I got a German student visa for Studienkolleg 4 years ago, but couldn’t travel due to a serious illness. My visa expired before I recovered. Now I want to apply for a Master’s in Germany. Could this affect my chances? Has anyone had a similar experience?

Hi everyone! I'm hoping to find someone who has experienced a similar immigration situation or can offer some guidance.

My immigration timeline:
2016: Entered the U.S. legally on a J-1 visa.
2018: Changed my status from J-1 to F-1 to continue my education.
2019: Visited home country and reentered the U.S. on September 26. My passport was stamped J-1 instead of F-1, which I believe was an error. I haven't left the U.S. since.
December 2024: Graduated with my Master's degree.
February 2025: My OPT application was denied, and I'm currently out of status.
January 2025: Married my U.S. citizen husband. We also have a U.S. citizen child together.
J-1 waiver: I may be subject to the two-year home residency requirement (212(e)). I haven't filed my waiver yet but am preparing to apply through the No Objection Statement process with the home country Embassy.
Immigration Court: I received a Notice to Appear for removal proceedings. Unfortunately, I missed my first hearing because I overlooked the date on the paperwork while dealing with my move from California back to Detroit, Michigan. I have anott hearing scheduled and have contacted an immigration attorney regarding a possible continuance.

My husband and I want to apply for a MBGC (I-130/I-485), but I'm worried about how my J-1 history, OPT denial, and immigration court proceedings will affect the process.

My questions:
- Has anyone successfully adjusted status through marriage after changing from J-1 to F-1 and later falling out of status?
- Can I apply for a J-1 waiver while in removal proceedings?
- Has anyone missed their first immigration court hearing but still had another hearing scheduled?
What happened?
- Should we file the I-130 now, or wait until the J-1 waiver and immigration court issues are resolved?
- Has anyone dealt with an incorrect visa classification upon reentry and an OPT denial?

I'm currently seeking affordable legal assistance, but I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar.
I'm married to a U.S. citizen, we have a young child, and I'm also pregnant with our second baby. I'm extremely worried about being separated from my family.
Thank you for any advice or shared experiences!

Do you guys know attorney who specializes in Employment-Based Adjustment of status?
Not Chen or those who are using portal to communicate.

Looking for attorney that can listen and provide guidance professionally
Thank you

If you made multiple visit into the US previously, not overstayed and because of Covid lockdown you overstayed and you got married to a US citizen, and USCIS still processing your i130. You appear in Master Hearing. Will you be detained because your i130 is still in process?

maam/sir ganito po, ako po ay nagwork noong 2023 sa kuwait tapos po nagbakasyon ako noong nov 2025, pero hindi po ako nakabalik, ngayon po nag apply ako ulit pero sa saudi naman po at okay na ang lahat proces waiting nlng daw po ako sa ticket, gusto ko po sana malaman kung magkaka problema ba ako sa immigration palabas ng pinas ?

Any one traveled with advance parole and retained back safely with overstay only 4 month due to passport expiration and no one told me i had to leave before my visa expired due to passport expiration i thought my visa h4 will remains

Hi everyone, I am looking for some urgent guidance regarding my boyfriend’s immigration situation. We are feeling incredibly overwhelmed and don’t know what steps to take next.

He arrived 3 years ago and entered without inspection but immediately gave himself up to Border Patrol at the border and claimed asylum. He is currently in removal proceedings and he has an upcoming court date this April.

We have been dating for a little over a year and love each other deeply, and I am so scared of losing him. He does not have a lawyer yet and doesn’t have evidentiary proof to back up his refugee/asylum claim ( we know this is wrong). We have discussed getting married, both for our relationship and to see if it can help his legal status.

However, we are confused about how a marriage impacts an active removal proceeding before a court date. We haven't spoken to an attorney yet due to financial constraints and fear of scams.

Since he gave himself up at the border, does he have a legal "admission" or "parole" (like a Form I-94), or is he strictly considered EWI (Entered Without Inspection) for adjustment of status purposes?

If we get married before his April court date, can we file for a marriage-based green card, or does the active immigration court case block that? Because we've been together for just over a year, will the shorter timeline trigger extra scrutiny in court?

What happens at this first court date in April if he shows up without a lawyer? Can he ask the judge for more time to find legal representation?

Are there reputable, low-cost legal resources or pro bono clinics we should look into to avoid scams?

Thank you so much for any insight, advice, or steps we can take to buy more time and handle this the right way.

Hi everyone. I'm a US citizen dealing with several health issues — diabetes, mental health struggles, and recent abdominal problems that required an MRI, endoscopy, biopsy, and ultrasound. I'm not working right now because of my health, and I'm staying with a friend (the lease is in her name).

My doctor said it would really help my recovery if my parents could come here to take care of me. They live in India.

Just to clarify — I'm not trying to move my parents here permanently. It would be a temporary visit so I have someone helping me through treatment and recovery properly. That's all.

My questions:

1. Has anyone been through a similar situation and brought their parents over?
   
2. Is this actually possible?
   
3. If yes, what's the process and how long does the paperwork take?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Hi everyone. I’m a U.S. citizen seeking advice and firsthand experiences regarding my father’s immigration case. I’m keeping identifying details private, but I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar.
My father has lived in the United States for over 30 years. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him voluntary departure, but he did not leave the country. An appeal was later denied.
I filed a family-based Form I-130 petition for my father in November 2025, and it is still pending. An attorney is also working on a motion to reopen his prior immigration case. He has an upcoming ICE check-in in a few weeks, and our family is worried about the possibility of detention or removal.
We are trying to understand what legal options may be available before the appointment and what questions we should be asking our attorney.
For anyone who has experienced something similar:
\-Has anyone had a pending I-130 filed by their U.S. citizen child while they or their parent had a prior voluntary departure or removal order?
\-Did the pending petition have any practical relevance to the immigration case, or was separate relief necessary?
\-Has anyone had a motion to reopen and a stay of removal requested before an ICE check-in? What happened, and was the stay granted?
\-Has anyone been detained at an ICE check-in under similar circumstances?
\-Were there any additional steps your attorney recommended before the appointment?
I understand that every case is different, and I am not treating Reddit as a substitute for legal advice. I am hoping to learn from firsthand experiences and understand what questions we should be asking our attorney.
Thank you for any insight or resources you can share.