Feeling really sad :(

LeanneWhitney · LeanneWhitney on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:54 am

My sister emailed me today begging me go back to England for her wedding in Aug next year even offered to pay for my plane and stay. And i really wish i could go because i am really home sick haven't seen my family and friends since June 2007. Im going call the visa place tomorrow and see what forums i need fill out and if i need a US pass port.

But when i went the meeting and the immigration office they said i got stay in the US for two more years before i can apply for the US citizenship so if it fucks up my paper work i cant go because ill be stuck in England and Cloie will have come back to the states and all that work will gone down the drain along with the 9 grand but ill call them tomorrow and ask. Because surely people who are here on permanent resident cards going apply for citizenship go on vacations out the country and visit family?

Whole thing upset me i went in to hubby all existed thinking i can go see my family (i haven't had enough money go) And he tells me i cant leave the country or it will f**k up my status Cry

Lou Lou · Lou Lou on Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:02 am

Oh Sweetie!
I'm sure there is more to it than this! I don't much about immigration but I'm looking on their website now for some answers. Do you have a person you contact when you have questions?

I wish I knew more.... have you talked to Holi about it? She may know something we don't! Hang in there!

LeanneWhitney · LeanneWhitney on Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:27 am

There is there website i emailed them like 4 hours ago nobody got back to me yet and phone lines closed when i got off work Cry

but www.USCI.gov is there website im trying fish through it at the moment but taking me a while with me being dyslexic lol, Holi hasn't applied for permanent residency or citizenship yet (unless she did and didnt tell me in past 6 months.

**Princess_Longbottom** · **Princess_Longbottom** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:17 am

Leanne you need to go to www.visajourney.com It is not a government run website, but all the info you need is there, and people post their experiences, wait timelines for certain visa, etc. It is an awesome website with all sorts of good advice.

I don't know what your visa status is now. So that would depend. I know a lot about immigration, as my hubby is British so we have been dealing with this for over 3 years. I can probably answer your question if I know more about your current situation and where you are at in your process.

If you don't have any legal visa at the moment, or you've let something expire, then if you leave the country, you probably won't get back in, even if you have your daughter with you.

You can't get a U.S. passport unless you are a citizen. Your daughter can, but you can't. You can travel on your U.K. passport and take your green card with you when you travel so they will let you back into the United States on your way back. It does not start any wait times over if you want to get citizenship as long as you have a current greencard and your status is legally adjusted.

I hope this helps!!!

BethG · BethG on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:39 am

Leanne, I hope Princess Longbottom's advice helps! Sounds like a visit back would be a great experience for you.

LeanneWhitney · LeanneWhitney on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:05 pm

thanks for the info Smile/happy

i have been processing paper work since i got here June 12th i have a green card perminant resident they said i couldn't apply for citizenship till i been married 4 years.

**Princess_Longbottom** · **Princess_Longbottom** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:12 pm

As long as your green card is up to date, you are fine. It is true you can't apply for citizenship until you've been married for four years and living in the states for 3 years. However, they do realize that if you are from another country, you will want to go back and visit, so yes you can go for a visit. I think if you stay out of the country for longer than 90 days, then it would affect things, but a visit doesn't start any waiting times over as far as citizenship and visa extensions are concerned as far as I know. I encourage you to research it and find out for sure for yourself just to put your mind at ease. When you talk to someone at USCI make sure you write down the person's employee I.D. number and name for your records, because I once had this lady give me WRONG information over the phone, and when I called back and talked to someone else, they told me that what she said was incorrect. So for your records, keep the i.d. number in a file every time you talk to someone!!

Also www.visajourney.com has a forum like this one where you can post a topic and ask questions, people are great about answering as well!

LeanneWhitney · LeanneWhitney on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:22 pm

thank you you been a big help Smile/happy

**Angel** · **Angel** Yesterday at 1:01 pm

wow,I only just saw this.I am confused...why are you appyling for citizen ship?My lawyer never once mentioned it to me and I believe we are in the same boat? I am applying for an adjustment of status,which basically means I can live here n work here and exist here indeffinately,of course I have to renew it at 2 and 10 years but I get a green caqrd and can travel as soon as I have the green card.At least thats what I was told.I have no intention of applyng for citizenship.I don't want a US passport I am british and should be able to 'stay british and stay here legally as should you from what I understand,also there is only a restriction on trvalling WHILE you do not have your green card.Look into it again.I have foudn that different people give different answers so go to the highest authority you can for this otherwise you'll be misinformed over and over agina if you go to somewhere like yahoo answers every Tom,dick and harry has a view of how they thkink it is or was.Most people I talk to are COMPLETELY ignortant of the process involved for foreigners,all my close friends are shocked that I am having to go through this,their standard repsonse it 'but you're married to an american' and mine to that is 'it doesnt matter,still have to legally go through an adjustment of status'

Anyway,I don't know if what you're doing is different from what I am doing,it shouldnt be should it? I know Tiff is probably going or has gone through the same tihng? everyone I talk to seems to have a different story,which is weird because from what my immigration lawyer tells me it's a pretty narrow,one way street for this process that everyone has to go thoruhg? if you're a abroad and angaged or married to a foreigner yo have to go through the K1-K2 visa application to bring them here,if they are already here you have to go through the same thing.I don't know it's all so bloody complicated and stupid but I am pretty sure that once you have a green card and Cloie has a passport that you can travel in and out of the US without any trouble. Sigh...this whole thing is a royal pain in the ass.LOL

skyllar · skyllar Yesterday at 7:15 pm

Well, I just saw this, too. I have also some insights on the immigration process as I am German and married to an American. I applied for a permanent resident card (green card) when DH and I had already been married for two years so that I didn't have to reapply again and would immediately get the permanent one. While the paper work for the green card was with USCIS (once I submitted it) my lawyer suggested that I do not travel in that time until I receive the green card. It would prolong the process. But, as soon as I received my green card, I was allowed to travel immediately. I have been traveling overseas at least once a year since then, often twice. SO once you have the green card, you can travel as often as you'd like. You will just need a passport for your little one. Kian at this point has a German and American passport.

Like Angel, I also have no intentions of becoming a US citizen. Having a green card works fine for me and keeping my German passport has a lot of advantages for me and my family. Please PM me or ask any questions you have about the process. I will try to answer any questions you have. Smile/happy

Feeling really sad :(

Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(

Re: Feeling really sad :(