how long will it take to get a green card?

[merpsalms119 0]

hello! we will be filing fiance visa soon. we have heard that if u get fiance visa, u cant work in US if u dont have green card yet. If u marry in the Philippines 1st, it will take 2 yrs before u can get a spousal visa but when u get to US, u will become a US citizen right away.

Which is the best way? fiance or spousal visa? and how long will it take u to get a green card? thanks for the help.

mer

[JeffnBhing 0]

16 days 3 hours and 30 minutes you will have green card then you can leave sponsor and peddle your bicycle along the golden streets of America. pick a few gold bricks and you will be rich beyond your dreams... thats what we did and it worked great!!!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

From the instruction for form N-400, applying for naturalization: I have pasted the section which adresses someone who is applying for citizenship based on marriage to a US citizen.

Who May File Form N-400?

To use this form you must be ONE of the following:

2. A Lawful Permanent Resident for at least three years and at least 18 years old,

AND

You have been married to and living with the same U.S. citizen for the last three years,

AND

Your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last three years.

Regardless of which route you chose, you will not be eliglible for citizenship until you have been a permanent resident for 3 years, ie, greencard holder.

If you go the K1 route:

You can file for EAD, work authorization, after you marry and file for AOS. This probably will take a few months, but is generally before you will have your AOS interview for greencard. The time to get the greencard can take from a few months to a year or more, depending on your case, office used etc. Once greencard is issued, the time starts to count toward citizenship.

If you marry in the Phillipines, you can file for a K3 visa, but you will still have to adjust status in US. Or you can wait for however long it takes to get a spousal immigrant visa and enter with greencard. And again, the time counted toward citizenship starts from the date the greencard issued. If it takes 2 years to get the visa, you will have to wait 3 more years to apply for citizenship.

If you have a bona fide relationship and meet the requirements, the K1 should be the quicker route. I'm sure someone else will be able to add more to this. Many memebers here have filed in the Philipines and will be able to give you more detailed information. Regardless, it will take at least 3 years and the relationship must be proven to the satisfaction of the consulate and USCIS. The Philipines is generally a tough consulate due to high rate of fraud.

Edited August 13, 2008 by spookyturtle

[Completely 3]

hello! we will be filing fiance visa soon. we have heard that if u get fiance visa, u cant work in US if u dont have green card yet.

Of course you will not be able to get a greencard because fiance visa is just a visa to come to the USA and get married,

If u marry in the Philippines 1st, it will take 2 yrs before u can get a spousal visa but when u get to US, u will become aUS citizen right away.

Which is the best way? fiance or spousal visa? and how long will it take u to get a green card? thanks for the help.

you have to be present in the US for 3 years BEFORE you can apply as a citizen.. there is some exception to expedite the process but this only applies if your husband will be coming overseas and you will accompany him there.

mer

[Carlawarla 1]

hello! we will be filing fiance visa soon. we have heard that if u get fiance visa, u cant work in US if u dont have green card yet. If u marry in the Philippines 1st, it will take 2 yrs before u can get a spousal visa but when u get to US, u will become a US citizen right away.

Which is the best way? fiance or spousal visa? and how long will it take u to get a green card? thanks for the help.

mer

As mentioned in another of your threads, please read the Guides at the top of this site and you should have all your initial questions answered. Come back and ask more specifics if you don't understand something. You should choose a visa that both you and your partner would find adventageous in allowing you to work right away or not.

What's right for one person, might not be right for another.