Girlfriend is a Green Card holder

[im_possible]

Hi,

I have done my Masters from the US and I am going back to visit my parents in India.Although I have EAD card(OPT) , I still dont have a job offer.Is it safe to travel to India.My Girlfriend has a Green Card, how long will it take for me to get a GC after I marry her.In the period between application and getting the GC, can I go along with her to the US and work there even if my OPT gets over?

Please reply
Thanks.

 

[Triple Citizen]

It should take 4-6 years.

My Girlfriend has a Green Card, how long will it take for me to get a GC after I marry her.

To enter (re-enter) the US you would need a valid visa. You cannot work beyond your OPT validity. You would need some sort of work authorisation. Marrying a GC holder does not get you one on its own.

In the period between application and getting the GC, can I go along with her to the US and work there even if my OPT gets over?

 

[js360]

It should take 4-6 years.

after he marries her............4-6 years......i dunno about that. consider i had my green card when me and my wife married. if depends though, you could be right. im possible, do you know if she can naturalize soon, if yes, she should do that before you apply for anything. but triple citizen is right i guess, if she cannot naturalize soon, 4-6 years probably.

 

[LolaLi]

No TC is right. Currently it takes approximately 5-6 years for the F2A visa category (spouse of permanent resident) to become current.

Also it takes about 2 years on average for an I-130 application to be adjudicated and even if it is approved the beneficiary does not derive legal status and must maintain his/her own legal status until there is a visa number available.

So the choices for the poster is to either
1) get a work visa to remain in the USA until either his wife naturalizes and can bump his category up to that of immediate relative or until his visa is current under the F2A category and file I-485
2) or go back to his country and remain there until his number is current or his wife naturalizes at which the consular processing consular processing