Hi...I'm new here and hoping someone can help me with this problem.
My husband came here on a K-1 on 31 August 2005 and we were married days later on 4 Sept. Things were a bit crazy after the wedding when we returned home, so it was taking me some time to gather all the info and documents needed for the AOS application. While working on that, in November I was laid off from my job of the past 17 years. The immigration lawyer I'd hired to help us with the K-1 process, and who's still consulting when I need him, suggested we wait to apply for the AOS until after I'd found another job. But knowing how the job market is, we knew a new job might not come my way too soon, and my husband was very anxious to get his AOS...and knowing how long the wait usually is for them to even schedule the AOS interview, the lawyer said if we wanted, we could send in the application and I could likely find another good-paying job before the interview.
So I sent in the application, including a letter with my Affidavit of Support from my previous employer stating what my job had been, how much I'd made, and how long I'd been there...plus a letter from me explaining the layoff and how I was looking for another job...and citing just my savings and property and assets (which amount to about $400,000+) in the affidavit.
But our local INS office decided to be efficient, and they scheduled us very quickly...just 3-1/2 months after they received our application! And I haven't been able to find another job yet (not one that will pay enough to make INS happy, I'm sure). We've got about one month until our interview (March 9)...and my lawyer is advising that if I don't find a good-paying job by that time, they won't approve my husband's AOS and they'll start proceedings to deport him!
Is this true? If I still don't have a good job (although I'm constantly looking, which I can show evidence of), will they automatically reject our AOS application and deport him? Even with all my savings/assets/property? Even if he himself has a job (he's just received his EAD card and will start a job next week)?
The lawyer suggested we find a co-sponsor to submit a new Affidavit of Support during our interview if I still don't have a job by then...but I'm reluctant to ask any family or friends to do that...it's a lot to ask. But if that would be our only hope of his not being deported, I would ask. But if I can't find anyone willing...what then?
I'm feeling so hopeless at this point...it's hard enough getting unexpectedly laid off and having to find another job in today's market...but having this added pressure about the AOS and deportation isn't helping the depression and stress levels.
Any advice, suggestions, info...? We'd really appreciate it!
My husband came here on a K-1 on 31 August 2005 and we were married days later on 4 Sept. Things were a bit crazy after the wedding when we returned home, so it was taking me some time to gather all the info and documents needed for the AOS application. While working on that, in November I was laid off from my job of the past 17 years. The immigration lawyer I'd hired to help us with the K-1 process, and who's still consulting when I need him, suggested we wait to apply for the AOS until after I'd found another job. But knowing how the job market is, we knew a new job might not come my way too soon, and my husband was very anxious to get his AOS...and knowing how long the wait usually is for them to even schedule the AOS interview, the lawyer said if we wanted, we could send in the application and I could likely find another good-paying job before the interview.
So I sent in the application, including a letter with my Affidavit of Support from my previous employer stating what my job had been, how much I'd made, and how long I'd been there...plus a letter from me explaining the layoff and how I was looking for another job...and citing just my savings and property and assets (which amount to about $400,000+) in the affidavit.
But our local INS office decided to be efficient, and they scheduled us very quickly...just 3-1/2 months after they received our application! And I haven't been able to find another job yet (not one that will pay enough to make INS happy, I'm sure). We've got about one month until our interview (March 9)...and my lawyer is advising that if I don't find a good-paying job by that time, they won't approve my husband's AOS and they'll start proceedings to deport him!
Is this true? If I still don't have a good job (although I'm constantly looking, which I can show evidence of), will they automatically reject our AOS application and deport him? Even with all my savings/assets/property? Even if he himself has a job (he's just received his EAD card and will start a job next week)?
The lawyer suggested we find a co-sponsor to submit a new Affidavit of Support during our interview if I still don't have a job by then...but I'm reluctant to ask any family or friends to do that...it's a lot to ask. But if that would be our only hope of his not being deported, I would ask. But if I can't find anyone willing...what then?
I'm feeling so hopeless at this point...it's hard enough getting unexpectedly laid off and having to find another job in today's market...but having this added pressure about the AOS and deportation isn't helping the depression and stress levels.
Any advice, suggestions, info...? We'd really appreciate it!