CyberCat

Thank you, I appreciate the recommendations from this community and reached out to some human rights lawyers. Know that I did not make the decision to marry him lightly, and that despite his history, I see him. He is a wonderful human with a rough youth, and is still a victim himself that never had justice. He has since matured, is very respectful, and positive throughout these hardships and still takes full ownership of his past mistakes, including the unfortunate relationship with the adolescent when he was barely a young adult himself.

I am not sure where my reply went, sorry if its duplicated. I am worried about the income requirement for sponsoring and wondering whether to apply anyway while job hunting if they consider my tax returns?

Yep I was laid off so trying to secure a job and waiting on the marriage certificate that keeps getting lost in the mail because my luck 🙃

We would think so, but it's been 7 years in his case and over 20 for other survivors dealing with that. Many are still waiting on his government to take action. They are barely issuing an apology next week. That's ridiculous. Idk which will go faster at this rate. We only live on this planet for like 76 years and already at our half way point. We've consulted with immigration and criminal lawyers, we've had to correct them about some laws so pretty sure there is a way but because of this unique situation, we've unfortunately run into many that can only cite things we already know and not offer much else.

I've been desperate for legal help on a unique CR-1 case, which has been causing my husband and I a lot of despair. I have searched for a knowledgeable immigration lawyer throughout this year, but can't find any consistency or one that is able to provide advice (outside of citing the same INA laws to help my partner's case for a CR-1) that'll hopefully get us a waiver for him to join me in the US. My partner, throughout childhood, was a victim of horrific abuse before and under care of the NZ government, as recently disclosed by the Royal Commission inquiry into abuse in state care. He didn't obtain the proper moral compass (something that should be factored into what is a CIMT) before his ejection, which led to poor decisions resulting in old convictions in youth (all non-custodial), then therapy helped build morals after the damage was done. He has since been rehabilitated and can show good moral character, but it seems to not matter in this process? Despite his background, lawyers have been either unable to assist or doubtful that his case will be accepted, disregarding his whole story, and conclude that he won't be allowed to enter the US. I have been told countless times by community members in immigration groups to go move with him in his country, but no one realizes that his last conviction is considered a specified offense, and therefore a lifetime ban, so he cannot sponsor me to live with him. I've tried applying overseas, but no employer has wanted to hire me and sponsor a visa. He is stuck in social housing, still a prisoner to his own government. What are we supposed to do when no lawyer can help us, and without aid we will never be able to live together?! We are very hopeful and positive people who have been through some serious garbage, but this whole situation is agonizing and taking a toll on our mental health...

No

Hi Jan, thank you. It's been a mixed bag of reasons as to why lawyers don't want to help us and whether we can get a waiver, with much ambiguity or quick dismissal in their responses. He has 5 convictions occurred between ages 17-22. The other incidents not mentioned were petty shoplifting, small possession of marijuana + pipe, and theft ex dwelling (age 17); all sentenced community work. None violent, no weapons involved. Typical dumb adolescent stuff. Hopefully someones willing to work with us towards getting a waiver.

Thank you. Sadly, moving to another country is so much easier said than done. There are significant circumstances that factor in, and me leaving the US would greatly impact us in a negative way. Hopefully there are some options towards us avoiding hardship. His life since childhood under care of the state has been a life-long purgatory sentence. I find it hard to believe that there may be no consideration or relief in sight during his lifetime.

So much for the Hacking Law group, they aren't willing to help either, citing one of his offenses under 18 as an issue which is a new one for us after other legal teams have said it's fine. What a mess this has been. I reached out to USCIS for clarification since there are abnormal circumstances that lawyers don't seem to have a uniform answer to, and I really don't want to waste more money just to hear another one say we can't be helped, nothing can be done, etc. We're grasping at straws at this point, the final hope is that his government court hearing after their upcoming public apology (which has taken them over 6 years) will work with him after taking his impact statement. What else can be done at this point.

No, I thought Adam Walsh act only applies if US citizen has a sexual assault crime? I don't fall under that.

The conviction in question is an indecent sexual connection with a person under 16. Isolated incident with no jail time, it was a complicated ordeal. Bad decision following his abuse while growing up in state care. I can't recall if I mentioned the Royal Commission investigation. Unfortunately, we both are trying our best to avoid needing to live in NZ and live our best lives together, but will have to make it work to our own detriment if there's no other option. We would consider Canada or Australia, but I'd be so far from my family and everything I have worked hard for. It's hard.

Ok, and sadly no because he was in foster care so he doesn't have much. I have some family, pursuing graduates, and pretty established here in the states minus a recent layoff

Probably will agree with it being out of their scope. We plan to be up front about everything and provide all the info we can regarding everything he's gone through so I hope that will be sufficient for the application... Thank you all for responding to this, I've been starting to feel pretty hopeless, but there may be a chance yet.

Yes, I was looking into them a while back! I did see that they charge a $375 consultation fee... with the amount of "no" we have run into, I was skeptical paying that much up front for a lack of help, especially since I was recently laid off. Are there any financial assistance options with this practice?

We've been throwing all our info out on the table, but the few lawyers we've met so far either don't specialize in criminal law or quickly glance and say "nah". The clean slate is a forgiveness deal. We just have trouble finding a lawyer who is able to communicate well and willing to work on our case without looking at it as black-and-white.

If we go forward with the CR1, how would we get the waiver? We definitely tried working with less than enthusiastic lawyers that were a bit too firm on their decision 😅 trying to find someone who likes a new challenge at this point

I am a US Citizen looking to move my NZ spouse to the US, but he has a conviction history, with the most recent incident occurring over 10 years ago. We are looking for legal advice or help willing to work with us on our unique case. We've spoken with a few random US lawyers that have so far either declined working with us or suggested that he doesn't have a chance at entering even with a waiver. Would USCIS consider his history alongside his convictions? He is a victim of the Royal Commission into their foster care, which he dealt with much abuse that led to some poor judgements once he aged out. He is since rehabilitated, currently pursuing a clean slate act. He has no jail time sentencing, and has supporting paperwork from psychologists stating that he is a very low risk. His government has also shown trust in his character as well following the convictions, based on other surrounding factors. Any advice or leads for legal help willing to work on our case is much appreciated.