Trying to legalize girlfriend(Or help legalize)

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

Well - for the travel I suppose she'd need a valid travel document as well... which maybe she doesn't or would need to obtain from a Canadian consulate.

Let us know how things turn out!

[JFH 12,191]

3 hours ago, Tanner C said:

We both wanted to be set to where we can afford the things we want and have a home, etc together before making the decision to do so. 

 

 

It's good to see someone being sensible about life and marriage. It is a big step and in an ideal world you would save and he financially stable with a nice home and established income before you marry.

 

However, you are in the least ideal situation that exists. Your girlfriend is here illegally. It's never a good time to be in the USA illegally but right now is the worst time of all. As she is illegal, without getting married and having her status adjusted she will never be able to work so that you can save for that nice home you want before you get married. And at any moment she risks being deported. 

 

If you're not ready for marriage because you don't know if this is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, fair enough. It's admirable that you want to help her to become a legal resident but don't rush into a marriage you are not emotionally ready for. 

But if it's just the money side of things, let me tell you this (having been married, divorced and married again): if you are waiting until you have enough money to get married, you will never get married. You will never have enough money for everything you want unless you're Bill Gates. Life throws curve balls all the time - household bills, unexpected medical bills, job losses, emergencies. If she's the one for you, marry her even if it's on a shoestring. A fancy wedding and a nice home doesn't make you any more married than anyone else. 

[Unlockable 7,315]

I may be going against the grain here but I say if you are not ready for marriage then don't do it just yet.

 

You can convince her mother to file for her with your financial help. If not, she still has her sisters. It will take some time but it will be time for you to decide if you want to go down the path of marriage.

 

As for now, she is not stranded on the street somewhere. Yes, she should continue her pursuit to become legal but seems like she is on a decent path in life. She has a room over her head and is getting a college education. I don't know but when reading your replies it seems marriage is a last resort in your mind. Even if you do want to marry her eventually it should be done when you are ready.

 

Still.... good luck to you.

Edited September 8, 2017 by NuestraUnion

[Lemonslice 4,968]

I hope her mom didn't pretend your girlfriend and her sister were American citizens when they crossed the border.

 

See this member's story: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/profile/46877-globehoppermama/

 

Please try to get as much details as you can from her mom/family.  How did the parents became permanent residents initially?

 

Edited September 8, 2017 by Lemonslice

[Boiler 46,124]

You can not legalise a GF.

 

You or somebody else can legalise a Wife.

 

Time to put up or shut up.

[RO_AH 1,663]

OP please do not let posters here tell you when and why you should get married. I can't believe how flippant some people can be about one of the biggest decisions in your life.

 

It will help you to know as many details as you can about when, where and how her mother received her LPR status. Also congress or the president may give her a path to citizenship in the next 6 months, so it would be good to wait at least that long to see how things play out while looking at other options.

 

Do not let marriage enter into the decision making process. Marriage for the sake of immigration is fraud. Marriage because you have found the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with is not.

 

Best of luck to you and your girlfriend.

[Diane and Chris 651]

It sounds to me like DACA would have applied and should now apply for her. Why hasn't she done anything about her status before now?  She has had 5 years to get something done. 

 

The information below is from NPR (National Public Radio.)

 

1. What is DACA?

DACA is the acronym for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program created in 2012 by the Obama administration allowing young people brought to this country illegally by their parents to get a temporary reprieve from deportation and to receive permission to work, study and obtain driver's licenses.

DACA applicants had to be younger than 31 years old when the program began. They also had to prove that they had lived in the United States continuously since June 15, 2007, and that they had arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16.

 

 

Those signing up for DACA must show that they have clean criminal records. They have to be enrolled in high school or college, or serve in the military. Their status is renewable every two years.

[Mollie09 1,543]

2 minutes ago, Diane and Chris said:

It sounds to me like DACA would have applied and should now apply for her. Why hasn't she done anything about her status before now?  She has had 5 years to get something done. 

 

The information below is from NPR (National Public Radio.)

