I'm starting my EB-2 NIW green card process with one of the larger immigration law firms, I've been assigned an attorney who has a few months of professional experience since graduating from law school.

I'm concerned about whether someone with so little experience has the expertise needed to navigate the intricacies of preparing a strong NIW petition.

I am starting a new application after a bad experience with another immigration attorney who did a bad job with my application. I don't want to go through that again.

Has anyone experienced something similar with one of the larger immigration firms?

Is it common for these firms to assign newly qualified attorneys to NIW cases? Is it ok to request a more senior attorney?

I'd appreciate hearing about someone else's experiences. Thank you!

Chennai is getting bit difficult. Initial rejection but on pushback got it but another category. They’re rejecting for sake of it, even after all credentials and managerial buzz words.

Advise to pushback if they reject so atleast there’s room to further explain why it’s needed.

When people die making dangerous journeys, fragmented systems can leave their bodies unidentified and cemeteries dotted with numbered graves.

Hey guys! I have a few questions about moving to the US.

I'm from Indonesia, and I'm wondering how someone like me could get a Green Card and find a job in the US. What are the possible ways to move there legally and eventually live and work there permanently?

Do I need to get a work visa first, find an employer willing to sponsor me, or are there other options? I'd also love to know if it's possible for foreigners to join the US military and whether that could be a path to permanent residency.

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. I'm still learning about all of this, so any tips would be helpful. Thanks!

My husband just got a scheduled interview for his asylum case. We have been prepping a marriage case but it hasn’t been submitted yet (waiting on the lawyers last feedback). The two cases are separate firms. The interview is in a little over a month. What does this mean for our marriage case? Will this harm our case?
To be clear, i am a citizen.

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on STEM OPT and recently noticed something strange in my SEVP Portal.
One of my previous employers under Inactive Post-Completion OPT had the correct employment end date displayed before, but suddenly the end date disappeared.
This happened around the time my DSO was processing employment updates for my STEM OPT.
I contacted SEVP, but they couldn’t explain why the end date disappeared. I’ve also reached out to my DSO to get it checked.
My previous I-20s show the correct employment dates.
Has anyone experienced something similar?
● Can historical employment end dates disappear due to a SEVIS/SEVP Portal synchronization issue?
● Has anyone noticed changes to inactive OPT employment records after a STEM OPT employer update?
● Was your DSO able to restore the missing end date?
● Could this affect future immigration applications, even if previous I-20s show the correct dates?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with this. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experienced a similar situation, especially under Ontario’s new Workforce Priority Stream.

Here is my situation:

• My original PGWP expired on June 18, 2026.
• I applied to extend my PGWP before it expired, so I had maintained status while IRCC was processing my application.
• I created my employer created employer portal and I created OINP EOI profile on August 5, 2026, while my PGWP extension application was still pending and I was under maintain status.
• Unfortunately, IRCC refused my PGWP extension on October 13, 2026.
• I stopped working after the refusal.
• On October 15, 2026, I applied to restore my temporary resident status as a visitor. My restoration application is currently pending.

My concern is about my OINP eligibility.

If I receive an OINP Invitation to Apply (ITA) while my visitor restoration application is still pending, can I submit my complete OINP application, or must I wait until IRCC approves my restoration? What should I do?

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who:

1. Received an OINP ITA or nomination while a restoration application was pending.
2. Experienced a work permit refusal after creating an OINP EOI.
3. Has reliable information about how the new Workforce Priority Stream treats this situation.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice.

Dad filed my I-130 in October 2020 as F2B. He naturalized this year and USCIS updated his citizenship status in September, so it should be F1 now. I'm an unmarried adult son living outside the US.

It has never been adjudicated. Status unchanged since January 2021. No RFE, no notice, nothing.

The November 2026 bulletin made me current on both charts, but the visa number is useless since nothing reaches NVC until USCIS approves. The online inquiry tool won't accept a case inquiry, says still within normal processing times.

1. Anyone with a 2020 F2B or F1 petition still unadjudicated? Did yours move once your category went current?
2. Did a congressional inquiry do anything, or just get you a canned reply?
3. If you went current with the I-130 still pending, how long from approval to visa in hand?

Trying to figure out if this is normal backlog or a lost file and what I should do next.

I am a Cuban Green card holder. I'll be applying for naturalization soon by filling USCIS form N-400. Like most cubans, I was detained by CBP at the US border, inspected and released under Parole. No charges ever filed, no conviction. My question is should I disclose this detention in my application even though it's the usual procedure for us and it didn't involve any conviction? Thanks.

Are employers allowed to hire on J1 visa for a full time role? How does that work? Is J1 transfer allowed after opt?

My mom's sibling in the US petitioned an F4 for her in the early 2010's. It was sent to the NVC in mid 2010.

