Can I adjust my status ?
Oct 16th 2006, 10:57 am
#1
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Can I adjust my status ?
Hello,
I came to America in 1999 on a tourist visa when I was 15 with my mom. I overstayed my visa and was working at a theme park in FL in 2004. I was given some free tickets and I sold them on ebay. To make a long story short, the management bought the tickets and called the police on me. I was charged with 3 felonies (I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true). I was 21 then... Because of a clean record and luck, 2 of the charges were dropped and one of them adjudication was witheld, I was placed on probation and 150 hours of community service... I succesfully finished everything before my deadline and have not been in any trouble ever since - not even a traffic violation.
I have been dating this american girl for 3 years now and we've decided to get married. My question is: Will I be able to apply for residency or the fact that I was arrested and charged with a felony void any possibility of adjusting my status ? None of the charges were violent crime/drug offense or crime of moral turpitude, I dont know if that matters.
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
I came to America in 1999 on a tourist visa when I was 15 with my mom. I overstayed my visa and was working at a theme park in FL in 2004. I was given some free tickets and I sold them on ebay. To make a long story short, the management bought the tickets and called the police on me. I was charged with 3 felonies (I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true). I was 21 then... Because of a clean record and luck, 2 of the charges were dropped and one of them adjudication was witheld, I was placed on probation and 150 hours of community service... I succesfully finished everything before my deadline and have not been in any trouble ever since - not even a traffic violation.
I have been dating this american girl for 3 years now and we've decided to get married. My question is: Will I be able to apply for residency or the fact that I was arrested and charged with a felony void any possibility of adjusting my status ? None of the charges were violent crime/drug offense or crime of moral turpitude, I dont know if that matters.
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
Oct 16th 2006, 11:07 am
#2
Hull lass
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Huntington Beach
Posts: 186
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by meinfl
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
Oct 16th 2006, 11:25 am
#3
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by meinfl
Hello,
I came to America in 1999 on a tourist visa when I was 15 with my mom. I overstayed my visa and was working at a theme park in FL in 2004. I was given some free tickets and I sold them on ebay. To make a long story short, the management bought the tickets and called the police on me. I was charged with 3 felonies (I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true). I was 21 then... Because of a clean record and luck, 2 of the charges were dropped and one of them adjudication was witheld, I was placed on probation and 150 hours of community service... I succesfully finished everything before my deadline and have not been in any trouble ever since - not even a traffic violation.
I have been dating this american girl for 3 years now and we've decided to get married. My question is: Will I be able to apply for residency or the fact that I was arrested and charged with a felony void any possibility of adjusting my status ? None of the charges were violent crime/drug offense or crime of moral turpitude, I dont know if that matters.
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
I came to America in 1999 on a tourist visa when I was 15 with my mom. I overstayed my visa and was working at a theme park in FL in 2004. I was given some free tickets and I sold them on ebay. To make a long story short, the management bought the tickets and called the police on me. I was charged with 3 felonies (I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true). I was 21 then... Because of a clean record and luck, 2 of the charges were dropped and one of them adjudication was witheld, I was placed on probation and 150 hours of community service... I succesfully finished everything before my deadline and have not been in any trouble ever since - not even a traffic violation.
I have been dating this american girl for 3 years now and we've decided to get married. My question is: Will I be able to apply for residency or the fact that I was arrested and charged with a felony void any possibility of adjusting my status ? None of the charges were violent crime/drug offense or crime of moral turpitude, I dont know if that matters.
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
Hire that lawyer. You'll probably be just fine. But its a good idea to hire an attorney to look over the paperwork, do the research and reach a DEFINITE conclusion. At first blush, I think your fine but I am NOT committing to that answer. I may be a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer.
Oct 16th 2006, 9:17 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 63
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
3 felonies for just selling free tickets online? are you sure thats the only thing that you did?
palgia
palgia
Oct 16th 2006, 10:01 pm
#5
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by palgia
3 felonies for just selling free tickets online? are you sure thats the only thing that you did?
palgia
palgia
He was CHARGED with three felonies -- he was not convicted. Lets set aside plea bargains for the moment [to avoid controversy] -- it is not uncommon for juries to acquit on a charged offense but to convict on what us legal types call a "lesser include offense."
Oct 17th 2006, 4:09 am
#6
Just Joined
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by palgia
3 felonies for just selling free tickets online? are you sure thats the only thing that you did?
palgia
palgia
You are not the first one who have asked me this, I actually get asked that everytime I tell somebody what happened to me.
It is crazy and ridiculous, but it is the truth. The power of Disney - I guess.
My case was full of mistakes... even during my pre trial conference, the judge AND the prosecutor thought that the tickets were counterfit, the police thought I was printing out tickets out of my computer... it was all a big JOKE... but a joke that costed me a lot of money, time and my clean record. But I took the best out of it, and I still volunteer at the place I did my community service, I think 1,000 times before doing anything, even if it seems stupid, cuz the "stupid" landed me in jail...
