

[notrepetiteashley 0]

ashleycraigen,

I was the one that started this topic but resigned not long after because some comments here actually stressed me out even more while already being stressed out thinking about my fast approaching interview. Now that I am done with my interview and was approved, I would like to share my experience and hope it would help some people.

The interview was really easy. I think the officer could tell right away if you are a legitimate couple or not.

Under USCIS status of my I-485 form, I wrote OVERSTAY in capital letters and when I saw the officer going through that form and I could see the "OVERSTAY" and I am sure she could too but she didn't mention a thing about it. Same with "current employment", I wrote down my current employment with a start date before I received my EAD and that was not mentioned by her either.

So, my advice is to be truthful about your status and not hide any information and you should be ok.

Good luck everyone!

PS: Ashleycraigen, I graduated at U of Iowa and lived in Des Moines for 2 months for a summer internship. My husband is originally from Iowa and we are visiting IA in 2 weeks before visiting my parents in Asia for 6 months. I'm glad to see a "fellow" Iowan on this board.

Yay for Iowa! hehe. Congrats on your approval and thanks so much for the insight!!! much love to you all.

[wvnurse 1]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum, and I cant believe some of the attitudes here. I just wanted a little support. Thank you Kezzie for your opinions. My husband is a 4 year overstay from Africa. He entered into this country leagally. We married in December after having dated for 2 years. We filed for his AOS in Feb. I want to ask Stinger a question. What if...he/she met and fell in love with their spouse and found out that person was a visa overstay? Would you shun them or do everything in your power to allow this person to stay in this country? Dont forget some of our loved ones have suffered much in their home countries. Many are from third world countries, who have grown up with knowing what is like to go to bed hungry, and have not had may of the things that even the poorest of Americans have had. My husband is a wonderful man, has never been in trouble, never broken a law, except for this overstay. Yes, he was quite honest with me about his overstay and told me after a few months of dating, and it never made a diffrence to me. I just know we will do what we have to do to keep him here legally. I urge Stinger to have some compassion for his fellow man.

Christine