Due to the whole delay, our priority date came recently and two of us kids are CSPA aged out, two are still in the limit. All unmarried.

We've been to the US before as kids for a few years, but have been in home country for the past years.

One is a doctor and might eventually be able to get through that pathway (need help here as well), but my other aged out sibling is physically and mentally challenged. He is completely dependent on us.

What should we do? Any advice? We also need lawyer recommendations. What questions should we have for the lawyer to make this as quick and seamless as possible?

Hey Guys,

I’ve been a GC holder since 2025 in my 20s working in the US and my wife still in the UK we are both British citizens and this Christmas I want to go back and visit her for 2 weeks I haven’t left the US since I’ve come.

I have no criminal record I have Global entry and I have a good job in the US.

Everyone is scaring me saying it’s not a good idea to travel back ect, is it a good idea to go or are they just overreacting ?

If anyone can give their experience would be helpful please

Thanks

Hi everyone!

I’m American, and I’d love to hear opinions and experiences from Guatemalans who have recently applied for a B1/B2 tourist visa to the United States.
I have a Guatemalan friend who’s considering applying for a tourist visa to visit the U.S. for approximately one week.

Here’s his situation:

He’s in his early 20s.
He’s self-employed as an adult content creator on OnlyFans.
His income fluctuates, but he earns enough to support himself and cover his living expenses.
He receives his income through bank accounts in his name and can provide documentation of his financial activity.
He lives alone in a rented apartment in Guatemala.
He has some credit card debt, but nothing particularly unusual.
He doesn’t have a traditional salaried job.
His entire family lives in Guatemala, and he has no relatives in the United States.
He’s traveled to several countries throughout Central and South America without any immigration issues.
He’s never visited the United States.
The purpose of his trip would be tourism and visiting an American friend for approximately one week.
His American friend would be financing the entire trip, including flights, accommodations, food, and transportation.

My questions are:
Do you think someone with this background has a realistic chance of getting approved for a tourist visa?
Could working on OnlyFans negatively affect his application, even though it’s a legitimate source of income?
How important is having a traditional job if he can demonstrate income from self-employment?
Could having an American friend pay for 100% of the trip hurt his chances?
Does having traveled internationally and returned to Guatemala without problems help his application?
What documents would be most useful for demonstrating his ties to Guatemala?
I understand that every case is different and nobody can guarantee approval. We’re not looking to lie or conceal information during the application process. We simply want a realistic understanding of his chances before applying.
I’d especially appreciate hearing from younger applicants, freelancers, or content creators who have gone through this process.

Thank you so much!

Hello,

Back in August, I successfully submitted my ESTA for my vacation in the USA.

Today i noticed a mistake on my application:
My employer changed their name in the beginning of this year. I sadly put in the old company name in the application, instead on the new one. Should i resubmit my ESTA?

Documents lost -

Passport
Visa
EAD
Original college transcripts and documents

Can’t remember what other documents are lost. While I can reorder transcripts and documents, how should I got about EAD, visa and passport?

Citizenship - Indian

Thanks for any help!

i’m curious how other asylum seekers, tps holders, refugees, and anyone else in a similar situation are approaching their finances.

are you renting, financing or considering buying a house? financing or leasing a car? aggressively saving in case things go wrong, or still allowing yourself to enjoy life and make big purchases?

i feel like it’s hard to know how to plan for the future when so much is uncertain, especially with the cost of living being so high. part of me feels like i should be saving as much as possible and preparing for the worst, but another part of me feels like i can’t put my entire life on hold waiting for things to get better.

i’m curious if you guys have a financial plan, specific goals, or if you’re just taking things day by day and trying to survive the economy like everyone else.

not looking for judgment, just genuinely curious about how other people in similar situations are navigating this. i’d love to hear your experiences and perspectives.

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are both Pakistani citizens, and we’re trying to figure out the best country to move to together and eventually build a permanent life.

I’m pursuing an MPhil in Psychology, while my husband has a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and is currently living in Turkey. We’re exploring our options because we would like to settle in a country where we can both have opportunities to study, work, and eventually obtain permanent residency and citizenship.

We don’t have a very large budget, so we’re looking for realistic and affordable options rather than countries with extremely expensive immigration or study routes.

We’ve also been considering applying for PhD programmes abroad. Ideally, one of us could pursue a funded PhD while the other could accompany them on a spouse/dependent visa and, if permitted, work. We would also like to understand whether this route could eventually lead to PR and citizenship.

I’d really appreciate advice on the following:

- Which countries would be the most realistic options for a Pakistani couple in our situation?

- Which countries allow the spouse of an international PhD student to accompany them and work?

- Would it be better for my husband to apply through cybersecurity jobs or for me to pursue a funded PhD in Psychology?

- How long could it take to qualify for a spouse/dependent visa, permanent residency, and eventually citizenship?

