Overstayed, Lost Proof of Legal Entry

[Mebo]

WA state. Entered legally as a minor, FROM CUBA, in the mid 80's, part of a national folkloric dance company visiting Miami. Fled, overstayed visa. Legally Married in FL for over a year, divorced. MEANWHILE....mother and siblings in Cuba flee to Nicaragua. Mother paid for and registers him there as a Nicaraguan, got him ID and passport and birth certificate. Sends to him. He lies to INS, says he is Nicaraguan, applies for asylum but never finishes that process. (He preferred deportation to Nicaragua than to Cuba.) Was even issued a SSN but not for work. Still knows that # but has no documents. Meanwhile here, everything blows up on his face, loses all his stuff, wanders off to WA state and settles here, gets WA driver's license, works under the table teaching dance and doing construction. Now wants to get legal, and we could marry - 3 year relationship, etc.. BUT - original proff of legal entry papers are lost. He can get new Nicaraguan ID from his mother, including passport we think, since we know a guy at Nicaraguan embassy. BUT... is he better of backtracking using Cuban Readjustment Act? He can't readjust through marrying me without proof of legal entry? How do we get that? Or should we go back to Cuban status and explain the dishonesty to INS as justifiable fear of Cuban government wrath? Has never left the U.S. since then. Is it true we could do a Freedom of Information Act request and get those old records?

[Mr. Knowitall]

Your description of the facts is not only complex, you've written it in such a manner that you've made it more confusing.

I suggest retaining an immigration lawyer to help you unravel this mess.