Need some help...

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Chiyo18

Registered Users (C)
this seems to be the only place i can go for some help right now... unless someone can tell me how to get in touch with someone from immigrations through their 1-800 number. it says there are people available to talk to, but there's no option to talk to anyone!><

anyway, i've been trying to get my green card paperwork for a really long time now. i've been living in the US, with my husband now (who is a US citizen), for nearly 3 years. it's taken me this long to get any decent information on how to go about obtaining my green card:(

however, my husband was told in march that they are leaving for iraq in september. so, as of now, we're rushing, trying to get this done, before he goes. the only things left for us to do, before we send the forms away are my medical exam and getting his w-2 forms from his work.

however, the closer we get to sending them off, the more questions i seem to have, with no one to answer them.

for instance, my husband is being sent out of state for training, from june to july. if someone from immigrations wanted to see us for anything during that time, would it cause serious problem to the process, or would they allow me to go and talk to them alone?

and, to people that have recently gotten their green cards, how long did it take, from the time you sent in your forms, to the time you received it? cause i feel like my husband is going to end up leaving before this is all over~~'

also, when i actually had a chance to talk to an immigrations officer, i told them that i was hoping to go back home after my husband leaves, so i could be with my family. they seriously told me that, if i wanted to wait till he got back from iraq to send off my paperwork, i could just lie to the border patrol, tell them i've been visiting, and go home till my husband returns.

first off, i can't believe they would actually tell me to lie to cross the border (i'm from canada), when, i'm fairly certain, if i were caught and told the border patrol what they had told me to say, they would most likely deny having said that:S however, if it would be easier to just go home while my husband is away, is there any possible way to have someone from immigrations, or anywhere else, write up something for me telling them i have permission to leave? i know that sounds stupid, but i don't want to lie~~' especially since my passport information will show them that i last enterted the states nearly 3 years ago:|

if there's anyone that can help me, in anyway, please let me know. i feel like my head is going to explode with all this stuff:(

thanks in advance.
 
Hi,

you seem to have a lot on your plate, Gc application this days goes from 6-12months depending on what you submit with your application, but once you apply the process starts, you can file for Advance parole to travel and as for W2, if you have pay stubs from his work, add that for now and send off the Application, they will send you an RFE (request for evidence) if they need more information and i do not think anyone will be calling you until after your fist interview, you still ahvebetween now and 3months for finger printing and EAD. Go ahead and add your medical form with the application you do not need your husband for anything until say 3-4 months time.

If you read through the january/ september blog you will see what the time line can look like it will help you to make a decision, Do not travel and lie at the border it is dangerous and not advisable you might get stuck abroad.
 
6-12 months, huh? that sucks~~'

if i send in my forms, then file for that "advance parole to travel" that you mentioned, how long can i ask to leave for? i wanted to spend the year with my family, since that's how long my husband will be gone, and i can't work here cause immigrations said they won't give me a work permit till i have my green card<:( so, if i end up having to stay here, i'm going to be in for some rough times~~'

would it make any difference to them knowing that my home in canada is only a 3 hour drive from where i live now? in case they need me to come back for anything, that is.
 
The question is how long had you been out of status? If you have already triggered the 3/10 year bar then getting an advance parole to travel will not help you and if you travel out of the US even with advance parole, you will not able to come back. You will have to obtain the actual plastic GC before you can travel out of the US.

Now, back to filing for GC.
You'll need to file I-130, I485 together. As soon as you get the receipt for the I-485. You status will be protcted and USCIS will not deport you for illegal stays. You can also file I-765 at the same time to get EAD for employment authorization.
 
so, until i get my actual green card, i won't be allowed to leave, right? that's even more depressing then knowing how long this could take~~' i suppose it has to be done though.

another quick question: i was given my forms by an immigrations officer several months ago. the reason i haven't filed them yet is because of the cost of everything:( anyway, even though it's been several months since i got the papers, i noticed that some of them expired in 2006 and 2007:/ should i continue filling those out despite that, since they were given to me by someone that works for immigrations, or should i be safe and print off all the newer copies?

also, one of the forms i was given was "suppliment A to form I-485". i was told by someone else on these forums that i don't need that one. just I-485. is this true? cause i read on the uscis website that i would have to pay for both the suppliment and regular forms separtately, and i just can't afford that:(
 
Chiyo18 said:
another quick question: i was given my forms by an immigrations officer several months ago. the reason i haven't filed them yet is because of the cost of everything:( anyway, even though it's been several months since i got the papers, i noticed that some of them expired in 2006 and 2007:/ should i continue filling those out despite that, since they were given to me by someone that works for immigrations, or should i be safe and print off all the newer copies?
Click to expand...

Yes, you will need the updated copies. If you file expired copies, then they will be rejected and you will be asked to file the latest ones. Its pretty easy though to get the new ones. Just download them from USCIS here
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Chiyo18 said:
also, one of the forms i was given was "suppliment A to form I-485". i was told by someone else on these forums that i don't need that one. just I-485. is this true? cause i read on the uscis website that i would have to pay for both the suppliment and regular forms separtately, and i just can't afford that
Click to expand...
Just the I-485
 
*phew* thanks for that info:) if i had to pay $1000 for each of those forms i'd be screwed!

also, thanks for the web link. i'll download those and get them printed off right away:)

oh! one other question. like i said before, my husband is being deployed to iraq in september. since Denucci mentioned that this can take 6-12 months, i'm going to assume this won't be completed before he leaves.

if i'm able to tell someone from immigrations that he'll be leaving in september, will they be able to get everything done, that includes my husbands participation, before that time, or will they just ignore that fact and tell me later that it'll cause problems with the process?:| i know that they don't speed things up for anything less then a life or death situation, but i'm not expecting them to speed up the whole process, just things that need both of us.
 
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