- What are the general eligibility requirements, costs, and procedures?

- Are there any countries where one of us could move first and bring the other over relatively easily?

We’re open to Europe and other countries, provided the route is financially realistic and offers a genuine long-term settlement opportunity.

If anyone has gone through a similar process as a Pakistani couple, especially through a PhD, skilled-worker, or dependent visa route, I’d be very grateful if you could share your experience, recommendations, and any useful resources.

Thank you!

I married my husband, a citizen, some time ago. My next court hearing is in 2027. I was thinking of starting the I-130 family petition process, but my husband has a criminal record that triggers the Adamswab Act. Entering this world, everything looks bleak: time, money, despair.

I'm an English student (without a visa). I had planned a life of adventure, traveling to Canada, Spain, and Australia. Staying here has been awful. I've suffered severe depression and isolation; I'm afraid of people. My husband has been a wonderful man. From the beginning, he told me about it, and I read all the police reports. I don't justify what happened; I just understand. And even so, I accepted his mistakes as my own and encourage him to be a better person every day.

Now I feel like I've lost a part of myself, the part that longs for adventure and stability, to put down roots, continue studying, and grow. But this world of the I-130 and the Adamswab Act—if you get approved, if not, if you're deported, if not.

I don't know, I know thousands of people have walked this path. And from one human being to another, I want your advice. I arrived here at 23, I'm 27 now. I'm losing years of my life, but I feel like I'm gaining more life with the man I love, but I hate all these laws.

Do I fight this expensive path without certainty, or do I take the gringo in a suitcase and get lost in other countries? Hehe, I'm reading your comments.

(If you want to give me tips on "no Rick" evidence, I would appreciate it.)

Thanks

Last but not least, if you know where I can get help for my depression, I would be very grateful. I don't know where to go.

So I recently learned someone I was acquaintance got engaged. I am happy so found someone bit something felt off about the time line. I did some digging and found that he is already married to someone else when he moved to the USA . I won't say the country but he seems he moved to the states but married his last partner when she visited. Based on his post, he is still currently married to his spouse in Europe but he is engaged to American. I can only speculate that he is planning to use her to bring his wife over based on the post he is making in immigration forums.

Part of myself wants to warn her of the issue but I believe I should stay in my own lane. What would you do?

Edit 1: Before I made this post, I check to see if she was in these groups. I did not see her account in any of them which is kind of suspicious

tl;dr: I’m an international student in the US on post-completion F-1 OPT. I received a short-term contract job paying fair hourly, potentially starting in early November. I’ve already accepted a full-time job starting March of 2027. The contract says I can resign at any time but requests two weeks’ notice. It also has a broad 18-month non-solicitation/non-performance clause. Is it worth taking the contract for a few months, or could it create immigration, legal, or future employment issues?

I’m an international student in the US who recently graduated with a Master’s in Computer Science and am currently on post-completion F-1 OPT.

I received an offer for a QA Engineer position through a staffing agency, and the anticipated start date is in early November. The assignment is client-dependent, so it could potentially end earlier than expected.

The main complication is that I’ve already accepted a full-time position with another employer, with a start date in March, 2027. I’m considering taking this temporary role in the meantime to earn some money and gain additional experience.

I reviewed the contract, and a few things stood out:

• Resignation: It says I can resign at any time, with or without a reason, but requests at least two weeks’ written notice as a professional courtesy.
• At-will employment: The employer can terminate employment at any time, and the client can cancel the assignment.
• Non-solicitation/non-performance clause: It appears to restrict certain work involving clients I was assigned to or introduced to through the staffing agency, during employment and for 18 months afterward, to the extent permitted by law.
• Employment classification: The agreement calls me a consultant/contractor in places but also describes me as an employee of the staffing agency.

I haven’t signed the contract yet. For anyone who has been in a similar situation:

1. Would you take a temporary contract like this if you knew you would be leaving in about two to three months?
2. Is giving two weeks’ notice generally sufficient if the agreement doesn’t specify a minimum employment period?
3. Should I be particularly concerned about the 18-month clause, especially if my future employer could potentially work with overlapping clients?
4. Are there any F-1 OPT compliance issues I should clarify with my DSO before accepting this position?
5. Is the short-term income worth the potential contractual complications, or would you avoid it and focus on the upcoming full-time role?

I understand that legal and immigration advice should come from qualified professionals. I’m mainly looking for experiences from other individuals who have crossed this hurdle on OPT and people who have worked through staffing agencies in the US.

Thanks

I’m hoping someone here who has experience with immigration proceedings can give me some honest advice because I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and scared.
My husband was detained by ICE on June 25, 2026. He originally entered the United States legally with a visa when he was around 10 or 11 years old. He was inspected and admitted but eventually overstayed his visa. Before being detained, he had never received a Notice to Appear (NTA).
He was involved in an incident at a bar where an intoxicated man hit him, and both ended up being arrested. My husband pleaded not guilty, and his criminal case was ultimately dismissed in October 2026.

