Green card for wife and kid, but have no job yet

[Going through 5,671]

54 minutes ago, Mollie09 said:

Financially, yes.

They can't sponsor his family for a green card though

Financially was all I meant.

[geowrian 22,338]

The financial sponsorship is a question for ~2 years down the road when the PD is becoming current.

 

The immediate issue is maintaining LPR status, and starting the wait (filing of an I-130 packet).

[Lil bear 4,328]

5 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The financial sponsorship is a question for ~2 years down the road when the PD is becoming current.

 

The immediate issue is maintaining LPR status, and starting the wait (filing of an I-130 packet).

Agreed. And ensuring the wife and children do not incur any overstay but leave the US before the expiry  of their I94 

[flamey 0]

The reason I keep asking about income and sponsorship, is because there's a section to fill out on i-130 about employment. And I assumed this would basically filter it out to a "no" immediately after submission if I can't show I'm employed. But I just looked at it closer, and employment section is pretty simple, and from some of your responses it sounds like it won't even be looked at for a long time. So, I can submit i-130s today with "unemployed", but "in 2 years" when they get to our case I should already be employed, be able to show I can sponsor the fam at that time, not now, not at the time of filling the i130s?

 

P.S. I understand the risks of loosing my own green card, I understand we need to not overstay visas, I understand there are choices to be made.

 

Quote

The financial sponsorship is a question for ~2 years down the road when the PD is becoming current.

btw, what is "PD"

Edited April 25, 2019 by flamey

[Boiler 46,108]

Income matters a couple of years down the line, Priority Date.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

To get back to the question about tax returns, yes, you have to submit them when you submit the financial support documents. 

you have been filing tax returns with the irs every year since you got your green card, right?

[Mollie09 1,543]

22 minutes ago, flamey said:

The reason I keep asking about income and sponsorship, is because there's a section to fill out on i-130 about employment. And I assumed this would basically filter it out to a "no" immediately after submission if I can't show I'm employed. But I just looked at it closer, and employment section is pretty simple, and from some of your responses it sounds like it won't even be looked at for a long time. So, I can submit i-130s today with "unemployed", but "in 2 years" when they get to our case I should already be employed, be able to show I can sponsor the fam at that time, not now, not at the time of filling the i130s?

 

P.S. I understand the risks of loosing my own green card, I understand we need to not overstay visas, I understand there are choices to be made.

 

btw, what is "PD"

Have you been working outside the US then?

This could be another hurdle

[SalishSea 18,140]

2 hours ago, flamey said:

And I assumed this would basically filter it out to a "no" immediately after submission if I can't show I'm employed

Nothing will occur immediately after submission.  It will take at least two years to become current.

 

And regarding your comment that it is unacceptable for you to spend time apart from your family.....welcome to immigration.  Most people here have or currently are doing just that.

 

If that really isn't an option, you may have to return to your country to be with them.

[geowrian 22,338]

2 hours ago, flamey said:

The reason I keep asking about income and sponsorship, is because there's a section to fill out on i-130 about employment. And I assumed this would basically filter it out to a "no" immediately after submission if I can't show I'm employed. But I just looked at it closer, and employment section is pretty simple, and from some of your responses it sounds like it won't even be looked at for a long time. So, I can submit i-130s today with "unemployed", but "in 2 years" when they get to our case I should already be employed, be able to show I can sponsor the fam at that time, not now, not at the time of filling the i130s?

The employment section is just background/biographical information for their system. An I-130 petition cannot be denied due to employment or lack of employment. No financial information is presented or considered with an I-130 packet.

 

Quote

btw, what is "PD"

Priority Date. It's basically your spot in line, assigned when you successfully file the I-130.

 

Visas in your category (F2A) are limited per year. You need to wait until a visa number becomes available, which is currently taking around 2-2.5 years. This can change in the ~2+ years from now. It's just waiting for the people in front of you to get a visa (or be determined ineligible for one) so that your spot in line comes up.

 

Edit: Note that the 2+ year wait is not a processing issue. It's due to the limit on the number of F2A visas available each year. Even if USCIS processed your case in 1 week, it wouldn't lead to a visa any sooner.

Edited April 25, 2019 by geowrian

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Your status here on VJ shows as "Naturalization (Approved)". Is this true? Curious about how you obtained a green card, i.e. through a previous marriage, other family member, employment in the US? You don't have to answer if you don't want to.

[carmel34 3,655]

Your time outside the US will potentially be an issue when you file the I-130 petition, hard to say since you have not said how long you have been gone, or if you had a re-entry permit, etc.  And you will have to live separate lives from your family for a long time if you want to pursue the green card for them.  If you are not prepared to live separately from them for 2 years or more during the petition and visa process for them, you may want to reconsider your plans and look at living abroad permanently with your family in their home country. 

[JFH 12,191]

Depending on how you got your GC in the first place, you may have a waiting period of 5 years before you can file anyway. 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

How do you plan on financially supporting them and yourself without a job?,! Sounds like there isn’t much effort on your end to establish residency in the US. Have you thought of moving back to your home country.

[flamey 0]

First of -- thank you very much for all of your replies. Even though I knew almost everything I read here, this definitely helped me to focus on the matter instead of just keeping it at the back of my mind. And as I said, I know there are decisions to be made, like with everything else in our lives.

 

I apologize that I won't share everything about me in a public place. But for curious minds: I'm green card holder for over 20 years, I lived and worked here for most of this time, i continue to spend several months a year here with my family. I'm able to provide for my family, on an adequate level, I hope it continues to be so.

 

Anyway, thanks again, and good luck with your petitions to all of you!

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

1 hour ago, flamey said:

First of -- thank you very much for all of your replies. Even though I knew almost everything I read here, this definitely helped me to focus on the matter instead of just keeping it at the back of my mind. And as I said, I know there are decisions to be made, like with everything else in our lives.

 

I apologize that I won't share everything about me in a public place. But for curious minds: I'm green card holder for over 20 years, I lived and worked here for most of this time, i continue to spend several months a year here with my family. I'm able to provide for my family, on an adequate level, I hope it continues to be so.

 

Anyway, thanks again, and good luck with your petitions to all of you!

You should be aware that no matter how long you had the green card before, if it looks like you’ve abandoned residence in the past couple of years you can still lose it. Unless you spend more than 6 months a year in the US, or have a re-entry permit, spending “ a few months a year” in the US isn’t going to cut the mustard if you get sent before an IJ.

 

one of the very first cases I read about when I started on immigration forums was a guy who’d just lost his GC after about 20 years. I don’t remember the specifics of the case now but it was a case of having been deemed to abandon residence. Unless you’re a USC, nothing is guaranteed.