Any info would be great.

J

JTWR

Registered Users (C)
I'm sorry if this is covered somewhere else, I'm an English guy who has been living in California for 2 years on an expired visa, I've been with my wife for 4 years, I had some money then so it was me flying out here and me bringing her to London, it was never really my intention to live in America but things got more serious my money was running out and she wanted me to come out to LA, I came out (by then we'd been engaged for a while) we got married 2 years ago and I've been here on an expired waiver ever since, am I screwed?
How do I go about getting my papers sorted and how difficult is it?
Any help would be great, thanks so much.
 
I mean is it straight forward? How much will I need to save up (I hear anywhere between 1 and 3 grand?) And so on.
 
Should be straightforward.

Application fee should be around $1500, but I didn't check the exact amount.
Besides application fee, you need to pay for medical exam, where the cost depends on whether you are required to take vaccination. It depends on your past vaccination history.
 
I just got standard BCG at School in the UK, I have been arrested once in the UK when I was 18 (7 Years ago) and do things like unauthorized working affect the application process?
 
Arrest may affect, though unauthorized work won't affect.
Depends on the seriousness of the cause of arrest. I GUESS unless it is very serious crime like drug related, murder etc.., it might be OK, but I cannot guarantee.

You had better check what vaccinations are required nowadays. CIS added a few vaccinations this year so that the requirement keeps changing.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Click on "find civil surgeon" on the top right corner, and find the doctors near you. Call them and ask what vaccinations are required.
 
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Are there specific lawyers that deal with UK immigrants?
Anyone know of any good ones in LA?
Sorry to be a pain.
 
JTWR said:
I was arrested for having knife in my bag, I was arrested and went to court the Judge gave me a fine.
Click to expand...

You will be fine, that happened in the U.K. right? Personally I would hire a lawyer (althought many on here will say you don't need one) but you are an overstay. With the lawyer at your GC interview the Immigration officer(IO) may not drill you as much with legal consul next to you.

Look in the LA area for a lawyer, you shouldn't have any problems. I was an 8yr overstay and worked, I had no issues but I had a lawyer beside me the whole way.

Good Luck!

p.s. since you have been married more then two yrs you will get your permanent GC, 10 yr with NO conditions. That is a plus for you!

I-751 Timeline
Filed jointly December, 20 2009(Florida)
DO-VSC
RD?
ND?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conditional PR Timeline...
Married to US Citizen November 11, 2006.
Re-date for I-485, I-130, I-765, 12-11-06
NOA- I-485, I-130, I-765- 12-14
RFE I-485- 12-26
Biometrics(code 3)- done 01-29-07
RFE Received- 02-07-07
LUD I-765 - 02-23-07
Lud I-765 - 02-27-06 APPROVED!
ND- Interview(Tampa), 02-16-07
Interview Date - 03-20-07
LUD- I-485, I-130, 03-01-07
Interview- 03-20-07-APPROVED!!!
LUD I-130 Approved 03-20-07!!!
LUD I-485 Welcome notice sent, Card production ordered 03-23-07
LUD- Welcome notice received 03-27-07
LUD- I485 Approval notice mailed 03-28-07!!!
03-30-07 GC received!
106 days in all.
 
Yes it was in the UK, Thanks so much for the info, it's really appreciated I'll try finding a good lawyer out here. Is it best to pay for a chat with the lawyer first, to be honest I need to start saving that 1500 it's my new year goal. Are there payment options, or should we try get a loan or something?
 
JTWR said:
Yes it was in the UK, Thanks so much for the info, it's really appreciated I'll try finding a good lawyer out here. Is it best to pay for a chat with the lawyer first, to be honest I need to start saving that 1500 it's my new year goal. Are there payment options, or should we try get a loan or something?
Click to expand...

No payment options for the INS forms. However the 1500 is just for the forms...
I am unsure of what the lawyer would charge, however some lawyers will take payment plans and include the ins fees.
 
So the total cost roughly is around 2500?
So some lawyers take payment plans including ins fees so they handle it all and you just make payments to the Lawyer?
 
JTWR said:
So the total cost roughly is around 2500?
So some lawyers take payment plans including ins fees so they handle it all and you just make payments to the Lawyer?
Click to expand...

That would be my best estimate. Yes, they will usually handle all the fees up front and you just make the payments. However I would save some now for a deposit, even if only $500.
 
How do you know who is a good lawyer and who isn't, I mean obviously you shop around a bit but is there anywhere you can check for references?
 
The correct fee for Adjustment of Status is $ 1010.00 (all forms), plus the medical exam which may vary from $ 150 to $ 400, plus, obviously, the cost of a lawyer.
Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine in the end. Just don't leave the US until all the immigration process is over. Since you overstayed you may be banned for 10 years if you leave now.
 
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