Just Married...and Worried! Please Read???

Q: We just got married a few weeks ago and we are going to see an attorney soon about his legal status, but im worried- i keep hearing that he is going to have to go back to his country for a few years. I dont know if its better to NOT try to get him legalized. He came illegally when he was 12 and had a voulantary departure when he was 19 or 20. he has no documentation about any of this. they bought him a ticket and he got on the plane. he came back illegally about 2 yrs later. he has a job, and a drivers license. He gets depressed alot cause he hates his job, and wants a better one, and I feel powerless. QUESTIONS" Should we tell the laywer everything...or omit certain truths? Is it possible for him to even get a work permit? Should we say that he hasnt been working all the time hes been here; that I have been supporting him? Is there a FINE we can pay that will forgive him coming here illegally? I would pay it in a heart beat! Anyone know of any good lawyers in Houston? How do you know who is good and who isnt?? ANYTHING WIL BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

A: -What you really need is a highly competent lawyer and you gotta tell your lawyer everything. There was a law that was referred to as 245(i), under this law you could pay a $1000 and will be forgiven i think it was ended in 2001 but worth it to check on it with your lawyer. -Congratulations. What a wonderful feeling to know that the two of you will share everything from now on... the good times and the bad times, the joys and the heartaches! Speaking of bad times and heartaches... you're going to experience both in the very near future. While there may be exceptions under extraordinary circumstances, a person who enters the US without inspection (ie. illegally) can not adjust status. That person must exit the US and apply for (or have someone petition for) a visa so that he can enter the US legally and then adjust status. Unless you want to be constantly looking over your shoulder waiting for the day when the immigration police knock on

your door, you don't want him to remain illegal. You want to bite the bullet and do things properly... and there will be a period of separation, so you best prepare for it because it will happen. As the others have suggested, see the lawyer and tell him everything. -Tell the lawyer everything. In fact, you might want to contact two of them to get a second opinion. Caveat -- if lawyer says "no problem, it will be easy" -- don't hire that lawyer. I will tell you that you don't give enough in the way of facts to gauge the actual level of difficulty, but it will be difficult. Good luck -- yours sound like a very difficult case and you won't like a lot of what you hear.