Can I obtain a resident card when I marry my fiancee while she hasn't received her citizenship yet?
931626
Only  US citizens can file for a fiance visa (K-1).  You can however, get married first, then apply for a spouse visa (K-3, CR-1).  But, if you marry and file the spouse visa before your wife becomes a citizen, it will probably take several years for an immigrant visa to be processed for you since priority is given to USC's first, then Permanent Residents.\n\nIf your fiancee will probably get her citizenship within 6 months, it would be best for you to just wait until she has it, then decide whether to file a K-1 (which is usually pretty quick) or a K-3 or CR-1 (which takes longer).
1107286
Nope sorry she isn't a legal citizen just cause she married one.\n\nShe still has to apply for citizenship and go through all the same paperwork and red tape that everyone else does, but in addition to that she and her new husband get surprise visits from the Immigration and Naturalization Service to help prove that it is a real marriage and not a sham just to get her a green card.
916643
Jordon almost got it right.  IF you marry your boyfriend and get his green cards, it will be a conditional green card.  Then 2 years from then you must prove to immigration that you two have been living together as husband and wife.  That is form I-751 which at this time costs $205.  You will have to submit this within the 90 days prior to the 2 year anniversary date.  Once immigration decides to remove the conditional statues on the green card, you will then receive a green card that will be good for 10 years, but in 3 years he can apply to become a citizen of the USA.  \n\nSo from the very start of dealing with immigration, it will take him a minimum of 5 years.\n\nCurrently immigrations is backlogged and are around 6 month behind schedule.  So good luck and learn to be patient with immigration.
889839
The rule is that you can apply for citizenship three months prior to the fifth anniversary of the date you get permanent residence - the date on the Green Card.  However, if the purpose of the application was to get married to a US citizen, then it is three years, not five.  On the assumption that he came to the US legally and he obtained his Green Card in the normal course of events, his five year anniversary will take precedence.  The marriage will have no effect on his ability to take citizenship.  \n\nIf, however, he was here illegally and he is becoming legal to get married, I really am not sure of the rules.  Frankly, if that is the case, I would strongly recommend an immigration attorney.
4251
I am an American citizen who married a non-citizen.  If you are seriously considering having your fiancee immigrate to America, get an attourney who specializes in Immigration.  It may be expensive, but I cannot emphasize how easy and stress-free the process becomes.  Just walking into the INS interview with our attourney was like a stamp of approval; the INS knows the attourney has helped us prepare everything the INS needs, and no honest attourney would risk his job by taking on a client who wasn't earnest.
1036421
First of all, you would have to get your green card first and that can take years.  You would have to prove a lot of information, provide pictures etc.  Then once you receive your temporary green card, you will have to go back after two years and prove that you're still married...then once you get your permanent residency you  have to wait three years...then the naturalization process takes FOREVER.  The BCIS or whatever it's called these days, is extremely unorganized.  If you get divorced after the two  year probation period, that's usually 'ok' but if it's before then, it's usually problematic.  Good luck!  I hope you're not getting married in order to become a naturalized citizen...it's just not worth the agony.
37342
Immigration does not care if you are ex-military for citizenship. Did you take the Citizenship Test yet? You are almost last on the priority list as you are already here in the states, not good news if you have a fiancee in a foreign country you want to Petition for Immigration. (Hint: Fiancee' much faster to get Visa than a Spouse, so get engaged only!) Los Angeles is the busiest Immigration Office (Laguna Niguel) in the states, so long wait. Los Angeles saves up Applications until they get a thousand or so, so they can swear you all in at the same time, so once your Application is signed off everything happens faster. Maybe 2 year wait?
644104
NO! Absolutely not! If you don't believe me you can go to www.uscis.gov or call the INS' customer service line and speak with an INS agent. I used to think the same thing. I've been in the states for 29 years. I am married with little US citizens of my own. I found out that because I've had my greencard for so long that I can not become a citizen through marriage and it doesn't even remotely help. He has to file a N-400, which is the naturalization for citizenship form. Mail it with all necessary copies, signatures, and payment of fees (which keeps increasing). Make sure that you send it CERTIFIED MAIL. Wait for the approval and then the examinations date. Study and take the test. Then wait to be sworn it and then after all is said and sworn...he'll be a citizen. Is it worth it? Yes, because there is so much US citizens take for granted!! Take care.
450657
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 ?
74165
If you are a US citizen and she is outside the US, you should apply for a K visa.  Depending on where you live, it will take from one month to approximately five months to process.    It is a relatively simple application and you can fill it out youself online at www.uscis.gov.  You should include some information that proves your relationship with her is not a fraudulent one, like pictures of your wedding, a letter explaining how you met and dated and why you decided to marry.  Especially helpful are any children you have together or financial documents in both names.    After she is here, she can apply for her permanent residence.  I would suggest an attorney for that process because it involves a lot of paperwork, some of which is a bit complicated.
240787
There are two legal ways to bring your wife over.\n\nFirst and the officially approved way is to apply for a Finance visa (K1 visa).  This is a very slow process and can take months to get approved.  Once it is approved, she is free to come over to marry you here within a 3 month period of arriving.\n\nA second method is to have your fiancee come over on a tourist visa.  Once here, you can marry her and apply for an "adjustment of status."  This is more difficult to obtained and can be refused.  However, while they are making a determination, she is free to legally remain in the United States but it NOT permitted travel out of the country.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!  If she leaves for ANY reason without first obtaining permission from immigration, she WILL be refused reentry into the United States.\n\nPlease note this process if very costly and takes approximately 2 years to get her permanent resident alien card (green card).
505333
If you are a U.S. citizen, you need to file for a K-3 visa through USCIS and the National Visa Center. Begin by filing the immediate relative petition, and then the appropriate visa forms when you get a receipt from USCIS. Assuming your wife is granted K-3 status, she can then come to the U.S. and immediately apply for her lawful permanent residency (green card). Unfortunately there is no way to speed this process along, and you are looking at about a 6-10 month process to get her here on a K-3.\n\nIf you are not a U.S. citizen, then the picture changes considerably (way too much to list in this response).\n\nGood luck!
1001021
There is currently new legislation being proposed in Congress to limit the ability for some US citizen felons to petition for foreign-born family members (e.g., spouse, fiancee).   There is no telling if and when that might become law.  Therefore,  if you already have your fiancee visa, then your US citizen's fiancee criminal record will NOT affect your ability to immigrate to the U.S.  However, if you are simply still contemplating obtaining your fiancee visa, then I would suggest you hurry before the law changes.  The only other possible issue is if your US citizen has a criminal record, whether your US citizen fiancee has employment that will guarantee s/he has the ability to support you at 125% of the poverty level.
1125055
Talk to a lawyer about this .. immigration is sooo complicated..  My fiance and I had thought for years that he would be able to become a citizen but then we found out that he couldn't =(  I know that as long as they have a Visa.. there are ways to make them at least legal .. lucky.. lol
284852
Better to apply for a "fiance visa" before she comes.  She can visit the US without a visa, but then she's a tourist.  If she marries you she still has to go back within a few months!\nGet the visa, then when she arrives you have to get married within a certain amount of time.\nBe prepared for a mountain of paperwork, and also you have to prove she's not just doing this for the green card.  You know this girl, right?\n\nwww.uscis.gov
60860
get married to US citizen.....like me!
210576
She can get you a fiance Visa to enter legally the US and you have to marry her within 90 days.\n\nAfter that, it gets complicated.