F1 visa to green card

[hellohuman]

I'm wondering if anybody here have an insight that may help me.
So, I came to the state with F-1 visa couple years ago, and I've been staying here legally, going to the school. I met my fiance two years ago, and we were gonna get married this summer. That was supposed to be after my graduation in June. But the situation has changed. Money has been tight, but never like this. Now I can't afford going to school or anything, unless I start working. Except, I can't work legally and make enough money to support myself with F1 visa. I can work on the campus, but have to be a full time student in order to do so, which I can't afford. So all there is left for me now is to go back to my country or getting married to my fiance early. We've been planning for this wedding for a while now, so we don't mind that we have to hurry. We would do anything to stay together. But we're worried that even though if we get married, I may not be eligible for applying for a green card. If I can't afford going to school, then I'll get out of my immigrant status, (international students need to take certain number of credits every semester/quarter), and I'm required to leave. Even though my visa states to be valid till the end of the year, being out of status means that I can't stay here any longer. Since I simply can't afford the school, I just don't know what's going to happen.
Thank you so much for reading all this. I have so much going on, I feel like I'm not being coherent enough... But, please anybody knows anything related to this, please let me know! Thank you!

 

[newacct]

What is the status of your fiance? A U.S. citizen? If you get married to a citizen then you will be able to apply for a green card while staying here.

 

[Jackolantern]

Have you already quit school? Or are you still attending the current semester and are worried about affording next semester? Note that you're generally not required to attend classes in the summer break.

 

[aos13]

As an F1 student, you have some options depending on your situation: 1) You can ask for an employment authorization due to unexpected economic hardship and IF you get one, you can work full time anywhere. 2) You can go for CPT which is half or full time work that has to be related to your field of study. 3) You can ask for a reduction of course load from full time to less number of credit hours. You need to talk to your DSO in your school to find out if any of these three is applicable to you, and if they are willing to do that.

 

[hellohuman]

As an F1 student, you have some options depending on your situation: 1) You can ask for an employment authorization due to unexpected economic hardship and IF you get one, you can work full time anywhere. 2) You can go for CPT which is half or full time work that has to be related to your field of study. 3) You can ask for a reduction of course load from full time to less number of credit hours. You need to talk to your DSO in your school to find out if any of these three is applicable to you, and if they are willing to do that.

I will go talk to my DSO and see what they can do for me! Thank you for the advice!

 

[hellohuman]

Have you already quit school? Or are you still attending the current semester and are worried about affording next semester? Note that you're generally not required to attend classes in the summer break.

I'm taking my winter quarter but i don't think i can afford to even finish this quarter. I haven't quit my school yet. i've been going to classes but my mind has been somewhere else the whole time. My fiance and I feel like we're in rush to hurry the wedding. We're worried that we getting married after me having to quit school may somehow disadvantage us in the process.. Thank you for the reply!

 

[hellohuman]

What is the status of your fiance? A U.S. citizen? If you get married to a citizen then you will be able to apply for a green card while staying here.

Yes. He's a US citizen. We're worried that if i go out of the status, we might not be able to apply for the green card.

 

[newacct]

Yes. He's a US citizen. We're worried that if i go out of the status, we might not be able to apply for the green card.

Overstay is not a problem for the spouse of a citizen. However, try not to get deported by the ICE before you get to applying for the green card.

Also, if the two of you are so poor you cannot afford to stay in school, how is he going to be able to sponsor you for the Affidavit of Support?

 

[Jackolantern]

I'm taking my winter quarter but i don't think i can afford to even finish this quarter.

Why? Wasn't the tuition for the whole quarter (and the room if you're living on campus) already paid in full at the start of the quarter?

Note that once you don't register for classes (other than the summer break), an alert will be raised in the SEVIS system that notifies immigration agents that you're not enrolled. So don't quit until you're ready to file the green card paperwork or have already filed it.

Also once you get married and file the green card paperwork, it will take about 2-3 months to get employment authorization, so don't count on working off-campus right away.

Go ahead and find a designated civil surgeon and make the medical appointment now. There will be two appointments -- a long one where they examine you and take blood and give you vaccinations, and a short follow-up a few days later to check your skin test. You can do the medical as much as 12 months before submitting the green card paperwork, so it's a good idea to get it done in advance so the results in the sealed envelope will be already in your hand when you get married.

 

[aos13]

I will go talk to my DSO and see what they can do for me! Thank you for the advice!

When you talk to them start with CPT and do not mention you need money. CPT is NOT meant to be a means of making money but a part of the curriculum so the job has to be related to your field of study and try to find one, asking your advisor for pointers could be a good idea depending on how good your relations with your advisor.

You said you are graduating in june so this is your last semester? No matter what you do do not give up on your education, you WILL regret it. And no matter what try to stay in status. Sure marrying a USC gives you rights but a forgone diploma cannot be remedied easily. Good luck.