Larry and Mj in the Philippines

[Suze1 366]

Both you and your wife must remain in the US for years, during the process (unless you have some more diplomatic or government/military related posting overseas).

Check out the Spousal Visa guides here on VisaJourney.

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by Suze1

[Pilar Guy 0]

55 minutes ago, Unlockable said:

Everything that you want for your wife can be accomplished. But you have to realize that there are strict conditions that need to be met before your wife becomes a citizen. It is not like you can send in the paperwork and your wife becomes a citizen in a few months. It will take years before your wife becomes a citizen. 

 

The steps are as follows:

 

1. You file for a spousal visa for your wife. (About 9 - 12 months process)

2. You wife interviews for the visa.

3. Wife comes to the US and obtains a green card (permanent residency).

4. Wife stays in the US to maintain her permanent residency.

5. In 3 years, she can apply for naturalization. (Process can take 6 - 10 months).

6. Wife takes exam and has interview.

7. Wife swears in to become a citizen.

So no matter what she would have to stay in the states for 3 years minimum without leaving?

[Suze1 366]

1 hour ago, Pilar Guy said:

If we were granted a spousal visa how long would me wife have to stay in the US before she could come back to the Philippines?  Guam could be a alternative. 

She can go back to the PH for visits, including almost immediately - after getting her green card - but there are limits as to how long she can be out of the country prior to becoming a citizen. If she stays out too long, she can be considered to have abandoned her green card/immigrant status.

Yes, she must be resident in the US for at least 3 years to get citizenship (the time could be longer depending on how much time is spent out of the country).

Edited April 21, 2020 by Suze1

[Just Paul 4,591]

11 minutes ago, Pilar Guy said:

So no matter what she would have to stay in the states for 3 years minimum without leaving?

 . . . and  she will need to be in the US a majority of each year until she receives Citizenship.   Plan on it taking almost 5 years or so based on pre-corona timelines.

 

She would need to be in the US  most of the 3 year period prior to filing for Citizenship.

Edited April 21, 2020 by Paul & Mary

[Suze1 366]

1 minute ago, Suze1 said:

Guam could be a alternative. 

What does that mean?

Guam is part of the US, right!

[millefleur 5,038]

In addition to the above, if you were to apply for a spousal visa, you as the USC living abroad would also have to show "intent to re-establish domicile in the US" - you need to convince them and you intend to abandon your residency abroad (to a degree that you have no further intention of living in the Philippines for a reasonable time) and move back to the US. 

[Boiler 43,592]

3 hours ago, Pilar Guy said:

I guess I am confused. I am a American and would like my wife to get a green card then citizenship though marriage to a American. When I go toes up maybe my wife and son will want to go to the US. My son is easy, wife is hard I guess. 

 

15 hours ago, Pilar Guy said:

I joined this site for some advice on our situation. I am a American and my wife is a Filipino and we are living in the Philippines. We have been married over 5 years and we have a 15 month old son.  I would like to get my wife a visa for the US but for now have no intention on moving to the US. Is something like this possible?

It seems that you do not want to move to the US, you do want to give your wife the opportunity to do so if you die?

 

I am guessing a bit but it would be really helpful if you  could explain what you would like to achieve?

[Just Paul 4,591]

4 hours ago, Pilar Guy said:

When I go toes up maybe my wife and son will want to go to the US.

There is always the I-360 option for her.

[JFH 12,189]

Seems odd to assume that when her husband dies she would then consider moving from her homeland to a foreign country away from her family and friends to start over from scratch alone. 
 

But grief does strange things to people.
 

Is your death imminent? Rules and timescales for visas change all the time so there’s not much point in looking at the options now if death is a very unlikely scenario. 

[Pilar Guy 0]

40 minutes ago, JFH said:

Seems odd to assume that when her husband dies she would then consider moving from her homeland to a foreign country away from her family and friends to start over from scratch alone. 
 

But grief does strange things to people.
 

Is your death imminent? Rules and timescales for visas change all the time so there’s not much point in looking at the options now if death is a very unlikely scenario. 

I hope my death isn't imminent but in these trying times, who the hell knows anymore. 

[Pilar Guy 0]

I have a 13A residence visa in the Philippines and that is given if your married to a Filipino and are a foreigner. I wish they had such as a thing in the US. The sad part in my opinion is my son and I will be able to come and go all we want between the US and the Philippines but my wife can not. I would like her to be able to see the US and meet my friends and what little family I still have in the states. 

[Boiler 43,592]

4 hours ago, Pilar Guy said:

I have a 13A residence visa in the Philippines and that is given if your married to a Filipino and are a foreigner. I wish they had such as a thing in the US. The sad part in my opinion is my son and I will be able to come and go all we want between the US and the Philippines but my wife can not. I would like her to be able to see the US and meet my friends and what little family I still have in the states. 

She needs to apply for a B2 Tourist Visa.