eastendd

I have been in the US for 8 1/2 years now.............. I orginally came on a years work visa (nanny). I overstayed my visa and I have been working in an office, paying taxes etc., etc.

I have bought my own house and so am well established. I married a permanent US resident in February (we have been together for 8 years). Can I / how do get a green card etc., without going home. Is this something I can do even though I overstayed orginally????

Gtelele

Well, tell your spouse to become a US citizen, and then apply for you. It is much
easier that way. If your spouse is only a Green Card holder, you may have to leave
the country, I am not sure. Let's see what others say.

Shelley

If your spouse was a US citizen, then he/she could sponsor you for a Green Card while
you were in the US and the overstay and illegal work would be forgiven. As a PR, your
spouse could file the I-130, but the spousal visa wouldn't become current for 6 years
or so, and when you left the country to get the visa you would incur a 10 ban from
reentry. And if you have been working in the US with fraudulent documents, you have a
whole other set of problems. You need to consult an immigration attorney to find your
best course of action to get legal status in the US, because as you are now, you
could be deported and given a lifetime ban from the US. Take Care. Shelley

"eastendd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I have been in the US for 8 1/2 years now.............. I orginally came on a years
    > work visa (nanny). I overstayed my visa and I have been working in an office,
    > paying taxes etc., etc.
    >
    > I have bought my own house and so am well established. I married a permanent US
    > resident in February (we have been together for 8 years). Can I / how do get a
    > green card etc., without going home. Is this something I can do even though I
    > overstayed orginally????
    >
    >
    >
    > --
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