Living in Different Cities

[Roosterwife 0]

My husband and I have each just been offered amazing new jobs. Only problem is, the jobs are three hours apart and we would only be able to physically live together on the weekends. (I would rent a place in the new town during the week and come home on weekends.)

What implications do you think this will have on our interview in Miami? (Looking at timelines, I'm estimating our interview would be sometime in March, although we haven't got a date yet.) Our lawyer has said it would make our case open to greater scrutiny, but I'm not sure if we should take a chance and just accept the jobs (lots more money and excellent career prospects) or if we will truly be unlikely to be approved if they know that we live apart during the week?

Does anyone have any experiences of commuter marriages/Miami interviews to share? I'm anxious to hear from you as we have to make our decisions pretty quickly.

Thanks.

[edsperfect 25]

My husband and I have each just been offered amazing new jobs. Only problem is, the jobs are three hours apart and we would only be able to physically live together on the weekends. (I would rent a place in the new town during the week and come home on weekends.)

What implications do you think this will have on our interview in Miami? (Looking at timelines, I'm estimating our interview would be sometime in March, although we haven't got a date yet.) Our lawyer has said it would make our case open to greater scrutiny, but I'm not sure if we should take a chance and just accept the jobs (lots more money and excellent career prospects) or if we will truly be unlikely to be approved if they know that we live apart during the week?

Does anyone have any experiences of commuter marriages/Miami interviews to share? I'm anxious to hear from you as we have to make our decisions pretty quickly.

Thanks.

Aparently you didn't like the answer you got from yout lawyer? Man people don't but he is totally right. Furthermore it would appear that the relationship might be suspect as to having any strength at all if you are wiling to seperate for more money.

[tom&tata 2]

I do not have experience - just opinion.

I would say - there is possibility of more scrutiny. But you can back it up with other evidence to back up your marriage. Joint bank accounts/credit card accounts, joint assets, evidence of trips together, etc.

The lawyer should help you with the case - it is their job to spot possible issue & work to overcome it. Get a second opinion from another lawyer if I you are not comfortable with the current one.

There are people with jobs that require physical separations (truck drivers, off shore oil rig workers, etc) and just because you are married with an immigrant, you need to change jobs. Physical separation in marriage should not lead to automatic denial of AOS.

But again, just an opinion and I am not a lawyer. Good luck !

[jsnearline 2]

It may not be fair, but people in our situation have to live up to a higher standard than those whose marriages don't involve immigration benefits. We have to prove our marriages are bona fide, while couples where both spouses are US Citizens do not.

I'd get a second opinion, but if the lawyers are against it, I wouldn't risk your marriage and immigration status because of a job, no matter how well it pays.

I recently turned down a job offer because it would have required me to be apart from my wife three nights a week. We've been married for almost two years. Not only would it make it to gather evidence to remove conditions if we were apart, but I can't imagine being away from my wife for that long so soon after getting married. That's just my thought on it and I know other people have different opinions.

[zyggy 9]

If your lawyer is recommending against it.. I would follow their advice... you need to step back and look at the big picture...

I'm with jsnearline... what's more important to you.. a job or a better relationship with your spouse...

I'm sure there are plenty of good job prospects for each other either in the area where she will be going or you will be going, you just have to keep looking...

Life is full of trade-offs and priorities... what's yours...

Edited January 3, 2007 by zyggy

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Just an opinion here too, but I would be wary of that as well...after all you are apart the *majority* of the time, rather than the other way around. That could be suspect after so short a time into the marriage, and all the time and trouble and being apart it takes one to get here....no judgement here, just saying...good luck with your decision. M.

[Roosterwife 0]

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

[zsam 0]

My lawyer also says you need to really prove you are married if living in 2 separate cities. To be honest, your reason isn't bad but USCIs is USCIS.

I also have a 2-city situation but ours is super tough as I am the only one with a job since USCIS has not given my husband a work permit yet (has been over a year!). Also, I have been unable to find a job up north so far and I can't at all leave since I am the only one working and we really need my salary.

Unless you have great proof, pictures, mail, joint accounts, leases etc. be careful. I am praying our interview is okay since we are in such a bind! But I wish you the best of luck and certainly get second opinions. Run your story by your lawyer and see what they think.

[giraffemd 0]

Listen to your lawyer...When we were getting ready to go to our apointment for AOS, our lawyer noticed that my hubby's address on his DL was different that where we were living (we have a farm but live in the city), and so it looked like he had a different address, even though we had lots of mail coming to us and we were living at the same residence....the lawyer said that would be a big red flag...so we promptly got the DL changed...but they look at stuff like that with a fine tooth comb, even if you do have a good explaination....so I wouldn't risk it myself

[gumaz 0]

Thanks for asking this great question, the responses are really helpful. I have a slight twist to the scenario. My wife (USC) has received job offers and we are considering moving, but have not be called for the AOS interview. How do i handle this scenario, will moving before the interview slow down the process.

[song 0]

I just want to throw in another situation to consider. I think I read a posting in the past where a married couple lived in different cities because one spouse was working and the other was in college. So what about that arrangement? Is that more acceptable to USCIS than being apart for money? I can't remember if the couple's living arrangement affected their adjustment of status, but I do remember that VJ members wo replied with responses were more sympathetic to their situation because it had to do with being apart for school. Personally, I think being finacially secure is just as important in maintaining a good relationship. Most problems that occur in a marriage are a result of money problems. So if you've got the finances under control, wouldn't that make a marriage stronger? Obviously, we're discussing personal opinions here and USCIS probably uses a different standard to judge what's a valid marriage and what's not. I just wanted to put this out there because I think the OP was being judged too harshly for wanting to make a decision based on job/money. Sometimes that's the reality of life.

Edited January 4, 2007 by song

[zyggy 9]

I just want to throw in another situation to consider. I think I read a posting in the past where a married couple lived in different cities because one spouse was working and the other was in college. So what about that arrangement? Is that more acceptable to USCIS than being apart for money? I can't remember if the couple's living arrangement affected their adjustment of status, but I do remember that VJ members wo replied with responses were more sympathetic to their situation because it had to do with being apart for school. Personally, I think being finacially secure is just as important in maintaining a good relationship. Most problems that occur in a marriage are a result of money problems. So if you've got the finances under control, wouldn't that make a marriage stronger? Obviously, we're discussing personal opinions here and USCIS probably uses a different standard to judge what's a valid marriage and what's not. I just wanted to put this out there because I think the OP was being judged too harshly for wanting to make a decision based on job/money. Sometimes that's the reality of life.

Yes.. but living in seperate places with separate jobs looks like a marriage of convenience... definitely something that should be avoided at any cost...

People can always get jobs at their spouses location, transfer to other schools, etc... there are ways to be together and frankly the position and assumption is that couples want to be together.. to do otherwise requires a much higher bruden of proof....