What Next DV Lottery - Interview Support and Change of Marital Status

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  5 years minimum to being a USC.  Or never.   My ex chose to wait 30 years .  My current had paperwork waiting to mail at 3 years ( as spouse of USC )  

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

6 hours ago, Wizzo said:

Out of curiosity, why leave Europe to the US? 

 

As for me, I am thinking, a better option maybe going on my own first and landing the job and then bringing in my kids when things are stable. I do not want them to suffer. I have a lot of talents and qualifications .... HR is one of them but also corporate comms and life and executive coaching. If I were traveling on my own, it would have been easy, but a family of 3 kids is a big responsibility! 

 

When do we become actual citizens? how long does it take? I know that we are not supposed to be out of the US for more than a year, but what is the actual number of days mandatory for us to spend in order to get the citizenship?

 

Thanks for the advice!

Look up physical presence and continuous presence requirements for naturalization. basically you can technically keep your green card forever without ever managing to quite meet the naturalization requirements...but if you’re not actually living and working (or studying etc) in the us you’ll lose the green card too at some stage, it’s about intent not just the letter of the law. You can’t just touch base once a year and expect to keep your green card (same goes for your kids, they can’t for example keep their green cards by visiting you once a year in the US).

 

again, remember everyone has to enter before the expiry date on their visa. If your kids miss that and you have to go through the process of a LPR sponsoring children, it will be way more hassle, way more time and way more money.

 

a number of us have been through this already, it’s much harder in a way with DV with no job, spouse' family etc waiting like other immigrant visas, but at some point you have to take the decision whether or not to do it and then...just do it. 

[Wizzo 0]

46 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Look up physical presence and continuous presence requirements for naturalization. basically you can technically keep your green card forever without ever managing to quite meet the naturalization requirements...but if you’re not actually living and working (or studying etc) in the us you’ll lose the green card too at some stage, it’s about intent not just the letter of the law. You can’t just touch base once a year and expect to keep your green card (same goes for your kids, they can’t for example keep their green cards by visiting you once a year in the US).

 

again, remember everyone has to enter before the expiry date on their visa. If your kids miss that and you have to go through the process of a LPR sponsoring children, it will be way more hassle, way more time and way more money.

 

a number of us have been through this already, it’s much harder in a way with DV with no job, spouse' family etc waiting like other immigrant visas, but at some point you have to take the decision whether or not to do it and then...just do it. 

Thank you so much for all the info! You have been great help! Wish me luck!