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Curious about Adjustment of Status, Terrified of Accidental Fraud

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amkimrey

New member
Missouri

My husband and I need some advice. I (American citizen) am in the process submitting CR1 for my husband, who is Brazilian. We got married in Brazil in August 2018. At that time, we decided to pursue a CR1 visa. We hired rapidvisa.com to review and mail our documents and we have not filed the petition yet. My husband arrived in the US with a B2 visa planning to make a temporary visit and stay up to mid June before going back to Brazil. He got heavily questioned by CPB in Chicago before being allowed to continue on his way.
Since he arrived, we’ve been preparing documents to complete our CR1 petition, such as getting a joint bank account, joint car title, and joint car insurance. Now we are realizing just how much longer the CR1 could take and he started asking about the Adjustment of Status instead of the CR1 process. We have most of the documents required for that petition as well. Obviously we want to stay together because long distance just totally sucks, but as far as I was aware, applying for AoS while on a B2 was an automatic no. I am very afraid of accidentally committing fraud or something worse and having my husband basically permabanned from reentry and deported to boot.
Some additional relevant info - hubs didn’t even quit his job back in Brazil and has been teleworking during his stay here. He has no written documentation of his agreement with his boss to telework for around 2-3 months, but maybe we could get that. He has a return flight and short term travel insurance with an end date. He hasn't transferred any of his funds from his bank accounts, left most of his possessions at home, and has yet to pick up his college graduation diploma. His family is expecting him back.
We want to get legal advice on whether we would be committing immigration fraud or not by filing for the Adjustment of Status in this situation, and how to prove the authorities in the best way possible that he was truly with the intent of doing a temporary visit but we changed our minds. At what step of the process do we need to prove our case? Do we include documentation of prior intent to return with the initial petition, or just bring it to the interview?
Thank you for all of your help. I'm a bundle of nerves with this possibility.
tl;dr: Hubs is here on B2 and we like it, want to change from initial plan of CR1 to AoS. Is it legal?
 


Just Blue

Senior Member
Missouri

My husband and I need some advice. I (American citizen) am in the process submitting CR1 for my husband, who is Brazilian. We got married in Brazil in August 2018. At that time, we decided to pursue a CR1 visa. We hired rapidvisa.com to review and mail our documents and we have not filed the petition yet. My husband arrived in the US with a B2 visa planning to make a temporary visit and stay up to mid June before going back to Brazil. He got heavily questioned by CPB in Chicago before being allowed to continue on his way.
Since he arrived, we’ve been preparing documents to complete our CR1 petition, such as getting a joint bank account, joint car title, and joint car insurance. Now we are realizing just how much longer the CR1 could take and he started asking about the Adjustment of Status instead of the CR1 process. We have most of the documents required for that petition as well. Obviously we want to stay together because long distance just totally sucks, but as far as I was aware, applying for AoS while on a B2 was an automatic no. I am very afraid of accidentally committing fraud or something worse and having my husband basically permabanned from reentry and deported to boot.
Some additional relevant info - hubs didn’t even quit his job back in Brazil and has been teleworking during his stay here. He has no written documentation of his agreement with his boss to telework for around 2-3 months, but maybe we could get that. He has a return flight and short term travel insurance with an end date. He hasn't transferred any of his funds from his bank accounts, left most of his possessions at home, and has yet to pick up his college graduation diploma. His family is expecting him back.
We want to get legal advice on whether we would be committing immigration fraud or not by filing for the Adjustment of Status in this situation, and how to prove the authorities in the best way possible that he was truly with the intent of doing a temporary visit but we changed our minds. At what step of the process do we need to prove our case? Do we include documentation of prior intent to return with the initial petition, or just bring it to the interview?
Thank you for all of your help. I'm a bundle of nerves with this possibility.
tl;dr: Hubs is here on B2 and we like it, want to change from initial plan of CR1 to AoS. Is it legal?
Given the unfortunate immigration climate and the unceremonious withdrawal of the "welcome mat" at the borders of the United States...I would advice you to work with an Immigration Attorney.
 
I agree with Just Blue, get an attorney.
That date stamped on his passport or the date on the I-94 is the last day he may remain in the US. As your husband is in the US on a tourist visa, and unless someone can correct me, you cannot apply for an adjustment of status from tourist to permanent resident because everyone would be doing it.
 

LdiJ

Senior Member
I agree with Just Blue, get an attorney.
That date stamped on his passport or the date on the I-94 is the last day he may remain in the US. As your husband is in the US on a tourist visa, and unless someone can correct me, you cannot apply for an adjustment of status from tourist to permanent resident because everyone would be doing it.

If someone marries in the US after legal entry (no matter what type of visa), status CAN be changed. However this situation is different and I believe that the OP needs a consult with an immigration attorney. I don't believe that there is anyone currently posting on the forums who is qualified to answer the OP's overall questions.
 
If someone marries in the US after legal entry (no matter what type of visa), status CAN be changed. However this situation is different and I believe that the OP needs a consult with an immigration attorney. I don't believe that there is anyone currently posting on the forums who is qualified to answer the OP's overall questions.
The OP said they married in Brazil, then he came to the US as a tourist.
 

quincy

Senior Member
... I don't believe that there is anyone currently posting on the forums who is qualified to answer the OP's overall questions.
Mass_Shyster has some immigration law experience, I believe.

But I agree that amkimrey will want to seek out an immigration attorney.
 

Mass_Shyster

Senior Member
You are smart to be concerned about fraud. When someone enters the US on a B2 visa, they are supposed to enter with no intention to immigrate. This is why CBP gave him such a hard time about entering on a tourist visa while married to a US Citizen. They were suspicious of immigrant intent. Entering in a tourist visa with immigrant intent is fraud.

Now if you go ahead and file for concurrent processing (AoS), they will likely decide there WAS immigrant intent when he entered.

The safest option is to skip the AoS, have him return to Brazil NOW, and wait out the time until his visa is approved. You should probably get an attorney anyway.
 

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