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vilsde

Lawyer needed ???

By vilsde in US Citizenship General Discussion

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vilsde Contributor

vilsde   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted

I'm about to get merrid to US citizen ( we have been living together for over 3 years) do i need lawyer for all the paper work ??? .. or i can fill all those documets by my self (Form I-130, Form G-325A,Form I-485 )

Please advice.

raymaga Mentor

raymaga   25

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Without knowing any of the details of your case, it is difficult to advise you as to whether you should use an attorney or not. If your case is a simple one, a lawyer is usually not necessary.

The majority of people here on VJ did their own paperwork and got approved, myself included, with no problems. But, if you have some issues like overstays, criminal background problems or health issues, then a lawyer can sometimes help you sort out the details.

Are you currently in the U.S. with your fiance or are you living together in your home country? Are you here legally in the U.S. with some kind of visa and want to get married in the U.S.? If you could give us a bit more background information, we may be better able to help you.

Good luck.

"THE SHORT STORY"

KURT & RAYMA (K-1 Visa)

Oct. 9/03... I-129F sent to NSC

June 10/04... K-1 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

July 31/04... Entered U.S.

Aug. 28/04... WEDDING DAY!!!!

Aug. 30/04... I-485, I-765 & I-131 sent to Seattle

Dec. 10/04... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport stamped)

Sept. 9/06... I-751 sent to NSC

May 15/07... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Sept. 13/07... N-400 sent to NSC

Aug. 21/08... Interview - PASSED!!!!

Sept. 2/08... Oath Ceremony

Sept. 5/08... Sent in Voter Registration Card

Sept. 9/08... SSA office to change status to "U.S. citizen"

Oct. 8/08... Applied in person for U.S. Passport

Oct. 22/08... U.S. Passport received

DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!!

KAELY (K-2 Visa)

Apr. 6/05... DS-230, Part I faxed to Vancouver Consulate

May 26/05... K-2 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

Sept. 5/05... Entered U.S.

Sept. 7/05... I-485 & I-131 sent to CLB

Feb. 22/06... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport NOT stamped)

Dec. 4/07... I-751 sent to NSC

May 23/08... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Mar. 22/11.... N-400 sent to AZ

June 27/11..... Interview - PASSED!!!

July 12/11..... Oath Ceremony

We're NOT lawyers.... just your average folks who had to find their own way!!!!! Anything we post here is simply our own opinions/suggestions/experiences and should not be taken as LAW!!!!

vilsde Contributor

vilsde   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Well...I guess my case is not that simple...I overstayed my tourist visa but I came here to US legally long time ago so im currently here in US illegally .. but I have legal SS also I pay my taxes every year since I came here ….any way my fiancé just become US citizen so we decided to get married and try to get my status straight. I have downloaded samples of first documents that we have to fill out and I don’t see any major problems filling those but since I overstayed my visa (by more then 12 years ..wow) I guess I better get a lawyer.

Please advice anyway.

riblet Proficient

riblet   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I would definitely get a lawyer. How do you have a social security number if you came here as a tourist? It sounds like in addition to your very long overstay, there is the issue that you have been working illegally. Sounds complicated, and I would definitely get legal advice.

Sandy

Michael's I-130:

NOA1: 5-10-2006----updated w/ citizenship: 9-25-06----had to call back 10/25, touch 10/26

12/06/06 - Approved!- - - 12/08/06 - Touch---01/25/07 - Touch

I130 at NVC

12/14/06 - case number assigned

12/25/06 - DS3032 & AOS Fee Bill Mailed (phone system updated 12/27)

12/27/06 - emailed choice of agent; 12/29/06 - received email from NVC confirming choice of agent!

01/01/07 - NVC generated IV Fee Bill (postmarked 1/17 though!)

01/03/07 - returned AoS Fee Bill via Priority Mail (James' shortcut)

01/15/07 - NVC generated AOS package

01/22/07 - received IV Fee Bill - overnighted back to NVC same day

01/27/07 - recieved I864 package; 01/29/07 - overnighted I864 to NVC

01/29/07 - DS230 generated (phone system not updated, email response 2/5/07)

02/05/07 - mailed DS-230 to NVC via express mail

02/20/07 - CASE COMPLETE!!

04/18/07 - INTERVIEW!!!! - APPROVED!!!!

Michael's K-3:

09/28/06 - NOA1

1/25/07 - approved ...NOA2 via snail mail - 1/29/07

03/16/07 - chose not to return packet 3 to Montreal

Satellite Proficient

Satellite   1

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Overstays, no matter how long, are forgiven when adjustment of status is based on marriage to a USC INA§245(c ). If that is your only outstanding issue a lawyer is going to be a waste of money.