 

1. What is DACA?

DACA is the acronym for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program created in 2012 by the Obama administration allowing young people brought to this country illegally by their parents to get a temporary reprieve from deportation and to receive permission to work, study and obtain driver's licenses.

DACA applicants had to be younger than 31 years old when the program began. They also had to prove that they had lived in the United States continuously since June 15, 2007, and that they had arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16.

 

 

Those signing up for DACA must show that they have clean criminal records. They have to be enrolled in high school or college, or serve in the military. Their status is renewable every two years.

DACA is dead. No one can sign up for it anymore.

[bad4tatt 168]

12 hours ago, Suss&Camm said:

Ppl from Canada many times don't even get an i94 as far as I know. That is the least of her/your concerns. There is a reason why "most of us will say get married" as that is by FAR the quickest way. 

I understand it being a big decision at 21,  but if the only reason why you are not doing it is that you are not financially stable and not that you are unsure about each other then that reason seems to pale in comparison to her not having a legal presence in the country.

You can do a court house wedding for practically no money and do the dream wedding things years down the line,  when you get that financial stability you mention. In any case, that's just my 2 cents - I feel like your priorities are a bit off.

Geowrian is 100% right about the 5-9 months being only for the i130 petition and her actually being an LPR is currently around 13-14 years away.

People from Canada most certainly do get an I94 when they cross the border every single time. I know this as I am Canadian and have been given one plenty of times and have needed it when I applied for AOS.

[geowrian 22,338]

12 hours ago, Tanner C said:

She is 21 and unmarried, she does indeed still live with her mom though.. Which should make their case for immediate family? I know I may legally do nothing besides the marriage, but I'll help in the ways I can.

She is considered an adult for immigration purposes, and does not fall under the immediate relative criteria (see https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/family/family-preference.html).

 

8 minutes ago, bad4tatt said:

People from Canada most certainly do get an I94 when they cross the border every single time. I know this as I am Canadian and have been given one plenty of times and have needed it when I applied for AOS.

Before ~2013-2014, not getting an I-94 when visiting was quite common for Canadians.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1 hour ago, RO_AH said:

OP please do not let posters here tell you when and why you should get married. I can't believe how flippant some people can be about one of the biggest decisions in your life.

No one is "telling" him to do or not do anything. We're giving our points of view and different things to consider if he hasn't already. They are adults and can make they're own decisions. You are in fact the only one thus far actually saying "do not". 

1 hour ago, RO_AH said:

Do not let marriage enter into the decision making process. Marriage for the sake of immigration is fraud. Marriage because you have found the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with is not.

If they are in love and plan to be together it is a real relationship and certainly not immigration fraud - they are allowed to consider the timing of a marriage. The question here isn't the marriage itself.

[SAJourney 16]

1 hour ago, bad4tatt said:

People from Canada most certainly do get an I94 when they cross the border every single time. I know this as I am Canadian and have been given one plenty of times and have needed it when I applied for AOS.

This might have been a recent change.  I've crossed the border as a Canadian literally dozens of times prior to becoming a US citizen and was never issued an I94

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1 hour ago, bad4tatt said:

People from Canada most certainly do get an I94 when they cross the border every single time. I know this as I am Canadian and have been given one plenty of times and have needed it when I applied for AOS.

There are many Canadians posting on VJ not having an i94 for AOS and wondering what to do. They have been fine without it.

[RO_AH 1,663]

11 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

No one is "telling" him to do or not do anything.

I beg to differ.

I say: go ahead and get married.

6 hours ago, Boiler said:

You can not legalise a GF.

 

You or somebody else can legalise a Wife.

 

Time to put up or shut up.

 

[RO_AH 1,663]

13 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

If they are in love and plan to be together it is a real relationship and certainly not immigration fraud -

I agree 100 percent, but he has said he is not ready. Advising him to do so,(not you but others) so that she could become legal sounds to me like deciding to get married for immigration purposes,. I am simply saying do not tie the 2 issues together marriage and immigration.