I have been married to my American citizen husband for over 6 years, and the have supplied the immigration office in the state that i live in all the required paperwork. I still do not have a premanent resident Visa, and this fact is stopping me from going to college to get my Associates Degree. I need to know if there is a way to skip straight to citizenship and if contacting an immigration lawyer will help me out at all. Thanks
202873
I find your situation quite bizarre. How can you be in the US without a permanent resident status ?\n\nWhat status do you have ? Are you illegal ?\n\nOnce a foreigner marries a US citizen, they automatically qualify for a permanent resident status but this is not automatic. The US citizen spouse must petition the USCIS for a permanent resident status for their immigrant spouse.\n\nAfter 3 years of marriage the immigrant spouse qualifies for  US citizenship. The immigrant spouse must apply with the USCIS for citizenship.\n\nNow, if you've been married for 6 years you do qualify  for citizenship but only if you were a permanent resident for at least 3 of years. \n\nIf you don't have permanent residency you must first apply for that and after 3 years you are eligible for citizenship. There is no way to bypass directly to citizenship.\n\nTime spent in the US in a status other then permanent resident does not count toward citizenship !\n\nRESPONSE:\n\nWow this truly amazing. I have never heard of anybody waiting for so long. The most I have ever heard of anybody waiting is like 15 months ( PR based on marriage).\n\nDo you have a receipt of your applicaltion indicating the date that you applied on ?\n\nI can tell you with definte certantity that they lost your application, it's simply impossible to last so long.\n\nHave you tried contacting the National Customer Service Center 1-800-375-5283 ? Do not speak with the operator the first answer the phone (they are clueless), insist that you want to speak to an immigration officer (they are available to answer calls but it's hard to get to them)\n\nI also think it would be a good ideea to contact an immigration lawyer, they usually have contacts and can find out more info.\n\nI think you should really put a lot of pressure on them, call them everyday if you can !!! This is simply unacceptable ! Don't count on them or belive it when they tell you you just have wait.\n\nLastly, I'm just curios, how were you able to work all this time ? Did they give you an Employment Authorization Card that you kept renewing ?
548079
I married my husband (now ex) in Jan 98.  He was just visiting the US when we got married and so we had to go through all the immigration stuff to have him stay here.  Did you go to the interview alone?  If you missed the interview as well, the Immigration service will consider that an abandonment of your application.  If your application is no longer in process then your visa status may have expired - you may now be in the country illegally.  I would call an immigration attorney ASAP.
438845
Get your fiance to sponsor you for a fiance visa.  He may/may not need an attorney to help him make your path to the US smoother.  Go to www.uscis.gov for more info on how to apply, what type of information is needed, and the fees related to it.  Good luck!
540099
here in Indiana we got married with  my husband's birth certifacte from Mexico. Does your bf have any id from his country?  Also, if u file for his citizenship you are finically responsible for him for the next 10 years so make sure this is what u wanna do.Call the court to see if this will work and if it needs to be translated if u have any questions email me fineladysouth@yahoo.com
106764
Dear Sir or Madam,\n\nWe are licenced professionals of Canadian immigration law. \nYou wrote other questions on the yahoo answers website which I have I have also been following but unable to answer because they are closed..\n\nMarriage in your situation can be a little complicated and you do not want to have an immigration problem either.\n\nHave you followed through with your application as yet?\nHave you gotten married yet?\n\nCanadian law allows you to be married to one person at one time.  If you are divorced then you are free to be married. There is no waiting period.  The question is:  does Canada recognize the divorce?\n\nIf you wish you may contact us directly to discuss more about your situation and ways that we might help you. immigration_professionals@yahoo .com or www.immigrationprofessionals. com\n\nbest regards,
536814
The US citizenship and immigration services website will help your family determine how to procede. the third link down provides a list of naturalization requirements. The second details the law dealing with the naturalization of family members. Usually if a person came to this country illegally he will have to return to his country of origin and apply to come in legally from there. You might also benefit from contacting a lawyer who specializes in immigration. I'm sure even the Legal aid societies in your area will have enough knowledge to advise you.
