Forms for future?

[sdizzy6 0]

Background: My boyfriend and I have been together for 3 years. He came to the U.S. on a student visa for part of highschool and again for all 4 years of college(where we met). He will be working in the U.S. legally(has filled out and been approved for all necessary forms)for at least a year. He has not been back to Brazil for more than 3 months at a time in the past 4 years and will not be visiting his family in Brazil at least until legal work forms expire(in which he will either be sponsored by the company to work for another year or go directly to obtain a Masters degree(which he will get no matter if he works for 1 or 2+ years first). This company works out of both the U.S. and Brazil and he does not know if he will be transferred there for the following year, remain in the U.S. facility to work, or complete the Masters. We want to spend the rest of our lives together but are waiting(mainly his idea to wait) to get married for when we are both in steady work positions or have good means of income to support each other (I have one extra year of college).

My question/s: Does any of his time spent in the U.S. under student visa and work(OPT I believe) have any advantageous affects towards a possible expedited citizenship? We are both close with our families and I want both of us to be able to travel for visits freely. Is there a way to begin a process for this to be possible now, before marriage, and his time working in a different state while I am at school count towards acceptance? Should we think of marriage earlier and would him working in a different state be an issue? There is so much proof to show but we want to each have jobs before getting married and buying property together, trying to think ahead. I know I want to start saving for the application fees once I get a job as well.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Other than gathering evidence attesting to the bona fides of your relationship there isn't much you can do or file until you actually get married.

[JDWright 30]

Does any of his time spent in the U.S. under student visa and work(OPT I believe) have any advantageous affects towards a possible expedited citizenship?
No
We are both close with our families and I want both of us to be able to travel for visits freely. Is there a way to begin a process for this to be possible now, before marriage, and his time working in a different state while I am at school count towards acceptance?
No
Should we think of marriage earlier and would him working in a different state be an issue?
Getting married is the only option. State is not an issue
There is so much proof to show but we want to each have jobs before getting married and buying property together, trying to think ahead. I know I want to start saving for the application fees once I get a job as well.

Edited August 23, 2015 by JDWright

[sdizzy6 0]

That's what I thought. Thank you for the replies.

So once married, I would apply for I-130, he would apply for I-485, and I believe we would do G-325A as well. After the forms are accepted in 6-12 months he will have permanent residency with eligablity to apply for citizenship?

If anyone knows please let me know if there are more forms I am missing. Also, how long must he stay in the U.S.(as in not allowed to leave without breaking rules) before we are able to visit his family for a short period of time? Or is he allowed to visit prior to the two year mark after getting married?

[aaron2020 11,651]

That's what I thought. Thank you for the replies.

So once married, I would apply for I-130, he would apply for I-485, and I believe we would do G-325A as well. After the forms are accepted in 6-12 months he will have permanent residency with eligablity to apply for citizenship?

If anyone knows please let me know if there are more forms I am missing. Also, how long must he stay in the U.S.(as in not allowed to leave without breaking rules) before we are able to visit his family for a short period of time? Or is he allowed to visit prior to the two year mark after getting married?

Eligibility for citizenship happens 3 years after getting his green card.

He needs either AP or a green card to be able to come back into the U.S. after leaving.