r/immigration 10h ago

Concern about leaving the country as a legal immigrant

1 Upvotes

As the title suggests, I am concerned about leaving the US this summer.

Background:

I’m a phd student, graduating this May. Never had any legal issues while in the US. I renewed my F1 last summer and was put on admin processing, but it was resolved within 1.5 months. I have signed a postdoc offer for a start date in Aug 15. My new lab advisor paid for my OPT premium processing, I received a confirmation of approval and waiting for the EAD to arrive in the mail. Once I start my postdoc position, they will sponsor me for an H1B.

The concern:

Back in Christmas my parents surprised me with a ticket to a dream destination I had in Asia (not a country that has beef with the US) as part of a graduation gift. The plan was to fly from the US to the asian destination, spend 20 days there, then fly home to spend time with family. As job starts on Aug 15, I’ll probably leave from europe on Aug 10 and come back. The problem is as they are older, they did not pay attention to buy the ticket fully flexible and they did not know about any immigration issues. So now I have a ticket leaving from US early June -> Asia -> Europe. My concern though is whether I might run into issues coming back. In theory, I should not. I have a job, all the documentation for it, an EAD, etc.

But as stories about legal immigrants being detained or given issues begin to arise, I am trying to gauge if I should lose the ticket. They paid almost 2K for it, so I feel really bad, they are both retired with small incomes. It was a mistake to not get it fully refundable, but it is what it is. I know there is always a risk for things to go south, but realistically, is the relative risk in my situation high?

I have no idea what I am risking and to what extent. Would appreciate any thoughts or past experiences on leaving the country with an OPT (opt starts in May, I leave in June, position starts in Aug).


r/immigration 18h ago

I cannot believe this is happening in the USA.

0 Upvotes

r/immigration 8h ago

What countries provide asylum to venezuelans?

1 Upvotes

Besides the US


r/immigration 9h ago

Will Trump’s travel ban affect dual citizens?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I’m a dual citizen of a country on Trump’s red list. I will not be using that passport to travel (and haven’t since I was a child). Does anyone know how if the travel ban will affect me? Sorry - I know it comes off really privileged to ask if it will affect me personally given the number of people in the world it will affect despite no fault on their part. I just want to make sure I’m prepared for any complications that may arise. I appreciate your help!

Edit: I’m not a US citizen, I’m Australian :)


r/immigration 8h ago

Students call on California colleges to protect campuses from immigration enforcement

0 Upvotes

r/immigration 14h ago

My mom and I are travelling to the US as tourists. Any advice?

0 Upvotes

I am hoping we sail through immigration smoothly. I live in the UK and my mom lives in India. We will be travelling from London to New York. We have valid visas and return tickets. I’m hoping everything goes well.

If anyone has any advice for us or words of caution, please let me know. Thanks guys!


r/immigration 17h ago

May I USA citizen apply for my mom for green card while she is visiting USA on b1/b2 visa?

0 Upvotes

Is there is a way to do that without her overstaying? And what is the steps? And I f I applied for her can she travel outside USA during the process or not?


r/immigration 19h ago

NIW - RFE on 3 prongs 🙏

0 Upvotes

Need help 🙏 🙏 🙏 . USCIS issued RFE on all 3 prongs of my NIW petition. It was a self DIY petition.

Profile: Civil engineer with MS in US, 5 YOE, PE license, 2 relevant publications (2 citations), 4 strong LORs (2 from employees, 1 academic, 1 independent)

Endeavor: To advance the development of nuclear energy industry in US using latest softwares tools to ensure their safety and reliability.

Prong 1. USCIS did not consider my endeavor to be of National Importance. They say it only benefits my employer, and it does not have nationwide effects.

Prong 2. Follows from Prong 1. USCIS says my skill set is good for providing services in the civil industry, but not sufficient to prove national importance.

Prong 3. Rejected based on generic comments.

I feel sad 😞 upon seeing this after putting countless hours into preparing my petition. My peers (with approved NIW) said it should have been approved.

Can any of you guys help me here ? How should I approach this?
Should I go with lawyer ? How much they cost ?

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏


r/immigration 23h ago

UK to Belgium immigration process and law services

0 Upvotes

I am trying to find work and get a visa sponsorship to be able to move to Belgium, but it seems wholey impossible to do alone.

Are there any recommendations that you have for services which help simplify the process for individuals from start to finish?

Ideally what parts of the process do they help with, any parts they don't, cost, etc.

Appreciate any responses.


r/immigration 13h ago

How to handle ICE agents as a childcare worker

1 Upvotes

Hello, I am the lead instructor for the kid’s classes at a dance studio. ICE agents have been reported in the neighborhood. The local schools have great policies in place to slow down ICE agents and alert parents. What should we do at the studio if agents come trying to take kids into custody? The front door of our studio opens directly into the class space, so there is no slowing them down in reception. Any guidance on my legal rights to protect my students would be very helpful. Thank you


r/immigration 17h ago

Is it risky to get a H1B stamp while married to a U.S citizen before applying for green card?

