Citizenship, marriage - very confused, please advise

A

aashn

Registered Users (C)
I am looking for some help and information, a little desperately.

I got my green card in 2001 and am planning on applying for citizenship in June next year. (in 6 months). I also met the girl of my life in my country (India), after I got my green card. Since it takes nearly 5 years to get a visa for her through I-130, we decided to wait until I get my citizenship. We are planning on getting married soon. I've waited this long to get to where I can apply for my citizenship. My question is should I get married before I apply for my citizenship or after? I understand in one case it would be a spousal visa for her and in the other it will be a fiancee one. I don't know the pros and cons of each. I just want to bring her the soonest way possible as I get my citizenship and would appreciate if someone could explain or point me in the right direction.

We have been living separated all this time and it has been very tough for both of us, to say the least. I have been following this forum about the ordeals of going through the citizenship. Then I have to apply for her visa. Looks like the journey is long and the pains will never end. I really don't know when (or how) I'll cross all these hurdles and start the life that has been elusive for such a long time.. :(

Thanks in advance for your support. Any information and help is greatly appreciated.

:confused:
 
Hi aashn,
I do not know how to help but I am in the same boat as you. Right after getting my green card I have met the person! So we have been waiting for more than 4 years now and I have only applied for N400. I do not know what is better (before or after citizenship) but we decided to wait until citizenship is taken care of, we have waited long enough anyway.
My feeling is getting married at this point may complicate N400 processing. Of course I could be wrong. Good luck in your quest.

A while ago I posted a similar question, here it is,
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=185256
 
Getting married doesn't change anything with the N-400app. You just need to provide details about your spouse. Applying based on GC will take for ever.

If you wait till you get citizenship, then you can apply for fiancee visa. If you get married now, then when you become citizen, apply I-130 for her. I am going to be doing this I-130 thing for my wife, next month. If you apply from India, the process takes less time as compared to applying from US. I don't know how long it takes for fiancee visa (in case you don't get married till you become citizen), check on that.

See if your wife can come to US based on some other visa like student, H1 etc. That will be easier.

I know this process is pain. I have been waiting for more than 1 yr for my wife to join me in US.
 
I know someone recently arrived in US under K-1 Visa. She says the processing took only less than 6 months. I am not sure though if the processing time may vary from different US Consulate Abroad. Her fiance applied in Nebraska SC- and then papers were sent to Manila, PI
 
Or you can wait till you become a US citizen, go to India and get married. After that stay in India for 60 days and do a "direct consular filing" for your wife. She will get the immigrant visa in 3-4 months to come to US. Search and read experiences in direct consular filing (DCF) thread.
 
Thank you all very much for your answers. dougalted, thank you also for the link to your other thread; some useful information there. This is a great forum.

So is there any difference between bringing a spouse versus a fiancee, after becoming a citizen? Could you tell which one is less complicated and faster of the two, and how long does it take.

Thanks.
 
aashn said:
So is there any difference between bringing a spouse versus a fiancee, after becoming a citizen? Could you tell which one is less complicated and faster of the two, and how long does it take.
Click to expand...

Or if anyone even has pointers to past threads on this topic, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.
 
I posted earlier msg under bobby350z.

Anyways from what I now if you not married then you need fiancee visa. Your fiancee will come to US on K1 visa and you need to get married in xx days (90 I guess). Don't kow how long it takes but it is shorter than K3 visa.

If married then you need to file K3 visa for her or file I-130. K3 is taking longer close to a year from what I heard. Filing I-130 from US also takes a long time, 8-9 months.

Another route is where you go to India for 60 days and file I-130 from there. This is DCF route. I am doing same right now. Have been in India for 1 month right now. After you file I-130, it can take 3 months. Some get it early in under 2 months.
 
Wow, here I thought there are only two options but now it looks like actually there are four. More things to study about and weigh in on. Thanks, bobbyz.

Any pointers where I can learn more about these? Thanks.
 
Check USCIS site about family based immigration for spouse/fiancee of US citizen. These forums also help a lot.
 
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