411161
Was your green card a conditional green card (with a 2 year expiration date)? If so, you will have to start all over again and have your new spouse apply for you. If so, I highly suggest that you hire an immigration attorney (NOT AN "IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT"!), as you will have a very difficult time explaining why your first marriage didn't last long enough for you to get your green card.\n\nIf it was a permanent green card (with a 10 year expiration date), you have not lost your residence status. You simply file a Form I-90, which has a $260 filing fee.\n\nYou can download the form at the URL listed below. You mail it to:\n\nU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services\nP.O. Box 54870\nLos Angeles, CA 90054-0870\n\nThey will send you a letter telling you to go to have your "biometrics" (fingerprints) taken at an Application Support Center. Sometime after that happens, you will receive your new card in the mail. Make sure you take your old card with you when you go to the ACS for the fingerprints. \n\nhttp://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b3f7ab0a43b5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
453923
If you came here on a tourist visa (B1/B2) you need to apply for an Adjustment of Status.  If you came on a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) you need to depart the USA as soon as possible and go to the US Embassy of your country for a K visa.\n\nIf  you get caught without a valid visa you could be deported and barred from returning for 5 years regardless of the fact you are married to a US citizen!\n\nAnd many state drivers license offices notify the immigration service.  If you apply with an expired visa, they will call immigration and delay you to give immigration time to get there to apprehend you.\n\nIt depends a lot on where you live.  Does the state cooperate with immigration?  Are there Immgration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stationed near you?
565759
You don't need a lawyer unless there are compelling circumstances. Filing for a fiancee visa is not hard and the processing time takes anywhere from as short as four months to as long as six months in most cases.  It depends on whether she will be interviewing at the embassy or one of the consulates as each have their own backlogs.  She can call the one she wishes to interview at and find out how long is their current backlog.   There is no real way to speed up the process other than making sure all your paperwork is in order and properly filled out.   \n\nThe main thing, and you may know this already, is that you must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that your relationship is valid and she is coming here for the purpose of marrying you.  It helps if she has copies of emails, online chats, and telephone bills showing a record of the two of you being in contact.  Further, it is highly advisable that you make a trip there so that pictures can be taken with the two of you and her family.   If such a trip is not affordable, then it is less likely for the consul officer to approve a fiancee visa as the two of you have never actually met in person.  The consul officer can rule that she return for another interview after the two of you have met if other evidence is not abundant.  Further, be sure that you meet the minimum income guidelines for the Affidavit of Support.  This is about $13,000 a year if you have no kids.  \n\nI have been through this process myself with my first wife and once she gets the visa, its good for a year to enter the States.  After that, you have ninety days in which to get legally married and have her adjust her status with immigration to that of a conditional permanent resident.  She'll have all the rights of a permanent resident but it's conditional until she has her formal interview with an immigration officer a year or two later here in the States at the office nearest to you.    However, the clock starts ticking for her to become a U.S. citizen when she adjusted status to a conditional permanent resident and she can apply for U.S. citizenship two years and nine months later (the application can be sent in three months prior to the required three year waiting period once married to a U.S. citizen).  Once she applies, it can take anywhere from six months to a year (again depending on backlog) before she is naturalized as a U.S. citizen.
5514
y dont you go to immiagration services they might be able to help you better....i mean you were married so automatically i think the person is a citizen or isnt subject to deportation. if all else fails contact maury or whoever
458633
If you married a US citizen AFTER your visa expired, you may still be deported as the marriage will be seen as fake. \n\nYou will NOT automatically be allowed to stay just because you married a citizen. You still have to apply and go through the whole long process.  The usual process is for the foreign spouse to remain outside USA and the US citizen to apply from inside. Yes you will be separated, but that is how the process works - no exceptions. \n\nTo those who say that things will improve once you marry a US citizen - they are wrong.
