Malt

========================================
06/07/02

Hello there:

I would like to know how to go about getting a green card for my girlfriend.

We have been going out for 6 years and even though I enjoy just living together, I
would like to marry her so she can be here permanent. (She is here in a tourist visa
that is renewed every time for about 6 months; she goes back to her country of
origin, Peru and in the way back to USA she gets another extension.

Another question I have is how long would it take before she gets her green card
and should we use a lawyer for all this? (I would like to, but she feels we
don't need one)

We are in the State of Florida and I am an American Citizen.

Thank you for any reply.

Regards,

Malt
========================================

Sebastian Hauer

Hi Malt,

malt wrote:
    > I would like to know how to go about getting a green card for my girlfriend.
    >
    > We have been going out for 6 years and even though I enjoy just living together, I
    > would like to marry her so she can be here permanent. (She is here in a tourist
    > visa that is renewed every time for about 6 months; she goes back to her country of
    > origin, Peru and in the way back to USA she gets another extension.
    >
    > Another question I have is how long would it take before she gets her green card
    > and should we use a lawyer for all this? (I would like to, but she feels we don't
    > need one)

Take a look at the K1 visa. There is also a special newsgroup for marriage based visa
questions. alt.visa.us.marriage-based. This website might also answer a few
questions:

http://www.k1faq.com

Sebastian

Bm

You're lucky she's never been refused entry at the POE.

"malt" <spam free> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
    > ========================================
    > 06/07/02
    >
    > Hello there:
    >
    > I would like to know how to go about getting a green card for my girlfriend.
    >
    > We have been going out for 6 years and even though I enjoy just living together, I
    > would like to marry her so she can be here permanent. (She is here in a tourist
    > visa that is renewed every time for about 6 months; she goes back to her country of
    > origin, Peru and in the way back to USA she gets another extension.
    >
    > Another question I have is how long would it take before she gets her green card
    > and should we use a lawyer for all this? (I would like to, but she feels we don't
    > need one)
    >
    > We are in the State of Florida and I am an American Citizen.
    >
    > Thank you for any reply.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Malt
    > ========================================

Malt

"BM" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:wpdM8.128985$352.6120@sccrnsc02...
    > You're lucky she's never been refused entry at the POE.
    >
    > "malt" <spam free> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
================================================== ==============
Hello BM:

You are right, she has been lucky up to now, but we heard that things have changed
and they only give 30 days extension or so, time for us to do something about it.

Regards,

Malt
    > > ================================================== ============
    > > 06/07/02
    > >
    > > Hello there:
    > >
    > > I would like to know how to go about getting a green card for my girlfriend.
    > >
    > > We have been going out for 6 years and even though I enjoy just living together,
    > > I would like to marry her so she can be here permanent. (She is here in a tourist
    > > visa that is renewed every time for about 6 months; she goes back to her country
    > > of origin, Peru and in the way back to USA she gets another extension.
    > >
    > > Another question I have is how long would it take before she gets her green card
    > > and should we use a lawyer for all this? (I would like to, but she feels we don't
    > > need one)
    > >
    > > We are in the State of Florida and I am an American Citizen.
    > >
    > > Thank you for any reply.
    > >
    > > Regards,
    > >
    > > Malt
    > > ========================================
    > >
    >

Aftonokla

You should file for a K-1 visa and get it pretty quickly. This will entitle her to
enter the USA for 6 months during which time she may get an EAD and work. You would
then marry her during that 6 months and then apply for her green card. Even if her
visa runs out before you get the green card , she will not be in any danger being
married to a US citizen and having her application for PR on file. And she can
continue to use her EAD and work if she wants to work. My wife did not even have a
visa and we had no real problems. The EAD will get her a restricted SS card and a
drivers license.

James Donovan

[email protected] (AftonOkla) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
    > You should file for a K-1 visa and get it pretty quickly. This will entitle her to
    > enter the USA for 6 months during which time she may get an EAD and work.

WRONG. A K-1 allows you to enter for 90 days, not 6 months. An EAD is sometimes
granted for K-1'ers at the POE, but again, this varies. K-1'ers may of course apply
for an EAD at their local INS office before they are married, but as to whether this
makes sense (since it often takes 90 days to get the EAD) is questionable.

    > You would then marry her during that 6 months and then apply for her green card.
    > Even if her visa runs out before you get the green card , she will not be in any
    > danger being married to a US citizen and having her application for PR on file. And
    > she can continue to use her EAD and work if she wants to work.

The application procedures for K-1 visas are slightly different. If you marry and
adjust status within the 90 days of your entry, you simply file form i-485 along with
your K-1 NOA. If you are over your 90 days, you need to file a new form i-130 along
with i-485 and supporting documentation.

    > My wife did not even have a visa and we had no real problems. The EAD will get her
    > a restricted SS card and a drivers license.

Employment on the EAD card is pretty much unlimited, however except for jobs like US
military, civil service and Federal jobs.

Paul Helpdesk

You could marry here and file for her green card. She could stay here till she gets
the Green Card. You could check out timelines at:
http://www.visapro.com/INS-Processing-Times.asp

You could also learn more about Green Card process at:
http://www.isso.cornell.edu/immigration/marryusc.html
http://www.visapro.com/Green-Card-Fa...US-Citizen.asp

Paul @ HelpDesk