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Hello everyone, I have been reading the forums a lot lately and finally found the courage to post. I really hope that I find the help I need with you guys. My story is complicated. I will try to organize my points well. Please ask if you need clarification.
I am a female immigrant who came here on a Fiance Visa. Our marriage was somewhat arranged but we spoke and got to know each other for 2 years before finally committing to moving to USA to live with him. Unfortunately, I found out that phone/long distance relationships don't really help in getting to know the person because once I came here, I found a completely different person than the one I knew over the phone.
My husband has a previous failed marriage experience and seems to have been traumatized by it. He seems to have married someone from overseas to keep in the dark and only feed the information he wants/sees fit to share. A lot of what he told me is false and I am just starting to learn more about my rights and legal issues... Long story short, he did not want to marry me legally within 90 days. But, under pressure, he did 2 days before expiration date.
He owns a small grocery business. He lives with his parents. His father (my father in law) is verbally abusive and has physically assaulted other members of the family, just not me yet. They force me to work, unpaid, in the store (regardless of my legal work permission, they force me to work unpaid). Not only that but he doesn't care about developing a relationship with me. He leaves me and goes on vacations alone. He seems to have psych issues from his previous marriage and I really don't know why he even married me.
I left my home, job, and everything to immigrate here for him and I am completely thrown in the dark here. Everything he told me about my visa is apparently wrong. He refuses to adjust my status, he avoids me like the plague, and he allow his father to verbally abuse me while forcing me to work in their store. It's as if he brought a free worker to use as he pleases.
Here are some details followed by questions that I hope you guys can help me with:
1) I came to the US on a K1 visa in January 2019.
2) I got married within 90 days BUT my husband switched my first & last name on the certificate.
3) K1 expired in April 2019.
4) He refuses to adjust my status. He claims that he does not have the money to do so and that the application + lawyer will cost $6,000. A friend offered to lend me the cost but he still refuses to do it.
Questions:
1) My friend says that I am at risk of deportation. Is that true?
2) If so, how do they find me? What triggers me being found to be deported?
3) Can I travel by plane WITHIN the states? I have a cousin in TX that I'd like to go to if things get worse.
4) What are the forms that he needs to submit? I-485 and I-130? Anything else?
5) If he continues to refuse to apply, is there any way for me to adjust my own status?
6) If anyone knows about divorce, female rights, or immigrant rights, can they get in trouble for forcing me to work illegally and unpaid? What are my legal rights in this case?
7) Are these things ground to file for divorce without being deported? I really don't want to go back to my country and have to start everything over, on my own, from scratch.
8) Should I seek help from a lawyer? If so, should it be a divorce or an immigration lawyer? I don't have money for lawyers, how does that work?
9) HOW LONG does adjusting status take? I live near Springfield, VA. How long will it take to adjust my status?
10) Finally, if his father physically assaults me, can I call the cops? Will I be deported if I seek help from the local police? I am really scared that he may retaliate if I speak up.
I appreciate any input and help. I am new in the country and don't know what to do.
I am a female immigrant who came here on a Fiance Visa. Our marriage was somewhat arranged but we spoke and got to know each other for 2 years before finally committing to moving to USA to live with him. Unfortunately, I found out that phone/long distance relationships don't really help in getting to know the person because once I came here, I found a completely different person than the one I knew over the phone.
My husband has a previous failed marriage experience and seems to have been traumatized by it. He seems to have married someone from overseas to keep in the dark and only feed the information he wants/sees fit to share. A lot of what he told me is false and I am just starting to learn more about my rights and legal issues... Long story short, he did not want to marry me legally within 90 days. But, under pressure, he did 2 days before expiration date.
He owns a small grocery business. He lives with his parents. His father (my father in law) is verbally abusive and has physically assaulted other members of the family, just not me yet. They force me to work, unpaid, in the store (regardless of my legal work permission, they force me to work unpaid). Not only that but he doesn't care about developing a relationship with me. He leaves me and goes on vacations alone. He seems to have psych issues from his previous marriage and I really don't know why he even married me.
I left my home, job, and everything to immigrate here for him and I am completely thrown in the dark here. Everything he told me about my visa is apparently wrong. He refuses to adjust my status, he avoids me like the plague, and he allow his father to verbally abuse me while forcing me to work in their store. It's as if he brought a free worker to use as he pleases.
Here are some details followed by questions that I hope you guys can help me with:
1) I came to the US on a K1 visa in January 2019.
2) I got married within 90 days BUT my husband switched my first & last name on the certificate.
3) K1 expired in April 2019.
4) He refuses to adjust my status. He claims that he does not have the money to do so and that the application + lawyer will cost $6,000. A friend offered to lend me the cost but he still refuses to do it.
Questions:
1) My friend says that I am at risk of deportation. Is that true?
2) If so, how do they find me? What triggers me being found to be deported?
3) Can I travel by plane WITHIN the states? I have a cousin in TX that I'd like to go to if things get worse.
4) What are the forms that he needs to submit? I-485 and I-130? Anything else?
5) If he continues to refuse to apply, is there any way for me to adjust my own status?
6) If anyone knows about divorce, female rights, or immigrant rights, can they get in trouble for forcing me to work illegally and unpaid? What are my legal rights in this case?
7) Are these things ground to file for divorce without being deported? I really don't want to go back to my country and have to start everything over, on my own, from scratch.
8) Should I seek help from a lawyer? If so, should it be a divorce or an immigration lawyer? I don't have money for lawyers, how does that work?
9) HOW LONG does adjusting status take? I live near Springfield, VA. How long will it take to adjust my status?
10) Finally, if his father physically assaults me, can I call the cops? Will I be deported if I seek help from the local police? I am really scared that he may retaliate if I speak up.
I appreciate any input and help. I am new in the country and don't know what to do.
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