Amanda

LucyMO <member20158@british_expats.com> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > As Ray already pointed out:
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    >
    > Since there is no quota limit for spouses of citizens, she
    > should be
    > able to get greencard (though temporary) very fast.

fast in my city. and faster then other category. At least fast enough
to get instate tuitio fee since all she needs is I-130 receipt notice.

    >
    > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    > ----------
    > Exaggeration
    >
    > It takes three years in Atlanta for USC spouses
    > to get a green card. So, it really depends on your location, that's, how
    > fast your local office is.

    > The truth is that there is no quota for
    > spouses of citizens.

WHAT? Didn't I say that?

    > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    > ---------
    >
    >
    > Then once a year, immigration will/might check whether you
    > guys are still married.

I used "might".

    > After 4 years of marriage, she will get
    > permanent grenncrad (she just use approprite form to change the status
    > form temporary GC holder to permanent GC holder).

I meant 4 years from temp card and "4 years of marriage" was a typo.

    >
    > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    > ----------
    >
    >
    > Some more nonsense
    >
    >
    > Immigration will not check once a year
    > whether you are still married. They don't have time for it. If somebody
    > has an unconditional GC, it doesn't matter - they are free to divorce.
    >
    > If the card is conditional, after you apply for the removal of
    > conditions, there may or may not be an interview,

"may OR may not" is the kep.

    > at which point you
    > will have to prove that you are still married or if you are divorced,
    > that it was a bona fide marriage. You will have to apply for the
    > removal of conditions 1 year and 9 months after you get your conditional
    > card. Not four years of marriage.


    >
    >
    > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    > -----------
    >
    >
    > So think whether you want to be tied up for 4 years.
4 years from recevign temp car in case he was thinking that he would
be free by then.

    > Also,
    > don't take immigartion officers for fools if you two are not planning to
    > livetogether. They will ask your neighbors.

I said what I heard though I didn't believe it.

    >
    > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    > ----------
    >
    >
    > even more
    >
    > Once again, USCIS doesn't have time to ask the
    > neighbours. I don't even know my neighbours' names. I don't think they
    > know mine. Or my immigration status.
    >
    > If INS checks with the neighbours
    > -- boy, do they have a lot of free time on their hands. Which we know is
    > not true.

I don't know whether it is not having having free time or inefficiency
in government offices.


    >
    > You do, however, have to produce evidence of bona fide
    > marriage.
    > __________________

spouse

Nowadays many legitimate marriages do not include living together. As long as you have a good reason for choosing not to do so. For example, many people have jobs in different states or different cities. If she is going to school in a different state or city from where you live and work, it makes sense not to live together.

I don't necessarily advocate marrying and not living together... but heck the BCIS forces that upon people all the time (I mean look how long it takes to get a simple spousal visa!)

The main thing you will have to do for the marriage is prove a bonafide relationship. For our I-130 we sent in a marriage certificate, a few photos, etc. and were approved with no problem (but we didn't need a marriage interview per se). However, I would say, even if you get married civilly, get her a white dress at David's Bridal (100-300 dollars) put on a nice suit, invite your family, and go out with some family and friends for dinner afterwards. Take pictures. If you can afford to, take a weekend and go on a honeymoon.. Take pictures.

Put a bank account in your names, continue to spend time together. To be careful, bring copies of e-mails, letters, letters from others attesting to the nature of your relationship.

Bring as much as you can that you have together and that will show the reality of your relationship. If they ask, you can probably even tell them that you got married civilly for immigration purposes but plan to have the church wedding a little later on when it is not clouded by immigration matters. Maybe you could even make a reservation with a church (perfectly fine more than a year or two in advance) and show this as documentation.

Answer honestly, if you don't think they will like what you have to say answer briefly. If there is an interview, go together hold each others hands, tell the interviewer that you are nervous. Kiss her... be yourselves. If the love is there, the love will come through, and you will have no problems!

LucyMO

----------
> The truth is that there is no quota for
> spouses of citizens.

WHAT? Didn't I say that?
____________________________________________


YES, and that's what I confirmed.

___________________________________________
> Then once a year, immigration will/might check whether you
> guys are still married.

I used "might".
________________________________________________


IMMIGRATION doesn't check once a year if you are married.

________________________________________________
> After 4 years of marriage, she will get
> permanent grenncrad (she just use approprite form to change the status
> form temporary GC holder to permanent GC holder).

I meant 4 years from temp card and "4 years of marriage" was a typo.
_________________________________________________


WELL, depending on the particulars of the marriage: she may have a permanent card already if the interview is after the second anniversary of their wedding.

If it's conditional - you have to apply 1 year and 9 months after the date on your conditional card, and then about a year later you'll get a permanent card - but, once again, the speed depends on the office in which you applied.

mcpaulyb

Spouse,

That's the best advice I have heard yet. Thank you.

Any thing else?

no-spam

Sounds like you are going to do this regardless of the advice you are getting. It's not advisable given what I've read, it doesn't seem like it will work out for you and you'll end up getting taken.
Regardless, here are some things you can do to make it "look" at least like you are "really" married. Remember, you have to put up this act for around 2-3 years minimum.

