Completely Lost :/

[LizLovesFlor 11]

My questions:

Where do I start on this site? I was told there was a checklist sort of thing.

How do we find out what kind of visa/work permit my husband has?

Does my husband letting his work permit lapse mess us over?

Will my husband having two DUIs require us to have to hire an attorney?

As it was said before, his case is complex because:

He came here illegally.

Somehow some way there is a relationship between him and the USCIS already because he was receiving an Employment Authorization Card which to my knowledge is only giving to people who are waiting for their Permanent Residence to be approved. ( ask your husband, what application was filed for him in the past)

And because of the DUIs, I think you need at the very least to speak to an attorney.

I came into an attorney's office thinking that I had the most complex and impossible case ever, and she gave me the confidence that it wasn't so bad so I did the process on my own.

She even gave me a lesser price because she knew I couldn't really afford to pay a lawyer but told me she thinks I could do it on my own. She literally wrote out a guideline about what to file, how much it would cost, what evidence to include etc. so far so good as my case status is not at interview scheduling.

So, I think you should at least go for a 1 hour consultation with an attorney. Bring all your documents and I guess his mom? Or make sure you understand what was really done in the past so you can explain it to the attorney. I paid $75 for my consultation. It's priceless when you get to really understand what applications are which and what is the best step for you.

Goodluck!

Edited May 2, 2013 by LizLovesFlor

[LizLovesFlor 11]

Also I never heard of a problem when someone doesn't renew their EAD card( only if the employer asks for it) they just renew it whenever they get to it and that's it( for employment purposes only) if you are currently working they advise you to apply 3 months before the expiration so it gets there on time b4 the other one expires (and there's a grace period)

I think there is some confusion over what card or status actually "lapsed"

Could it be a previous GC, visa, that lapsed?

[belinda63 3,038]

Either he is a citizen or he isn't. Obviously he isn't because he needs to apply to get a green card. So he did not obtain citizenship from his mother. If he had a "work permit" there must have been some sort of visa filing for him at some time. They don't just hand out "work permits" on the street corner. If he had a ten year green card and did not renew it, no problem, he can do that. All of this is unlikely since you say he came to the US illegally. Small chance his mother might have file for him under the amnesty program back around 2000.

First you need to find out about this "work permit". Ask to see it. Find out what it really is. Then maybe we can give you more direction.

[Shiobhan 235]

I have heard people referred to GC as work permit, take the expired card along with

mothers and his documents and verify his status, an old card with no expiration date

is no longer good if its expired it has to be renewed, at some point he was alright

with uscis, find out what was/is his status, they may just be confused, some immigrants

never really assimilate and stay in their world and friends that sometimes spins a lot

of rumors and nonsense and lose out on their rights, as to the DUI ask an attorney too.

[Hypnos 6,576]

If he EWI then he has no status to adjust from and so will not be able to obtain a green card from within the US.

It sounds as if the new I-601A provisional waiver would be able to help him, and you can file that from within the US, wait for its approval, and then interview at a foreign embassy in order to obtain an immigrant visa which, once you enter the US using it, immediately grants a green card.

The advice about posting on immigrate2us.net is solid, and I would also talk to several attorneys and get their take on it, also.

[vands7686 0]

Go register at immigrate2us and read some threads over also ask questions

they will need some info to give you answers ... R U calling an old GC permit??.good luck

A green card and a workers' permit are different. With a green card you are allowed to travel outside of the US and return; with a workers' permit you can leave the US but you are not allowed to return.

[vands7686 0]

As it was said before, his case is complex because:

He came here illegally.

Somehow some way there is a relationship between him and the USCIS already because he was receiving an Employment Authorization Card which to my knowledge is only giving to people who are waiting for their Permanent Residence to be approved. ( ask your husband, what application was filed for him in the past)

And because of the DUIs, I think you need at the very least to speak to an attorney.

I came into an attorney's office thinking that I had the most complex and impossible case ever, and she gave me the confidence that it wasn't so bad so I did the process on my own.

She even gave me a lesser price because she knew I couldn't really afford to pay a lawyer but told me she thinks I could do it on my own. She literally wrote out a guideline about what to file, how much it would cost, what evidence to include etc. so far so good as my case status is not at interview scheduling.

So, I think you should at least go for a 1 hour consultation with an attorney. Bring all your documents and I guess his mom? Or make sure you understand what was really done in the past so you can explain it to the attorney. I paid $75 for my consultation. It's priceless when you get to really understand what applications are which and what is the best step for you.

Goodluck!

I was asking my husband questions about all of this since I'm so lost but he's just as lost as I am. He said that his mom has done all of the paper work for him even when he got his workers' permit (Employment Autherization Card). He told me to ask his mom all the questions but with our work schedules it has been difficutl get enought time with her to figure things out.

With the DUI issue I thought we would need a lawyer too but I was told by several people that are working on the immigration process that since his DUIs from a long time ago aren't felonies we shouldn't need a lawyer. So, i figured since we heard such great things about how helpfull this site is we'd try and figure it out on our own before going to an attorney since funds are tight. Sounds like from all of you though that I just need to find a way for me, my husband, and my mother-in-law to go see an attorney for a consult.

[vands7686 0]

Also I never heard of a problem when someone doesn't renew their EAD card( only if the employer asks for it) they just renew it whenever they get to it and that's it( for employment purposes only) if you are currently working they advise you to apply 3 months before the expiration so it gets there on time b4 the other one expires (and there's a grace period)

I think there is some confusion over what card or status actually "lapsed"

Could it be a previous GC, visa, that lapsed?

I'm not worried about his workers' permit because of his job, he has been working at the same place for about 8 years now and is doing really well. I am only worried about his workers' permit because I have a fear that if he were to get in trouble they would deport him. This may not be the case but this is a huge reason why I want to get started on getting him a green card.

From my knowledge, he has never had a green card or visa (and I have no idea what the difference between those are besides that with a green card you can travel in and out of the US)

[Boiler 45,581]

Sounds like he got a GC through the last amnesty.

But without facts, no point talking or posting anywhere.

Edited May 3, 2013 by Boiler

[Shiobhan 235]

Sounds like he got a GC through the last amnesty.

But without facts, no point talking or posting anywhere.

Ditto

[kandy4ivan 0]

I too am lost I am not sure where my fiance goes for his interview he lives in the State of Mexico. Does he go to Juarez or is there a US Consulate in Mexico City. Or where does he go for his visa? Please help me get unconfused.

[Boiler 45,581]

CDJ