getting married BEFORE or AFTER getting US citizenship?

[victor007 0]

Hello All,

I am a new member to this site, tried to find an answer to my question, with no result, so decided to post a question. Will be very grateful for any reliable info.

Here's the deal: I am a green card holder, and I am planning to apply for a citizenship in the nearest future (my 5 years will have completed in Feb. 2007). My fiancee lives with me, she is doing her post-graduate studies at university in San Francisco, so she is on J-1 visa here (valid for another 2 years). I'd like her to get a green card as soon and as easy as possible (naturally). So here's the question: should we get married before my citizenship application (so that I list her as a spouse there), or should we wait until I get the citizenship, and then get married? In which case she'll get the green card faster?

Thanks a lot in advance, Vic

[payxibka 10,048]

Hello All,

I am a new member to this site, tried to find an answer to my question, with no result, so decided to post a question. Will be very grateful for any reliable info.

Here's the deal: I am a green card holder, and I am planning to apply for a citizenship in the nearest future (my 5 years will have completed in Feb. 2007). My fiancee lives with me, she is doing her post-graduate studies at university in San Francisco, so she is on J-1 visa here (valid for another 2 years). I'd like her to get a green card as soon and as easy as possible (naturally). So here's the question: should we get married before my citizenship application (so that I list her as a spouse there), or should we wait until I get the citizenship, and then get married? In which case she'll get the green card faster?

Thanks a lot in advance, Vic

I really don't think the issue is when you get married but when can you file an application or petition. You cannot file obviously unless you are a USC. Also, if I a not mistaken but I believe a J-1 visa has a required 2 year return home requirement. Your fiancee may have to meet that requirement before being allowed to the return to the US on any other type of visa.

[Reba 2]

You can file an I-130 petition as a permanent resident, and then once your citizenship is completed, (which could take a while, months to years in some areas) you can convert the petition to citizen's spouse.

Petitioning as a PR will require that a visa number becomes available before your spouse will be able to get here. Petitioning as a citizen will be faster.

You might want to check the processing timelines for the citizenship stuff in your area before you make any decisions.

[simple_male 1]

Hello All,

I am a new member to this site, tried to find an answer to my question, with no result, so decided to post a question. Will be very grateful for any reliable info.

Here's the deal: I am a green card holder, and I am planning to apply for a citizenship in the nearest future (my 5 years will have completed in Feb. 2007). My fiancee lives with me, she is doing her post-graduate studies at university in San Francisco, so she is on J-1 visa here (valid for another 2 years). I'd like her to get a green card as soon and as easy as possible (naturally). So here's the question: should we get married before my citizenship application (so that I list her as a spouse there), or should we wait until I get the citizenship, and then get married? In which case she'll get the green card faster?

Thanks a lot in advance, Vic

One thing: You can apply for the US Citizenship after 4 years 9 months of your continuous permanent residency. Based on your note, you are eligible to apply for your US Citizenship in this month, November 2006.

On your Question: It does not matter when you marry. You can apply for her as a permanent resident and once you will become a US citizen, you can contact the USCIS so that they can update your stutus from PR to USC.

[victor007 0]

Thanks a LOT everybody for your suggestions! I'm filing my citizenship papers this month, and we'll get married soon afterwards w/o waiting for the citizenship process cnclusion.

[riblet 0]

I'm not entirely familiar with the J1, but I was researching it, and you should really look into the issue of the mandatory 2 year departure - it looks like you would need to apply for a waiver for that.

Thanks a LOT everybody for your suggestions! I'm filing my citizenship papers this month, and we'll get married soon afterwards w/o waiting for the citizenship process cnclusion.

[zyggy 9]

Agreed.. there may be some stipualtions associated with a J-1 that would not allow your fiancee to adjust her status to permanent resident until she completed a 2-year home residency requirement. I suggest that you have a consultation with an immigration attorney to find out if the HRR requirement is in force and how to proceed...