Lesley1020

Well folks I have just had the best news ever!!!! After a series of cock up and disasters (of course) I had my labor certification OFFICIAL approval today.

Of course EB3 is full until October 1st, but I have time to file for AOS in the 11 day gap between then and my J1 expiring. Seems they expect EB3 for UK to be available again but with a cut off date of Dec 05. So I will be working on a voluntary basis for my sponsoring employer between expiry of J1 and the EAD coming through, so thank goodness I sold my house!!!!

I am sitting here typing this in a state of shock. I just can't believe I am actually going to be able to stay!!!! Of course I am sure I need to go through another bunch of cr*p now - I have no clue what awaits me once I file for AOS and that point forward etc.. but I am still going to OFFICIALLY celebrate with buckets of alcohol tonight LOL.

Yay! I get to stay and be with my best friends, my boyfriend, my dog, my cat and my beta fish (hee hee), my job, my cute apartment on the lake - can you tell I am on cloud nine!!!!!!!

And you know, I totally took an alternative route to getting here - and so many times I have heard from people you are wasting your time, you are never going to get this blah blah.... so I just want to say to everyone, if you want something bad enough - you go for it - one way or another you win, cos you tried and will never have what ifs - or you win because you succeed in securing your dream.

So to everyone that is going through this immigration minefield or just contemplating it, for sure expect a rough road and a lot of disappointments, but in my opinion, the end result is more than worth it!!!

~ Lesley

fatbrit

Congratulations. You are an excellent example of what I quoted from you above!
Mens agitat molem
Nil sine labore.

Dufus

Congratulations, you found a way of getting it to work for you and did not give up when I am sure you were advised you maybe should.

Really hope it works out for you.

Pigtails

Congrats Leslie, that's awesome news!!! Karma on it's way.

Silverdragon102

congratulations, really pleased that everything is working out for you

krizzy

Good news........we also have beta fish........

evoal2003

What great news.

Congratulations..

rincewind

Congrats!!!!



Eventually it all feels worth it, just hang in there

ukemigrant

Good for you!

Hammo

Congratulations Lesley - that's great news!

Cheers and best wishes to you

Andy.

deaks

Congratulations Lesley

I am so pleased for you. I am currently going through the wait for labor cert.

I got the job offer in November 03
We originally filed for RIR in September 04. (so much papework to prepare)
Found out about Backlog Reduction Centers in February 05
Started in new PERM based application in March 05
Employer PERM account is now set up (August 05)
Final part of PERM submission being entered online this week by our attorney

I am hoping for a PERM approval soon, just in time to get a priority date for EB3 based i140/i485 in October.

I am still based in the UK but last week was sucessful in getting 10 year B2 visitors visas from the US Embassy in London (that was scarey). This will allow us to file for adjustment of status in the US once the labor cert comes through (sorry, I mean IF it comes through).

Despite the rigerous (sp) recruitment requirements, not one single person applied for the Job who was even remotely suitable/qualified. Sometimes, working in a specialised industry has it's upside (digital video/broadcast).

I realise that the labor cert is only the first stage, and a long road is still ahead, but it is very uplifting, to hear that someone else is having some positive results.

I have a question, maybe you can answer for me......

Once I recieve my labor cert through and my family and I travel over to the US for a 'holiday' using our B2 visas, assuming the retrogression for EB3 has finished, I can then concurrently file i140 & i485 for all my family members, thus allowing us to stay in the US while our AOS is processed, will I be able to start working for my employer straight away, or do i have to wait for something else to be processed???? if so what do I need and how long does it take to get one ???

Oh, and will this mean that my wife could start looking for a LEGAL part time job as well ???

Thanks, and sorry to hijack your thread (a liitle )

Have a on me

Deaks (andrew)

Lesley1020

Hi there! Once you file I485 you can stay in the US, but you will have to wait for your EAD (employment authorization) to come through before you can start working for the company. My attorney has told him that for our area, it should be around 60 days... but I am going to work for my employer on a "voluntary" basis during that time... I figure after all they have done for me its the least I can do!

Not sure about your wife, but I assume again once she has EAD she is good to go, so once you know about processing times etc in your area, maybe she should start looking yes.

Good luck with it all - it seems from what I have experienced and others I know - Atlanta processing centre is the one issuing all the approvals, people seem to be "stuck" in Chicago but hopefuly that will get moving soon too.

All the best!