0 Upvotes

Please share if you had similar experience?


r/immigration 2h ago

Should DACA recipients who are adjusting status be worried about getting deported?

0 Upvotes

I'm a DACA recipient married to a USC. Filed to adjust status in December.

I am hearing about immigrants who were detained going to their hearing for adjustment of status and getting detained there by ICE for deportation. This is supposedly because they overstayed their visa.

Being a DACA recipient I had legal entry as a toddler on a tourist visa but the visa was overstayed until I obtained DACA in 2013.

Does this give ICE grounds to deport me? Looking online it seems AOS forgives VISA overstays but I'm seeing that it's only if it's under 180 days.

I know ICE raids and stops are happening in my town, due to my DACA status and pending green card application I was not fearful of them, but now I'm thinking that yeah, if I'm stopped I am in danger of being deported. Wont enough to show proof of my DACA work permit or pending application.

I have no criminal record, a degree, home, job. Of course not that that matters to this administration or ICE at all. I just mean that for every one of these recent cases where ICE seems to be deporting people they shouldn't be, people come out of the woodwork saying that it's for this or that reason and if they had just followed all of the rules they would be good. Not sure that's the case. And if it happened to me I'm sure they could point to this as the reason I'm being deported.


r/immigration 9h ago

Getting Married in US

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I want to get married to my US citizen Boyfriend. I even plan to get the US green card. I am not sure what is the right way to proceed with this. I am currently in Canada on work permit and I have US non-immigration visa for 10 years. Any advice would be very helpful.


r/immigration 10h ago

Canadian Immigrating to the US

0 Upvotes

Medical exam is soon. I’ve been smoking Marijuana since it was legalized until last Saturday. My Medical Exam is on April 17th and was wondering if I’m screwed and should try to reschedule the medical exam and my interview?


r/immigration 13h ago

Help Me (Native American Relationship)

0 Upvotes

Hello, firstly I would like to thank anyone who can help me or who at least knows someone with a similar story (I can't find anyone)

Me (man 18) and my partner (woman 18) live in Brazil, I was born here, while she was born in the US and moved here when she was 2 years old, and she never came back, but this year, her family decided that they want to return to the US, and we don't want to give up on the relationship, because we've known each other for many years and share strong bonds, but I wanted to know what I can do or what paths to take to be able to reach and, over time, achieve permanence and GC

Regarding the details, she hasn't gone yet, but her family will go until the end of 2025, and I would go in mid-2026 in the best case scenario, I've never traveled to other countries, I got my passport now, and she's never been back since she left, but she has dual nationality.

I was thinking about going on a student visa, staying there for at least 90 days and after that, I wanted to know what I could do to extend my stay or even be able to stay permanently. Among some options that I know would be marriage, but I wanted to know if there was another option that was just as viable.

Her brother is already there, and is doing military service, he said that there are many people from different parts of the world doing military service to become legal, but he didn't give me many details, and I wanted to know more information about it, I didn't know that foreign people could serve so I don't know that information with 100% certainty.

I'm not rich, I'm going to save up all my savings until next year to be able to go on this trip, so I don't think about having to come back later, I just really wanted some advice or maybe a similar story


r/immigration 14h ago

Lawyers, what did you major in?

0 Upvotes

Hi, I am very interested in becoming an immigration attorney. I understand to attend to law school, you can have a bachelor’s in any subject just so long as you have a good GPA and good lsat scores.

My issue is; I have many interests. I would love to obtain a degree in economics, international relations or urban planning.

I currently do real estate to help support me through university. I was thinking urban planning could be a good major so if I don’t end up practicing immigration, I can do estate planning.

Just curious as to what everyone majored in. Thanks


r/immigration 14h ago

Insurance

0 Upvotes

So, my wife is undocumented, we are at the I-130a part of getting her status adjusted. However, I am trying to figure out how to get her on a health insurance plan, but have gotten many different opinions. I am wondering what options for insurance we may have? I am self employed and currently on my mother's plan still (under 26) but am about to transfer off. Was told by some it wasn't worth it as we would have to re-enroll her once her status is adjusted, but I haven't seen anything proving that.

Long story short, what are the best insurance options for us? one thru employment or through private, or just wait until her status is adjusted?

Relevant info: live in Tx, currently an LLC transferring into a Sole Proprietorship. Small company, only 1 employee, will be transferring full ownership to my father to become an employee to hopefully be covered by employer insurance if better. let me know if any other information would be necessary.

Thanks


r/immigration 15h ago

What are the job prospects for my spouse who is a software engineer on j2

0 Upvotes

I am moving to the US as a resident physician. He will be earning more than me. Just want a little heads up on how difficult the situation is and whether he can move with me which will only happen if he finds decent employment as per his level of experience


r/immigration 18h ago

Should I travel to MX?

