Hadou

He's in california. We wanted to hire a lawyer to help us with the immagration process.. however all the lawyers near us wanted WAY too much. the cheapest was about 2k and us being young and poor couldnt flip the bill for that. We did find a lawyer who was rated well and on the california state bar and he was in our price range, it was the best we could do. atleast we had a lawyer help us file and send everything.

lostlove

Mr F:

On the contrary, do DAO's get brownie points for denying cases?

jeffreyhy

The phrase "penney wise and pound foolish" comes to mind given that your wife is on the 'VWP Express', but I do hope that it turns out the phrase does not apply to her case and that your gut instinct has failed you this time.

Regards, JEff

lostlove

Its best for both of you'll to relax and wait for the decision. DAO's can be over zealous and picky, they can be laid back and foolish. Nothing of which indicate their final approval or denial of your case. I have seen some people with great interviews being denied. Her making copies has got nothing to do with the merits or demerits of your case.
Your's is a hard question to answer, it depends on the USCIS adjudicator. Remember you have the burden of proof to show your marriage is real, the adjudicator's job becomes tough to deny you because of the paper work involved. Approvals are easier than denials.
Chances of approval: Even an immigration lawyer doesn't give a guarantee for approval but hiring a barrister definitely increases your chances of an approval.

Fees for counsel vary from region to region, but are competitive inside a local region. A counselor in the heart of California will be more expensive than a counselor behind my back yard here at sleepy West Palm Beach, Florida.

jeffreyhy

In this case there is more involved than showing that the marriage is bona fide. There is also the issue of the applicant showing that they did not intend to immigrate when they entered under the VWP. And, perhaps, that they did not misrepresent their intentions when inspected at the PEO.

Regards, JEff

crosscountryrider

Sorry Jeff -this is not correct. According to the OP it's about a bona fide marriage only.

I hope for the OP that they are correct with their interpretation -otherwise he might be already on the road to his home country>

I am only reading the facts in this post .
Kind Regards
CCR

Hadou

My wife came under the VWP, but we only decided to get married while she was here...she had plane tickets booked to go home and her friends and family were expecting her back. The interviewer didn't even ask anything about her coming in on the VWP, she seemed pretty dead-set on just viewing official paper-work and proof.

Noorah101

I beg to differ. I think JEff has a valid point. According to the OP, it's about what the OP is interpreting to be the problem. There's no way the OP can get inside the officer's head to know what the real problem is, and JEff has a good point about what the real problem *might* be.

Rene

jeffreyhy

What the OP said was that the DAO seemed to be concerned about a bona fide marriage. She was giving her own interpretation of what the DAO was thinking based on what the DAO said. The OP does not know what else the DAO might have been thinking but did not say.

It turns out that this is a VWP Express sitution. In such cases the applicant's intent at time of entry is a consideration.

Regards, JEff

lostlove

Jeff:

The poster said - The interviewer was very picky about proving a "valid marriage"this is central focus of the interview at its face value.

People have come on VWP and visit visas, successfully adjusted their status after marriage.

But you never know whats inside the evil DAO's head, who are famous for their nonsense mombo-jombo denials without a law degree.

You make a valid point tho.

jeffreyhy

Deciding to get married is not the issue - deciding to stay and immigrate is the issue.

You may be correct about what decisions the DAO made or has yet to make regarding bona fide marriage and intent at the time of entry, or you may not. I am only pointing out that intent at the time of entry is an issue in this case, and its a determination that the DAO must make.
Regards, JEff

jeffreyhy

Agreed, many have. And some have not.
Exactly
Regards, JEff

UltraViolet007

JUST GOT AN EMAIL OF APPROVAL FROM USCIS!!

Will be expecting my Green Card in 30 days
I can't believe it only took one day, the interviewer told us several weeks...she probably just had to confirm with her supervisor or something...
Thanks for all your help everyone, you were awesome!

Hadou

Thank god! woohoo!

just to confirm because Im feeing worried still and skeptical the e-mail she recieved read

''On September 2, 2011, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.


This step applies to applications that result in an applicant receiving a card (such as a "green card") or other document (such as a naturalization certificate, employment authorization document, travel document, or advance parole). Applications will be in this step from the time the order to produce the card/document is given until the card/document is produced and mailed to the applicant. You can expect to receive your card/document within 30 days of the approval of your application.

If you do not receive your document, please contact our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.''

does this mean we ARE approved and are OK to celebrate!?

S Folinsky

See post #3 above.