Screwed up big time

[TracyLuis 0]

The immigration process is not cheap. It's emotionally, mentally, and financially very costly.

Do your research, Pleh. Visa Journey is an invaluable resource. You'll find answers here to almost all your questions.

Buena Suerte!!!

[riblet 0]

I'm pretty sure some people on here have talked about free or low cost consultations with attorneys, so you might want to look into that.

Also just think about how much more money you will have once you can legally work! I'm sure it's costing you a lot more, financially and emotionally, to be unable to work right now.

[cdancer 0]

being a canadian travel agent....effective the 23 January 2007...Canadian or Americans will need

a "valid passport" to cross the border...so if you only have a Canadian Birth Certificate and your

drivers licence you are good to go back to Canada at this time no problem! If you arrive in Canada

prior to the 23 Jan 2007

you can arrange for a passport in Canada, takes about 2 weeks to get a passport. If you stay in the

USA, you can go to the nearest Canadian Consulate obtain one! I really don't think its a problem

going back to Canada no matter how long you have stayed in the USA as you are dealing with

'CANADIAN CUSTOMS" NOT USA CUSTOMS!

I don't thinks its all that bad..you just have to deal with it in the right manor!

good luck!

Denise

[payxibka 10,047]

being a canadian travel agent....effective the 23 January 2007...Canadian or Americans will need

a "valid passport" to cross the border...

by AIR, land crossings are still not affected until later

[Yodrak 7]

Denise,

You should know the difference between Customs and Immigration ......

Yodrak

being a canadian travel agent.........

Denise

Edited December 8, 2006 by Yodrak

[cdancer 0]

correction CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATIONS! HOW'S THAT?

[cdancer 0]

OH AND DRIVING ACROSS THE BORDER IN PROBABLY YOUR EASIEST BET!

[riblet 0]

I wouldn't go back to Canada unless your lawyer thinks it's necessary - if you do be prepared to be separated for at least 6 months. Or look into having your wife move to Canada, but I don't think that's much faster.

Good luck again.

[payxibka 10,047]

correction CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATIONS! HOW'S THAT?

Edited December 8, 2006 by fwaguy

[kitkat1 5]

being a canadian travel agent....effective the 23 January 2007...Canadian or Americans will need

a "valid passport" to cross the border...so if you only have a Canadian Birth Certificate and your

drivers licence you are good to go back to Canada at this time no problem!

And if you go back to Canada, you will not be allowed back into the US until you have an approved I-130 and have filed a waiver to forgive the overstay. Obviously this is not how you want to approach it.

Better to consult with an attorney regarding how to adjust your status in the US. Your illegal work will be forgiven via marriage to a USC. The only other issue you will need to deal with is getting your Canadian passport while in the US. Since there are consulates all over the country, this should not be a big issue or stumbling block. Yes, correcting your immigration status in the US costs money and patience.

[Yodrak 7]

Denise,

One 'S' too many.

Yodrak

correction CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATIONS! HOW'S THAT?

[cessna_inspiron 0]

I suppose its possible you could adjust without problems. I would seek a qualified immigration attorney to help me, though, or just go back to Canada with your wife.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

How in the name of God do you find a qualified lawyer in, for say, New York City, NY, where I live? How can i be sure that the lawyer in question has helped people like the canadian guy before and was successful? How do I entirely rely on him and stop worrying about this and that related to immigration? I am afraid of talking to lawyers. everytime i visit one, i just think he is lying and giving me false hope, no matter how hard he tries to convince me by saying that he has done it a lot of times and how many times he wants to show me proofs of his previous cases. May be i am suffering from extreme paranoia, but again i don't dare to even dream of completing the forms and doing all the work myself, although i will confidently claim that i do have what it takes to do the work of a lawyer in marriage-based immigration related cases. If the thingy isn't approved by the government, will i be able to sue the lawyer or ask him to take next necessary steps or appeal or tell him to give me back my money? i bet these questions have struck newbies like me a million times.

But one thing for sure. If you really can't find a qualified lawyer, then simply don't go ahead. Fake crooked lawyers without valid licenses and experience can entirely wipe out your future in the US. I don't have a rough and bitter experience yet since I have never tried to be an immigrant in the US, but i have seen my relatives who put their trust on unreliable people who falsely claimed they were lawyers and lost thousands and thousands of dollars in the process. One of the crook is in jail now

[cessna_inspiron 0]

I just looked into the forms for the I-130 and the I-485. Apparently it will come to around 500 dollars and then god only knows how much it will be for the lawyer.. ####### what have I gotten myself into :/

Oh ####### 500 dollars only? ####### Is that a lot of money? ####### what do you do? ####### I have seen so many people in NYC do crappy illegal job in perfume stores and earn a ####### load of money as salary and add to that commission, benefits etc. ####### so many illegal people in USA use other people's social security number and earn a ####### load of money too! The permission to legally remain and work in the USA itself is worth more a billion dollars. US is the most powerful, richest and strongest country with a strong economy and her education, culture, fashion, langauge accent, movies, actors and actresses, technology are envied and mimicked in numerous first world, middle-eastern and third class countries as well. My Aunt in Finland is teaching her kids to speak in American English so that someday they could come to America and get admission into schools without confronting too much problems and language barricade.

And speaking of your 500 dollars...I believe (although i am not sure) that the money will be spent on conducting investigation on you, your wife, her records, employment, bills, tax etc etc and come on! the immigration people are human too and they need to get paid for what they do. I have been to 27 countries so far including USA and in each visa interview everyone starting from the cops standing guard at the gates to the interviewer were happy with me in every ways since I did pay my honest respect to their cause, which made their work easier.

Respect the country you want to live in, respect her citizens and respect her laws. How would you feel if you are not getting paid for what you are doing?

[cessna_inspiron 0]

Thanks alot guys! I have another question. Let's say I was walking the street and a police officer pulls over and asks me for information or whatever in a routine check, when I show him that I only have a Canadian ID would I have to goto jail and then be deported after jail time for being illegal? Also, would the amount of time ive been here show up in their computers?

I used to give a f about cops long time ago but nowadays whenever i see them i feel tired and if they ask me for any ID i just tell them "my ID is in my home. let's go to my home with me and you will stand downstairs and i will go upstairs and bring the ID back to you" (i did this thrice so far LOL) and upon hearing this and having a close look at my face, they say alright. But i wanna ask you...why do you think the police officer will pull you over? do you drive a car illegally also? lol...well and if you dont, then are you implying that you are committing any crime now? Cause in NYC they will ask you for your ID only if you have gotten yourself into something that involves a crime

[kitkat1 5]

How in the name of God do you find a qualified lawyer in, for say, New York City, NY, where I live?

You do your research. Start with the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Bar Association to get referrals and check backgrounds. Interview them. Ask questions. Then, make an educated, informed decision. Just like anything else in life.