Immigration lawyer?

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Hi! I am a Canadian nurse trying to move to NYC to be with my long-term boyfriend. I started the immigration process last year. I wrote and passed my NCLEX in Sept then started everything else in Dec. I am able to qualify for a TN visa once NY state has processed my application for licensure. I was hoping the entire process might take less than a year, but this is looking doubtful as it took CGFNS the full 6 months just to verify my information. Has anyone had any experience with hiring an immigration lawyer? Does this help to expedite the process? Has anyone had experience travel nursing in NYC? Which agency did you go through and how was your experience?

In case you are wondering about marriage as an option, I have definitely considered it! My bf and I are planning to get married at some point (we have been together for 10+ years!) but I didn't like some of the clauses with the fiance visa (i.e. that you can't leave the US while your visa is being processed- which can take quite a long time, from what I've heard). Has anyone done this?

Any and all advice/comments are much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If you do the fiance visa route you have to get married within 90 days of activating it and you should be able to change status pretty quickly as this type of visa is designed that way

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Hi! I am a Canadian nurse trying to move to NYC to be with my long-term boyfriend. I started the immigration process last year. I wrote and passed my NCLEX in Sept then started everything else in Dec. I am able to qualify for a TN visa once NY state has processed my application for licensure. I was hoping the entire process might take less than a year, but this is looking doubtful as it took CGFNS the full 6 months just to verify my information. Has anyone had any experience with hiring an immigration lawyer? Does this help to expedite the process? Has anyone had experience travel nursing in NYC? Which agency did you go through and how was your experience?

In case you are wondering about marriage as an option, I have definitely considered it! My bf and I are planning to get married at some point (we have been together for 10+ years!) but I didn't like some of the clauses with the fiance visa (i.e. that you can't leave the US while your visa is being processed- which can take quite a long time, from what I've heard). Has anyone done this?

Any and all advice/comments are much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I hired an immigration lawyer because I didn't want to go through the hassle of filling out paperwork and studying the immigration laws. However, remember that this will not expedite the process. Good luck!

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Specializes in Oncology.

I first entered U.S eith J1 and then to F1 and then marriage. I did everything by myself, never hired a lawyer.

All I did was follow the instructions on USCIS.org, read carefully and filled in the application accordingly. Then I received my status and my GC.

My GC process took about 4 months from the day I submitted the paper work to USCIS. So it is not that long in my state. It may be longer in the state that have a number of immigrants.

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it can take less then a year for sure it only took me about 3 months to get everything sorted out and got my TN. 1st thing is 1st do u have a job offer? 2nd do u have your visa screen certificate? without ne of those then yes it will take you a long while and if you are concerned about the time factor if you haven't gotten your visa screen yet pay the extra $$ to get it processed faster TRUST ME its worth it and no lawyer is needed just a waste of $$

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My bf and I are planning to get married at some point (we have been together for 10+ years!) but I didn't like some of the clauses with the fiance visa (i.e. that you can't leave the US while your visa is being processed- which can take quite a long time, from what I've heard). Has anyone done this?

Any and all advice/comments are much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

For a marriage based visa like a K1 a lawyer is waste of time and money, Paperwork fairly simple and you will do all the work anyways getting the evidence.

You enter the USA after your Visa is approved, then you have 90 days to marry. Once married you submit AOS (Adjustment of Status) for $1070 and then you request your EAD / AP (Employee Authroization Card and Advance Parole) free of charge to work and travel back to USA. Take about 30 to 60 days to get AP/EAD combo card after filing for your greencard. Greencard now of days is taking about 6 to 12 months.

I have seen many immigration lawyer mess up on paperwork and cause delays, best to research and do yourself.......

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Thanks for all of your thoughtful replies! I decided to go for the TN visa instead of the fiance visa and opted not to get an immigration lawyer as it seems like a straight-forward process. My visa screen has been processed, I have my NY state license, and I am actively applying for jobs. So far I've had one HR screening interview that seemed promising. I'm so excited to be reunited with my boyfriend and experience working as a nurse in NY. The process has been lengthy, and my patience was definitely exhausted at times, but it's such a relief to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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Hey Ianna,

l've seen a few of your feeds and questions on this site, you and I are in the exact same boat! I've been working on my paper work going on almost 2 years, my boyfriend of over 2 years lives in NY and I live in Alberta as an ER nurse. I have my NY state license, all the required courses, I have passed my NCLEX and have already have gotten my visa screen approval. Now I'm debating on doing the travel nursing vs finding a job on my own through the TN visa way. I already have my CPR ACLS & PALS through the American heart association. I'm just wondering what stage of the process you are on now? And if you've found a job yet or have had any job offers and how you went about talking to the employers about working at their hospital with a TN visa?!?

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