Oct 17th 2006, 6:58 am
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by meinfl
Hello,
I came to America in 1999 on a tourist visa when I was 15 with my mom. I overstayed my visa and was working at a theme park in FL in 2004. I was given some free tickets and I sold them on ebay. To make a long story short, the management bought the tickets and called the police on me. I was charged with 3 felonies (I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true). I was 21 then... Because of a clean record and luck, 2 of the charges were dropped and one of them adjudication was witheld, I was placed on probation and 150 hours of community service... I succesfully finished everything before my deadline and have not been in any trouble ever since - not even a traffic violation.
I have been dating this american girl for 3 years now and we've decided to get married. My question is: Will I be able to apply for residency or the fact that I was arrested and charged with a felony void any possibility of adjusting my status ? None of the charges were violent crime/drug offense or crime of moral turpitude, I dont know if that matters.
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
I came to America in 1999 on a tourist visa when I was 15 with my mom. I overstayed my visa and was working at a theme park in FL in 2004. I was given some free tickets and I sold them on ebay. To make a long story short, the management bought the tickets and called the police on me. I was charged with 3 felonies (I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is true). I was 21 then... Because of a clean record and luck, 2 of the charges were dropped and one of them adjudication was witheld, I was placed on probation and 150 hours of community service... I succesfully finished everything before my deadline and have not been in any trouble ever since - not even a traffic violation.
I have been dating this american girl for 3 years now and we've decided to get married. My question is: Will I be able to apply for residency or the fact that I was arrested and charged with a felony void any possibility of adjusting my status ? None of the charges were violent crime/drug offense or crime of moral turpitude, I dont know if that matters.
Should I hire an attorney before applying ??
Reg. Frank R.
Oct 17th 2006, 7:00 am
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by frrussre
Get a lawyer. We even have one close by!
Reg. Frank R.
Reg. Frank R.
Reg. Frank R.
Oct 17th 2006, 7:48 am
#9
Shocked of Redmond
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 3,446
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by frrussre
Why did I get a Lawyer advert on the bottom of my reply?
Oct 17th 2006, 8:00 am
#10
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Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
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Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by nettlebed
Because you're not using Adblock?
reg. frank r.
Oct 18th 2006, 7:26 am
#11
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
YAY ! 
I just consulted an immigration lawyer and as we suspected, everything should be fine and I should be able to adjust my status.... they can't guarante 100% like in any cases, but he told me that my chance of getting everything approved is just the same of anyone else...
I am so happy !!!
Now he wants to charge me $1,500 plus immigration fees... is that normal price ?
Also, when my mom did her process 3 years ago, I filled out all her forms and everything was approved and her green card granted... so should I just do it on my own again or should I hire him ?
I just consulted an immigration lawyer and as we suspected, everything should be fine and I should be able to adjust my status.... they can't guarante 100% like in any cases, but he told me that my chance of getting everything approved is just the same of anyone else...
I am so happy !!!
Now he wants to charge me $1,500 plus immigration fees... is that normal price ?
Also, when my mom did her process 3 years ago, I filled out all her forms and everything was approved and her green card granted... so should I just do it on my own again or should I hire him ?
Oct 18th 2006, 8:30 am
#12
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by meinfl
Now he wants to charge me $1,500 plus immigration fees... is that normal price ?
Also, when my mom did her process 3 years ago, I filled out all her forms and everything was approved and her green card granted... so should I just do it on my own again or should I hire him ?
Also, when my mom did her process 3 years ago, I filled out all her forms and everything was approved and her green card granted... so should I just do it on my own again or should I hire him ?
Oct 18th 2006, 8:39 am
#13
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by Bob
No one but you can answer that....but as for the fee, shouldn't you have discussed that to begin with?
Well, I am not sure that attorneys negotiate their fees... I was just wondering whether or not that sounds reasonable.
As for the forms, I had no trouble whatsover when filling them out for my mom, but I dont know if things have changed... but I guess before dropping $1,500 I will try to do them myself. $1,500 is a lot of money... it will pay for a honeymoon or something...
Oct 18th 2006, 8:55 am
#14
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by meinfl
I dont know if things have changed... but I guess before dropping $1,500 I will try to do them myself.
How will you know if you are right or wrong?
Oct 18th 2006, 9:20 am
#15
Shocked of Redmond
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 3,446
Re: Can I adjust my status ?
Originally Posted by meinfl
Well, I am not sure that attorneys negotiate their fees... I was just wondering whether or not that sounds reasonable.
As for the forms, I had no trouble whatsover when filling them out for my mom, but I dont know if things have changed... but I guess before dropping $1,500 I will try to do them myself. $1,500 is a lot of money... it will pay for a honeymoon or something...
As for the forms, I had no trouble whatsover when filling them out for my mom, but I dont know if things have changed... but I guess before dropping $1,500 I will try to do them myself. $1,500 is a lot of money... it will pay for a honeymoon or something...
