Need advice & probably help. Just got a call and am now worried about my new family.

[PallasAthena 101]

The reason why people keep bringing up the school issue is because the question of whether or not the son attended school WILL come up. You mentioned "First, I have been paying school taxes for 25 years before I had any children. So, I think I am paid up ;)" NO, it doesn't work that way nor does it matter whether you paid your taxes or not. This doesn't excuse the fact that your step son is in school without the proper visa.

Now, the fact that you said it's a private school and not public, I'm not sure how that will play out. You might be "safer" there. But keep in mind, the question WILL come up.

You can use the guides here and adjust their statuses. If you feel more comfortable retaining an attorney, then shop around. Many give free first time consultations.

Best of luck!

[PallasAthena 101]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Edited April 15, 2014 by SofiaIsabella

[christeen 966]

You can probably save some money and read the guides here for AOS ... Many thousands here have done it on their own... But I would file ASAP. The grandmother visa is a different story, she must apply on her own merits and the chances of getti g a visa are slim. But I would not have her apply until you have filed for AOS, don't announce they are here illegially ...

[belinda63 3,047]

The length of time a person can remain in the US on a tourist visa is determined by the date on the I-94. They may get six months, they may get six weeks; it depends on what was written on the I-94 when they arrived. A 10-year tourist visa doesn't mean they can come and stay for 10 years.

Your son needs a student visa if he is attending school, either private or public. He should not be attending on a tourist visa as a tourist visa is for visiting not attending school.

The newborn is safe from deportation since it is a USC. The wife and step-son are subject to detention and deportation at any time. Best that can happen is you file their papers and it goes through with flying colors. Next to worst thing that can happen is one or both of them are picked up, detained, sent before an immigration judge, and ordered to file to adjust status by a certain date.

If at any time on any form your wife or step-son claimed US citizenship this could be a very big problem.

Mom has to qualify for a tourist visa on her own, there is nothing you can do to help her. I would not recommend her filing for a tourist visa now with her daughter and grandson illegally in the US.

If you do not make at least 125% of the poverty income for your household size you will need an additional sponsor.

[PallasAthena 101]

In addition to what Belinda said, and correct me if I am wrong, adjustment of status is a relatively quick process. It could take 3 - 4 months from start to finish until they have their green cards in hand. Afterwards would be a good time to file for your mother in law. I would go ahead and submit all the paperwork in now. The sooner the better!

[seth2013 39]

This topic has surprisingly good advice- filling out the paperwork can be done in one weekend if you set aside the time (I did, minus one birth certificate I needed to wait on). It's surprisingly easy. Start now and submit ASAP, just get it over with and out of the way. Then your stress will be over.

It's already been linked to, but here it is again: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

[duitta2g15 26]

Link to video showing you how to fill out I-130 to petition for your wife http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QtSTDCW6ElM
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e_vKGSnov_M

Edited April 16, 2014 by duitta2g15

[duitta2g15 26]

Link to filling out I-485 to register your wife as permanent Resident

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCQaBlEvLu0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-SpZCFTl0

[duitta2g15 26]

Link for filling out form I-864 Affidavit of Support

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rsFEHBaUxI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ice11f6uUTg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3bFBjYZXg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CtSyaYF3OI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CtSyaYF3OI&list=PL27B9CAF3C2168FEF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3bFBjYZXg&list=PL27B9CAF3C2168FEF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ice11f6uUTg&list=PL27B9CAF3C2168FEF

[Darnell 8,479]

I guess the next question is, any recomendations on who to use to file for an adjustment of status? I think you can tell by now, I am not entirely solid on the person we have been using due to the "don't worry so much about that" attitude to calling us today and sounding the alarms to drop everything to get this done today.

We obviously need to get this process in motion, sooner than later, any recommendations that are solid?

I appreciate all of the help thus far,

You are writing at the premier DIY Immigration WebPortal,

so the answer leans to:

1. YourSelf !

2. Read the Guide, click the @#$ing link and then reread #1.

Seriously. Read. and Do It Yerself ! [or I'll personally pull yer Texan Card, knowing full well you had the same civics class that I did, and can read]

[Hawst 0]

Now thats the advice and insight I was looking for. Thanks everyone. Especially you guys that took the time to reach out to me in private. Much appreciated. We have accumulated the forms and are going to get them done asap. Then on to filing will be next. Wish us luck and again I appreciate it the insight from those that had positive comments.

She doesn't work or venture out too much other than to the grocery store and to our sons school which both are less than 2 blocks away, so I hope we will be ok for another month or two. Hopefully less.

Best wishes to all of you.

[duitta2g15 26]

Lastly, don't forget to include form I-765, authorization for employment docs http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UqtNJapyW1I

[r060106 109]

Quick question for all the others responding to this thread: why does the USCIS allow people to adjust status if they've been here illegally? Wouldn't that be a pretext for not allowing them to adjust status? Doesn't it just encourage people to flaunt the system and do it the easy way all the time? It all seems very wrong when the rest of us who do everything we can to do things the legal and right way in bringing our spouses here have to go through so much heartache and pain during the wait process and paperwork etc. Please note that I don't know much about AOS, given that my wife and I are going through the I-130 process, and obviously won't be having to do that. No offense to the OP or anything. I'm just wondering. Thx

Edited April 16, 2014 by r060106

[Avery Cates 1,141]

I wonder which part of "tourist visa" made you think it meant it was "live, work, and go to school visa." Getting married changes no conditions of the visa, including length of stay and limitations. Status has to be adjusted before any of that happens, legally.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Got it. And I just for the record, I have been paying school taxes every month for about 25 years. Not just once. Not sure why you point that out.

The taxes that you paid are for people who are here legally to attend school, either US citizens or people with the proper visas. I started working when I was 14 and have paid taxes for 36 years and never had any kids go through the school system. That does not entitle me to do something illegal just because I think I paid for it.

I find it hard to believe that your stepson is in private school but you can't afford health insurance or an attorney. It may be true, but it doesn't make much sense.