Legal Question in Immigration Law in Tennessee

my boyfriend and i would like to get married soon, and we have lived together for over a year. The only problem is he entered the u.s. illegaly from Guatemala. i want to do whatever i can in order to make him legal because it would devastate me if anything happened to him, such as being deported. can you please tell me where to begin the process of making him legal or obtaining a green card so that we can get married and help keep him here?? He has never been in any legal trouble and is a wonderful person so to lose his chance at a good life just becuase he wasnt born here would be horrible...please help


Asked on 1/31/12, 10:22 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Brian D. Lerner Law Offices of Brian D. Lerner, A Professional Corporation

Hello:

Assuming he is not under 245(i), you must do the K3 plus the Waiver of the 10 year bar.

K3 Petition and Waiver of Inadmissibility of the 3/10 year Bar
Unfortunately, an adjustment of status cannot be filed inside the U.S. The K3 must be filed and eventually there will be an interview at the U.S. Consulate outside the U.S. Once there is a departure from the U.S. there will be the need to prepare and get filed the Waiver of the 3/10 year bar. Otherwise, if one has been unlawfully present for more than one year, then that person cannot return to the U.S. for 10 year.�

K3 Petition
Since you are already married and your spouse is outside the U.S., it would be necessary to apply for the K-3 Visa. The particular visa is considerably faster than the Consulate Processing needed to bring your spouse in as a Lawful Permanent Resident. Here, we would apply for the K-3 Visa which would take about 6 months. After, your spouse is in the U.S., the Adjustment of Status package can be filed.�

Waiver of Inadmissibility
A Waiver of Inadmissibility will have to be obtained. This is an application that will include a legal brief, forms, documents, exhibits, declarations and other evidence. My firm can prepare the entire waiver, and attach all of the necessary documents. It will take several months for the decision, and if done correctly, there is a good chance of an approval. The Waiver essentially makes the crime or ground of ineligibility disappear so that entry or re-entry will be allowed into the U.S. Please note that the Waiver is the critical part of this application, and unless approved, there cannot be any other petition that will allow entry into the U.S. Therefore, the Waiver must be prepared with significant supporting documents.�

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Answered on 1/31/12, 3:48 pm


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