Hi all,

I am a F-1 student, holding a valid passport, valid visa, valid US driver license, and a EAD card valid till next January, and I am now working full time (OPT). I would like to get married with my fiance, we have been going out for 4 years already. I am very confused now. If we get married ending of 2008, what will happen? and what do I have to do??

Can I still stay in the US and work at the same place after I get married? Will it affect my job? What happen after the EAD card expire? What do I have to do in order to get a green card? and how long it takes?? and when is the best time to get married if I want to have everything settle down hope it will not affect my legal status of staying in the US with my future husband? What kind of documents I need to file?? Apparently, I have no clue and no experience. I just want to be with my fiance, work at my current workplace, and legally stay in the US.

Hope someone can teach me what to do. Thank you.


Regards,
Emily

You two can marry and file for AOS (adjustment of status) - this will get you your greencard. Read up on the guides on this site, look at the forms and example forms and then ask specific questions if any. You should be able to stay here and get married and receive your greencard without having to leave the country and without having to take a break from the job (if everything flows through smoothly). If its too confusing, then you could opt for an immigration attorney to help you do the paperwork, however, most of us are able to understand the process and are able to do it on our own with no problem. Good Luck

You can marry on your F-1 visa and then file the I-130. It will be important to prove that you did not come to America, even if it was on an F-1 visa, with the intention to get married. (It's always trickier on a tourist or J-1 visa.) You will have to prove a bonafide marriage. I am not entirely sure what will happen to your existing EAD, but your visa status probably changes after you file and you will have to get an EAD based on the I-130 petition. Please check the VJ guides for the details on the I-130 and maybe talk to an immigration lawyer as well. As for how long it will take--it will take as long as it will take. The dreaded waiting game is one of the joys of marriage-based immigration, unfortunately.