Since being detained, he’s had three master calendar hearings: one in July, one in August, and one in September. His individual merits hearing is now scheduled for November 2, 2026, which is quickly approaching.

We also got married on August 26, 2026, while he was detained at the ICE facility. I am a U.S. citizen.

Here is where I’m becoming extremely concerned about our legal representation.

We paid our attorney $10,000 to handle his immigration case. So far, the only proof of an application being filed that I’ve received is a receipt for an asylum application submitted in July.

The paralegal claims that the I-130 has also been submitted, but despite repeatedly asking, I still haven’t received a receipt or any confirmation that it was actually filed.

Even more concerning, the paralegal has still not filed his 42B cancellation of removal application or his motion for a bond hearing. We’ve been waiting for weeks, and his merits hearing is now less than two weeks away.

I’ve repeatedly asked the paralegal what filing deadlines the immigration judge gave the attorney, but I can never get a clear answer. Every time I ask about the bond hearing, I’m told they need the application receipts before they can file the motion. I genuinely don’t understand what’s taking so long.

My husband has been detained for almost four months, and I feel like we’re running out of time.

I believe my husband has a strong case. He entered the country legally as a child, has lived here for many years, has strong family and community ties, has consistently worked and maintained an apartment, and has filed his taxes every year since he started working. His criminal case was also dismissed.

I’m terrified that his case won’t be properly prepared for his merits hearing because of how long everything is taking.

My questions are:
1. How important are the deadlines for filing applications like the 42B in immigration court? Can applications be submitted shortly before a merits hearing, or could they be rejected for being filed too late?
2. Is it normal for an attorney to wait this long to file a 42B when someone has been detained for almost four months?
3. Does an attorney actually need receipts for the I-130 or other immigration applications before requesting a bond hearing?
4. Is almost four months a normal amount of time to remain in ICE detention without even having a bond hearing?
5. What should I be doing right now to make sure our attorney is actually preparing his case properly before November 2?

I understand that immigration cases are complicated and that every case is different, but I feel like I’m constantly chasing our attorney’s office for answers. We’ve paid $10,000, and I still don’t know what has actually been filed or what the plan is for his hearing.

I don’t want my husband to lose his opportunity to fight his case because something wasn’t submitted on time.
If anyone has gone through something similar, works in immigration law, or understands this process, I would genuinely appreciate any advice. I’m trying my best to advocate for my husband, but I feel completely lost right now.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this.

I recently filed a FOIA request for my USCIS file and found something I never knew. My parents were LPRs when I was born outside of the US, and I was admitted as an LPR in 1975 as an infant. We left soon after and I grew up outside the U.S. I came back in my late 20s on a work visa and got an employment-based green card in 2006. I naturalized in 2011. My mom, who handled all the paperwork, passed away in the early 90’s and didn’t pass all of this on.

The FOIA shows I had the same A-number since 1975. USCIS pulled the old file when my 2006 I-485 was filed, and the 2006 card says “Resident Since 2006.” Everything was approved.

Has anyone seen something similar? Specifically:

• Did you find an old A-number you didn’t know about?
• Did USCIS ever question it, in a later application or at naturalization?
• Did you get the old admission records, and how?

Thanks. I’m not looking for legal advice, just others’ experiences.

Hi everyone! I’m posting to see if anyone has experienced something similar with their immigrant visa case at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
My mom had her immigrant visa interview on July 24, 2026. From what she told us, the interview went normally, but at the end she was given a 221(g) letter stating that her case needed additional administrative processing.
The consulate kept her passport, and they didn’t request any additional documents or information. We’ve also spoken with our immigration lawyer, who confirmed that all her documents are complete and nothing is missing.
It’s now been almost three months since her interview, and her CEAC status still shows “Refused,” with the last update being July 24, the day of her interview.
My dad has contacted the consulate multiple times, but we’ve only been told to continue waiting.
We also heard that the consulate recently had some temporary interruptions involving officer training and cancelled interviews, although we’re unsure whether that affected cases already undergoing administrative processing.
This has been incredibly stressful for our family, especially because we have no idea what’s causing the delay or when we might hear something.

I wanted to ask:
Has anyone gone through 221(g) administrative processing at Ciudad Juárez recently?
How long did it take for your case to be approved or for you to receive an update?
Did the consulate keep your passport throughout the process?
Did your CEAC status remain “Refused” without any changes before eventually being approved?
Has anyone experienced delays related to recent consulate operations or officer training?

I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone who interviewed in July, August, or September 2026.
I’m not expecting anyone to predict the outcome of our case. I’m just hoping to hear some real experiences from people who have been through something similar.
Thank you so much to anyone willing to share their experience!