J1 married with a US citizen. Where do we start?

[2025gc 0]

Hello people, looking to start the process and getting the green card.

 

Husband j1, been in US since 2012. Visa expired in 2012

Married in 2023.

 

Everything is real living together. 

 

Husband lost passport many many years ago and since then had another passport.

 

There was DS form and i94.

 

We will call the embassy so we can get the passport number, this way we can recover the i94 and DS.

 

Where do we start?

What forms we would need to fill up? 

Looking for a little help, which direction to start looking. 

 

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

[Boiler 45,445]

What has he been doing for 12 years?

 

Is he subject to the 2yr HRR?

 

Are you a USC?

[2025gc 0]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

What has he been doing for 12 years?

 

Is he subject to the 2yr HRR?

 

Are you a USC?

 

Living, working. He has SNN, worked as an independent contractor with LLC. Never worked w2. 

 

Don't know about the 2yr home return. Looking for more info about this. Gotta do some research. Any starting points?

 

Wife is US citizen born and raised in US. (If that was the question) 

 

 

Edited September 10 by 2025gc

[OldUser 6,607]

3 minutes ago, 2025gc said:

 Don't know about the 2yr home return. Looking for more info about this. Gotta do some research? Any starting points?

 

 

Check J1 visa in passport and DS-2019 form

[2025gc 0]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

Check J1 visa in passport and DS-2019 form

 

We don't have the passport, ds and i94 form.

 

Since then he had new passport from his consulate. Different passport number. Can't track it unfortunately. 

[Boiler 45,445]

Ask him

[OldUser 6,607]

33 minutes ago, 2025gc said:

 

We don't have the passport, ds and i94 form.

 

Since then he had new passport from his consulate. Different passport number. Can't track it unfortunately. 

Contact sponsor organization who arranged J1. They may have records.

File FOIA request to get all immigration info on file.

 

It's your burden to prove you're admissable. No info = stuck in limbo.

Edited September 10 by OldUser

[2025gc 0]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

Contact sponsor organization who arranged J1. They may have records.

File FOIA request to get all immigration info on file.

 

It's your burden to prove you're admissable. No info = stuck in limbo.

 

We'll try to get the old passport nr from embassy and with that we can get the i94 copy and ds 2019. 

 

Alright got this part.

 

Next should we file by ourselves or better to get legal help?

[OldUser 6,607]

1 minute ago, 2025gc said:

 

We'll try to get the old passport nr from embassy and with that we can get the i94 copy and ds 2019. 

 

Alright got this part.

 

Next should we file by ourselves or better to get legal help?

I don't know the whole story, but so far it looks like it's DIY case if you can find records related to J1.

[2025gc 0]

4 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I don't know the whole story, but so far it looks like it's DIY case if you can find records related to J1.

He was arrested once for a traffic ticket(unpaid traffic ticket)  few years ago, bailed same day.

 

He had a lawyer and the case was dismissed and the state returned the bail money after a year. 

 

We checked some "basic" records and couldn't see that.

 

I'm sure the government will see that.

Would that be something bad?

 

Also he is making more money than wifey, would that be a problem? 

Technically he can't work, you know? 

Edited September 10 by 2025gc

[Boiler 45,445]

You have to be the Sponsor, illegal work will be forgiven.

 

Issues such as false claim to US Citizenship would be a deal breaker.

[2025gc 0]

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You have to be the Sponsor, illegal work will be forgiven.

 

Issues such as false claim to US Citizenship would be a deal breaker.

Many thanks