Meredith Riley Brown’s Answers

Or it could simply be that they need more time to run background checks, which is VERY standard and often, they need time to complete these checks.

Do not go in person to inquire about a warrant. Get a good criminal defense atty~we have some referrals so call us and you can also schedule a consult with our offices on any immigration issues, since that is our main practice area. We are local.

I agree with Mr. Moreno~the "fines" are read in the context of violating a criminal statute, not an administrative one. I believe that it is always a great idea to at least get an immigration attorney consult before applying for anything with USCIS, just in the abundance of caution.

There is a new "State-side" waiver for your consular process, and the regulations were just published today. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation on your case to further understand the facts of your case.

There is a new "State-side" waiver for your consular process, and the regulations were just published today. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation on your case to further understand the facts of your case.

Assuming you never overstayed before or worked here, you should be ok if you get married to the US citizen & adjust your status in the US. Make sure you consult with an immigration atty before filing docs with USCIS.

If you suffered substantial harm as a crime victim, you perhaps could be eligible for a U visa even if you are living abroad if the crime took place in the US (such as domestic violence) and if you can secure a police certification, attesting that you were helpful in reporting / prosecuting (as a witness) the crime. Otherwise, you must wait as my colleagues have said.

You are too close and that figure can go up in April 2013 (my reading is 125% for a family of three is $23,863) , so I would just make the consulate happy and save yourself time and headaches and get the co-sponsor. We are local, so feel free to call to schedule a consult with us!

It depends: if you travel to AZ, you could still get detained. Thanks to the Obama Administration, ICE JUST came out with criteria as to when they would detain a person. So, in LAX / FL, you should be fine, but thee are no guarantees.

No police certificate is needed from the US, but you will need police clearance in your country (usually, the Consulate will tell you if you need this). As my colleague stated, if you have a criminal history, you will need an original certified court disposition. In addition, you must show "exceptional hardship" to your wife, so she should seek out a good immigration lawyer in her area.