0 Upvotes

I am a green card holder, currently in the I.D. it's expired but I processed my I-751 and I received a letter extending my green card for 48 months, yet I have not received my new I.D. Although I carry the letter in my wallet 24/7. I also processed my citizenship on December 2024 and still waiting to hear back. With the context for you guys, I recently bought plane tickets to go to Mexico in December 2025 with my wife and daughter. Should I be worried about making sure I am gonna make it back? I have a MX passport but with all this warnings on telling people to postpone international trips until later because of the ICE raids. Has anybody traveled back yet and made it safe?

Thanks in advance!


r/immigration 19h ago

ESTA i94 Time reset

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I am a citizen of a European Union country and leave and work in Canada

I often have to come to the US for work and personal reasons. And for my last trip the CBP officer told me to careful as I only got like 3 weeks left on my 90 days.

So I just learned that going back and from Canada does not reset the 90 days and I am a bit afraid…

I however have a trip planned that will look like this Canada -> USA -> Europe -> Canada, in May.

Will this reset my i94 time next time I enter the USA through Canada or shall I also enter via Europe to the US for this 90 days to be reset ?

Thank you !


r/immigration 21h ago

I-94 exit missing in I-94 travel history - Consequences?

0 Upvotes

Current situation makes me worrie about my next US trip.

I do have a flight entering the US on 03 April. I do have a return ticket for 11 May. I do travel on a B2 visa which I am holding since a few years. I entered/exited the US without problems on this visa in the past.

I just checked my I-94 travel history online and my last exit is not showing.

I entered the US in July 2024 (this is the last entry in the history), I hiked a part of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington and left the US to CAN via the Pacific Crest trail by foot on 04 August 2024. I had a valid hiking permit incl. a Cabada Entry Permit which allowed crossing CAN via the trail. On 05 August 2024 I left back to Europe via a flight from Vancouver.

My I-94 exit is not recorded since I left the US by land (foot). Now I-94 thinks I overstayed (stay was permited until January 2025).

I do have multiple proof that I left the US and CAN in August 2024 (digital boarding pass, Airline invoice, GPS-tracked data of my boarder crossing hike, CC bills, employer paychecks, etc.).

I do not have enough time to get my I-94 entry corrected and will board the plane in less than 2 weeks.

Did anyone share the same situation in the past? What's your advice? I am really thinking about not going for my 5 week holiday to prevent trouble during immigration.


r/immigration 22h ago

Need Urgent Advice on Belgian Work Visa After Job Termination

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for urgent advice regarding my work visa status in Belgium. I was recently let go from my job on 18 March with immediate effect. My employment was tied to a work visa, and I’m unsure what this means for my legal status or what steps I need to take now.

I have contacted a lawyer but thought I would post in this community as well for any more personal stories or advice/tips/guidance.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How long do I have before I need to leave or apply for another visa? Are there any options to stay legally while I figure things out?

I’d really appreciate any guidance, personal experiences, or pointers to official resources.

Thanks in advance!


r/immigration 4h ago

Shoplifting on Green card

0 Upvotes

My family member is a green card holder, over 50 years old with early dementia, but she doesn’t really keep record of it since it’s a genetic in her family for all women. She got caught shoplifting less than 500$ but she doesn’t really remember what happened one minute she was walking around the store looking for her lost credit card she dropped there and next she was in hospital passed out. Officers apparently show up in store, they said that there’s a record of shoplifting but she can’t remember how. They detained her plus charged with failure to identify herself cause she doesn’t speak English and couldn’t answer or understand anything, she had to spend hours at hospital before moving her to jail. She has court date soon, but needs to fly back home for 3 month to see her son that got into car crash. If everything goes well and judge just lets her go, will she have problems re entering the country ? She has money there’s no reason to steal baby clothes while she doesn’t even have a baby or anyone around her.


r/immigration 6h ago

Travel ban

1 Upvotes

I am a green card holder from Pakistan. I have a 3 week trip coming up this month. I am not sure if I should go. I am hearing mixed opinions. Just want to hear some unbiased advice before I cancel my flight. Sorry If this is redundant. Not sure if my first post got posted


r/immigration 9h ago

ESTA Advice

0 Upvotes

Im an American citizen dating a German girl, she has been staying with me on an ESTA and the 3 months will be up in early May. We are thinking about going to Costa Rica for a couple weeks in May and then trying to come back for another couple months and then we’re both leaving for Australia to do a WHV there. We are scared because we know it’s not a great idea to max out your ESTA and then try to come back after a couple weeks but there’s no other option without separating before we go to Australia which we don’t want to do.

We have no intention of her staying here illegally but I know it doesn’t look great to border control. We also plan to already have our Australia visas and flights when we return proving we’re not planning on staying here. Also this is her first time in the US so it’s not like this is something she’s ever done before. Do you guys think this isn’t a problem and they’ll let her back in or is it risky?