Hello! I have a few questions and desperately need help. Plz take a min to read and maybe u can help...

[grrrrreat 109]

1. You don't need a waiver for illegal working. The only relevant ban is for people who claimed to be a U.S. citizen, and there's no waiver for that.

2. No, you have to be physically present in the home country for two years, or get a waiver. Sounds like you will have to apply for a waiver.

3. No, a valid passport is not required to adjust status but check at your home country's consulate or see if you can apply by mail. You may have to discuss applying for a waiver with your home country consulate anyway.

I want to apologize if I am doing this wrong. I tried to start a forum but I couldn't. So, I am posting my message here.

I am married to the US citizen. We are currently almost done preparing the I-130 and I-485 with all the required documents and I have just a few questions. If anyone could plz answer I will really appreciate it.

1. I have worked illegally in the past using a social security card that was given to me previously on J-1 work and travel program. I know I have to put that on my application. My question: Is there a waiver for my stupidity of working illegally? If yes, where can I find it? Is there a fee?

2. I used to be a J-1 student when I did an exchange program. It had the 2 year rule (the one that says that u have to go back home for 2 years.) Well, I went back home for a year and them went to college in Bulgaria. My residence was still back home. Does that mean I can count the years in Bulgaria towards the years of "being back home"?

3. My passport expires at the end of this year. Does it in any way matter to USCIS? There is no way I can go home and get a new one...

4. When all the forms and documents are ready, what is the best way of putting them all together? I read about people putting a cover letter and putting the pictures in plastic bags, etc. I just need some guidance 'cause seeing that stack of papers makes me lose my mind. And I am bad at organizing papers

Thank you all very much in advance! Please don't hesitate to answer even if you only know an answer to one of the above questions.

Sincerely,

June 29

[June 29 0]

1. You don't need a waiver for illegal working. The only relevant ban is for people who claimed to be a U.S. citizen, and there's no waiver for that.

2. No, you have to be physically present in the home country for two years, or get a waiver. Sounds like you will have to apply for a waiver.

3. No, a valid passport is not required to adjust status but check at your home country's consulate or see if you can apply by mail. You may have to discuss applying for a waiver with your home country consulate anyway.

Thank you! I am seeking a waiver from my government at the moment. I feel like it's going to take forever! And yesterday I found my other 2 DS forms that I was given when I came to the USA on work and travel. And it says on there that I was funded 4,000.00!!!! I called INTRAX (exchange programms company) and I asked them why does it say that I was funded 'cause I paid for everything myself! And they said it's not us who funded you, it's your employer. Now I am even more confused. Do I need a waiver from my employer too???

[June 29 0]

A few things came up again... Could you please guide me in the right direction with your advice on this:

Yesterday I found my other 2 DS forms that I was given when I came to the USA on work and travel. And it says on there that I was funded 4,000.00 (from a host company)!!!! And from what I know, if there is any kind of funding, it means I am a subject to 2 year home residency rule. I called INTRAX (exchange programms company http://www.intraxinc.com/about-intrax) and I asked them why does it say that I was funded 'cause I paid for everything myself! And they said it's not us who funded you, it's your employer. Now I am even more confused. Do I need a waiver from my employer too?

Also, I feel like the waiver from my government is going to either take forever or they will just refuse to give me one. I wrote a huge letter to them explaining everything. Now the counsel says he is going to mail it to Turkmenistan and from there we will see how it goes... I am so paranoid. And I was looking at my admissions letter from American University in Bulgaria. And it says that I was admitted as an Open Society Turkmen scholar on a full scholarship (more about OSI: http://www.soros.org/). I am thinking could that count towards the 2 year home residency rule?

Thank you all in advance!