Recently married.......now what?

[no1ncf 0]

ok, I am new to all this stuff! So plz bear with me! I do NOT want to break any rules, lie about anything, or misrepresent anything to those who will make decisions about our future. With that being said, plz allow me a few moments to explain some details.

I met my Mrs. in the end of June 2012, and married in December. Her visit expired in August. She told me that she had a Tax ID, and was working.......although I found out later that she was not supposed to work while here on a tourist visa. We spoke to an immigration lawyer (on a free consultation) last fall, and he told us to go ahead and get married. Then come see him in six months to start the proceedings.

I found out last month that she also has a SSN (from a company that makes them available), which is on her W-2......and now in the IRS's hands. My impression is now the government is aware of this SSN and it is attached to her name from a searchable database.

I have several concerns, and request any advise / recommendations you folks could provide.

1. Do I need to be worried about this SSN?

2. Am I to begin with an I-130 (is the Mrs now considered a relative)?

3. Does she need to go back to her home country, and have me request a spouse visa?

4. Is the whole "working on a tourist visa" thing grounds for immigration to deport her?

5. Is it worth the $$$$ to get the immigration attorney? Is there a list (by state) that anyone could recommend?

Any / All advise is Greatly appreciated!!

B~

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Here is the VJ guide for adjusting status for a spouse currently in the US, http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Plain old vanilla illegal work is forgiven/irrelevant for spouses of USCS. However, stealing a SSN or claiming to be a USC anywhere (possibly what she did to be able to work without showing immigration stuff) can be a lifetime ban from the US. They will know what she did and will act accordingly.

[UK2ATL 9]

"from a company that makes them available" sounds very suspicious to me as the only "company" you can legally get a SSN is the Social Security Administration. They would not issue one on a travel visa.

M

[UK2ATL 9]

*oops double post*

Edited February 22, 2013 by UK2ATL

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yep, the wife used some sort of scam/fake documents company. If the SSN is a USC's, she is in for trouble.

Personally, I would have thought twice about marrying someone who would do this, but oh well...

[no1ncf 0]

Thx Folks!!

Yes, I am not as concerned with the work per-say......as I am with the SSN# Yes, supposedly there are companies here in the US that provide #'s for those requesting them in that manner. From my understanding the number is not bound to any citizen, and it is a ghost number. But it is still associated with the Mrs now in the eyes of the IRS (at least). I am not sure there is any way around this...... Any truthful way.

And in regards to marrying someone who would do this, I just found out. I knew she was here on a Tourist Visa and working, but didn't find out about the SSN until Jan (married in Dec).