606883
Have the USC apply for a K1 visa, you will receive it very quickly since all USC application take priority over any others, once you arrive in the US you must get married within 90 days of the date you received the K-1, once you get married your spouse will apply for a CR-1 visa, when you receive this you are on a 2 year conditional status, within 90 days of your 2 year anniversary date you MUST apply to have the conditional status removed, failure to do so is a deportable offense. Once the "C" is removed you will become a IR-1 (Resident, LAPR, I-551 holder etc...) Now as long as you don't commit a deportable offense you are good to go...\n\nPlease note, you will get many suggestions from people here WHO HAVE NO CLUE!!! AND SPOUT OUT ALL SORTS OF CRAP WITH NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE ACTUAL PROCESS!!! I arrest people every day so I think I know what I'm speaking about! GOOD LUCK!!
97363
Your English isn't very clear.  I know that now if you get married, you get deported...because the U.S.A. would recognize that you were not a legal resident.\n\nThe question that you have is very hypothetical, because it depends on what the congress' new "rule of inmigration" is.
271849
If he married you, and you are a US citizen, then he can get a green card and stay legally.  I'm confused why he doesn't want to do that?\nHe does not have to apply for citizenship.  With your marriage he becomes a "Permanent Resident" as long as he applies, and YOU sponsor him on the application.  He stays  a citizen of his original country, and can travel back and forth as much as he wants.  He will also be able to work legally at any US company.\nThe process can be long, and you have to go to an interview with immigration services, and show in good faith that your marriage is real.  There are fees of a few hundred dollars.\nAgain, you have to ask him why does he not want that?\n\nedit; lsacha1 is correct, HOW he originally came here makes a big difference.  Consult an immigration attorney before taking any steps, and before either of you travels outside the country.\n\nedit; then tell him it's something you want to do for him.  What if he gets deported, how would he feel then?  Once that is on his record, there's no coming back.\n\nhttp://www.uscis.gov
318993
Assuming that you are not just marrying to stay in the country; that is illegal. (When you go to CIS for the interview for your residency card you'll be found out and probably deported.)\n\nYou can renew your student visa in order to finish your studies.\n\nIf you are marrying with the intent of setting up a household with a US citizen or legal resident, there are no restrictions.  You should sail through the CIS interview.  \n\nIf you apply shortly after your marriage, you will get a temporary residency card and you will have to reapply after you have been married for two years.  If you are still married to the same person and are still living together then you should get your permanent residency at that time.\n\nDon't try to scam the system.  The CIS interiewers are experts.  They will delve deeply into your relationship with your spouse (who will be interviewed both with you and separately) and ask lots of very personal, intimate questions.  Married couples who answer honestly never have a problem but anyone trying to scam the system will be exposed.  \n\nA native US citizen involved in a fraudulent marriage faces several years in prison and huge fines.  A naturalized citizen may be stripped of their citizenship and deported to their native land.  A legal resident risks loss of residency and deportation.  The alien risks deportation and being barred from ever returning to the US.
601497
well im a US citizen and my husband was from europe. i went there and applied for a visa for him to come and become a permanent resident. i went in May 2005, droped off the apps. we had an appoitment on july 14th and they gave him his visa on the spot. so he was able to leave then. but we wanted to have our wedding there so we stayed and by Sept 8th he was in america with me. so it didnt  take that much. time goes by really fast.
299879
I married a Canadian Woman. I now live in Canada. This does not give you automatic Canadian citizenship. It is a process that takes some time to get. \n\nFirst you have to become a "Landed Immigrant". If you have no criminal record it is relatively only time consuming. Do not use one of the immigration consultant. They are a waste of money. Instead do it yourself with the help of one of the Yahoo group Canadian immigration groups. They can help you with each step. They helped my wife and me a lot. Then in about 3 years you can apply for citizenship and get dual citizenship. DO NOT return to the US or your country of origin during the process as you may not be allowed to return.\n\nIf you have been divorced, before you can marry in Canada you have to get several letters from lawyers and certified copies of every divorce decree. If your spouse died then you must have death certificates as well. This has to be sent into the Provincial government and approved before you can get your marriage license. It is a process that can take several weeks to get together, sent, and returned so plan on that.\nGood luck and remember it will take lots of time to accomplish it all...