Edited by Satellite
vilsde Contributor

vilsde   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
  • Author
Posted
Overstays, no matter how long, are forgiven when adjustment of status is based on marriage to a USC INA§245(c ). If that is your only outstanding issue a lawyer is going to be a waste of money.

Thx for advice...but what other issues i could have ? ...other then overstaying , please give me some examples .

Thanks.

Satellite Proficient

Satellite   1

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

Criminal record. Drug abuse. Habitual drunkard. Basically anything that would make you inadmissible.

Here is a more detailed list. First thing to come up on my search engine. I am not an advocate of this site.

http://www.visalaw.com/05apr1/2apr105.html

riblet Proficient

riblet   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Isn't working without work authorization a crime? Unless you happen to somehow have work authorization. If you don't want to go to a lawyer, then by all means, it's your decision. Good luck with everything.

Sandy

Michael's I-130:

NOA1: 5-10-2006----updated w/ citizenship: 9-25-06----had to call back 10/25, touch 10/26

12/06/06 - Approved!- - - 12/08/06 - Touch---01/25/07 - Touch

I130 at NVC

12/14/06 - case number assigned

12/25/06 - DS3032 & AOS Fee Bill Mailed (phone system updated 12/27)

12/27/06 - emailed choice of agent; 12/29/06 - received email from NVC confirming choice of agent!

01/01/07 - NVC generated IV Fee Bill (postmarked 1/17 though!)

01/03/07 - returned AoS Fee Bill via Priority Mail (James' shortcut)

01/15/07 - NVC generated AOS package

01/22/07 - received IV Fee Bill - overnighted back to NVC same day

01/27/07 - recieved I864 package; 01/29/07 - overnighted I864 to NVC

01/29/07 - DS230 generated (phone system not updated, email response 2/5/07)

02/05/07 - mailed DS-230 to NVC via express mail

02/20/07 - CASE COMPLETE!!

04/18/07 - INTERVIEW!!!! - APPROVED!!!!

Michael's K-3:

09/28/06 - NOA1

1/25/07 - approved ...NOA2 via snail mail - 1/29/07

03/16/07 - chose not to return packet 3 to Montreal

Satellite Proficient

Satellite   1

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
Isn't working without work authorization a crime?
Working without authorization can be considered from two aspects.

1. As an immigration violation it is a civil wrong. It too is forgiven upon adjustment of status through marriage to a USC. Since all immigration violations are civil it by definition is not criminal in nature.

2. Working without authorization can go hand in hand with not paying taxes. Now that can carry criminal consequences. For example tax evasion is a Crime of Moral Turpitude in terms of moral character for naturalization, bond hearing or cancellation of of removal.

riblet Proficient

riblet   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Interesting, thanks!

Sandy

Michael's I-130:

NOA1: 5-10-2006----updated w/ citizenship: 9-25-06----had to call back 10/25, touch 10/26

12/06/06 - Approved!- - - 12/08/06 - Touch---01/25/07 - Touch

I130 at NVC

12/14/06 - case number assigned

12/25/06 - DS3032 & AOS Fee Bill Mailed (phone system updated 12/27)

12/27/06 - emailed choice of agent; 12/29/06 - received email from NVC confirming choice of agent!

01/01/07 - NVC generated IV Fee Bill (postmarked 1/17 though!)

01/03/07 - returned AoS Fee Bill via Priority Mail (James' shortcut)

01/15/07 - NVC generated AOS package

01/22/07 - received IV Fee Bill - overnighted back to NVC same day

01/27/07 - recieved I864 package; 01/29/07 - overnighted I864 to NVC

01/29/07 - DS230 generated (phone system not updated, email response 2/5/07)

02/05/07 - mailed DS-230 to NVC via express mail

02/20/07 - CASE COMPLETE!!

04/18/07 - INTERVIEW!!!! - APPROVED!!!!

Michael's K-3:

09/28/06 - NOA1

1/25/07 - approved ...NOA2 via snail mail - 1/29/07

03/16/07 - chose not to return packet 3 to Montreal

vilsde Contributor

vilsde   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
  • Author
Posted
Criminal record. Drug abuse. Habitual drunkard. Basically anything that would make you inadmissible.

Here is a more detailed list. First thing to come up on my search engine. I am not an advocate of this site.

http://www.visalaw.com/05apr1/2apr105.html

Satellite ...thx for all the answers ...any way - i dont have any other issues like that , i just overstayed ...what is the charge for that ? when this should be paid ? "(Overstays, no matter how long, are forgiven when adjustment of status is based on marriage to a USC"

I'm kind new to all this stuff and im tring get some helpfull info here.

Thx again

 
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