b_and_y

Thanks all, the answers here were pretty much what we were expecting.

My wife does qualify for unemployment in Japan, but it would be so much easier if there was a way for her to stay here until the immigration process was completed. We are planning on having me go to Japan for her interview, being there for your spouse's interview is good advice for everyone who can afford the trip.

Ironically, because of the industry I work in, it would be pretty easy for me to find a job in Japan and work there, even in the current economy. The more I read about people's problems with the US immigration process, the more I wonder why many couples do not consider leaving the country. Honestly, my Japanese wife is the one who is intent on coming to live in the US, I would be happy in either country and sometimes I swear that the US is not very welcoming of LEGAL immigrants.

Oh well, rant aside, thanks again for your answers.

Hi all,

We have been referring to this website a lot, and it is a great resource. We feel very lucky to have found it early in the process. A problem has come up in our immigration process and we wanted to see if anyone has any advice or experience with this situation.

I filed the I-130/CR-1 paperwork on October 4th for my wife, who is Japanese. I received back the I-797C five days later and the check cleared. The problem is that my wife was laid off from work in Japan at the end of October. I make enough money to support both of us in one country, but not enough to support us living apart.

So is there any hope that she could come to the country on a tourist visa and we could file an I-485 (or some similar document) while she was here so that we could wait out the immigration process in the US? We do not need expedited processing and want to go through the process legally, but really cannot financially afford to have her unemployed in Japan for many months while we are waiting. And where she lives in Japan right now makes the US job market look rosy...so we are not really hopeful that she will find a new job soon.

Unfortunately, from what we have read, it seems like there is no normal option for having her come to the US and stay here until the immigration process is completed. Have we missed something?

Should we try contacting our congressmen and see if they can help out?

I do not think an immigration attorney is a valid choice, because if the problem is not being able to afford both of us living apart while we are waiting for immigration to process then I am skeptical of finding a lawyer that actually helps for an affordable amount of money.

Our only other option (keeping everything legal and fraud-free) would be for me to try to find work in Japan and move there, which seems counterproductive and makes the entire immigration process moot for bringing her into the country. At least in my opinion.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your time.