1) Tattoo your arm or hiney with the words: "I love my wife - her name is "<insert name>"
2) Put her name on your credit card so she can charge money
3) Have mutual friends
4) Arrange premarital counseling at a local church, have them give you a test on your compatibility and readiness for marriage.
Keep the test for future refence.
5) Travel to see her parents - take pictures
6) Learn her language
7) Memorize each others relatives names, birthdates etc.
8) Wear wedding bands.
9) Buy her a beautiful diamond engagement ring. (I'd suggest D or E in color, at least 1/4 carat 1/2 carat preferred but over a carat it gets gaudy) Give her a diamond that shows her you love her.
10) Attend church together

Stuart Brook

mcpaulyb wrote:

    > Spouse,
    >
    > That's the best advice I have heard yet. Thank you.
    >
    > Any
    > thing else?
    >
    >

Remember the World War II adage ... loose lips sink ships. Be very
careful about what you say and the words you use. As we've shown you
here, the way you say things and the words you use can make all kinds of
difference. One of the favourite things they like to do is catch an
inconsistency and ask the question "Were you lying before, or are you
lying now?" That's one of those that puts you on the spot. It says
that they don't believe you and there's no obvious way to win.

Don't voluteer too much information, but answer any and all questions
accurately ... don't provide "run on answers" ...

meauxna

As the attorney Folinskyinla over at avum-b likes to say "if you are asked 'do you know what time it is?' there are only 2 correct answers: yes or no."

Just to reiterate, as a couple of folk have mentioned the g/f leaving the country for visits etc: if she leaves before she has her Green Card/stamp I-551, there is a danger of activating a lengthy ban for her overstay.

To clarify another point the OP raised: "becoming a citizen is not her immediate goal, thus living together to prove our marriage is not a concern right now" this burden of proof on you to show a bonafide marriage applies to her Perm. Residence application, not just citz.

I'll agree w/spouse that living together is not a requirement of marriage, provided you have a good reason. I don't think the reasons you've given pass the sniff test, but I've read other couples' reasons at avum-b such as: graduate school program or job assignment. I'm a big defender of couples being allowed to live as is appropriate for them (ie, would not refi my house just to get my DAH on the mortgage for immigration purposes only, but when/if it made financial sense for us) but I recognize what USCIS's job is and understand a bit about how they do it.

Your job is to demonstrate that you have a bonafide marriage and shared life. Why not ask yourself: "how would *I* recognize strangers as a married unit?"

Stuart Brook

meauxna wrote:
    > Originally posted by Stuart Brook
    >
    >>Don't voluteer too
    >
    > much information, but answer any and all questions accurately ... don't
    > provide "run on answers" ...
    >
    > As the attorney Folinskyinla
    > over at avum-b likes to say "if you are asked 'do you know what time it
    > is?' there are only 2 correct answers: yes or no."
    >
    > Just to reiterate,
    > as a couple of folk have mentioned the g/f leaving the country for
    > visits etc: if she leaves before she has her Green Card/stamp I-551,
    > there is a danger of activating a lengthy ban for her overstay.
    >
    > To
    > clarify another point the OP raised: "becoming a citizen is not her
    > immediate goal, thus living together to prove our marriage is not a
    > concern right now" this burden of proof on you to show a bonafide
    > marriage applies to her Perm. Residence application, not just citz.
    >
    >
    > I'll agree w/spouse that living together is not a requirement of
    > marriage, provided you have a good reason. I don't think the reasons
    > you've given pass the sniff test, but I've read other couples' reasons
    > at avum-b such as: graduate school program or job assignment. I'm a big
    > defender of couples being allowed to live as is appropriate for them
    > (ie, would not refi my house just to get my DAH on the mortgage for
    > immigration purposes only, but when/if it made financial sense for us)
    > but I recognize what USCIS's job is and understand a bit about how they
    > do it.
    >
    > Your job is to demonstrate that you have a bonafide marriage
    > and shared life. Why not ask yourself: "how would *I* recognize
    > strangers as a married unit?"
    >

It really sounds as if they can't live together because she's in a state
of being blackmailed. He's never commented on that suggestion, so I'm
going to assume the standard rule that silence is assent. This would
give them a valid reason, but the question is when to reveal that reason.

mcpaulyb

This is not true. The woman she is living with is not legal either. Believe you me, there is no blackmail whatsoever.

Stuart Brook

mcpaulyb wrote:

    >>The woman she is living with is not legal either. Believe you me,
    >>there is no blackmail whatsoever.

Not blackmail, but obviously a mutual support society. And you realize
that saying "We can't live together because we can't break the leases"
will probably cause some investigation which will put her roomie at risk
of discovery.

spouse

The reality is the CIS often has too many things on their plate to follow up on anything that doesn't seem extremely fishy & is not happening in their office (just a little fishy, but in their office is a different story...)

If you decide to use the leases, make sure you have copies of them.

Again, be honest but be brief in your answers. If you are honest they are less likely to trip you up.. same thing goes for brevity!

mcpaulyb

Sounds like a plan, thanks!