Green card through marriage paper work

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passionate0829

Registered Users (C)
Hi: I came back to the forum this time since my girlfriend and I just found a person in her family to sponsor us so that I can marry her.
I have a few questions about the paper work that we need to go through. I hope anyone here can help me. I greatly appreciate any input.
What forms do we need to fill out?
Where can I get those forms?
What is the quickest way that my girlfriend can obtain a green card?

I'm a naturalized U.S citizen, first year in graduate school. My girlfriend is an undergraduate international student. We have known each other for 11 years since we were classmates from 6th grade. We've been dating for 1.5 years. Her aunt and uncle are willing to sponsor us to meet the income requirement. Our responsibility is to do the paper work.

Does her aunt/uncle need to sponsor me or it suffices that they sponsor only her?
Does my girlfriend need to go back to her country while we're doing the paper work?
How long it usually takes for her to obtain a green card?
 
HERE is the link for info on how, what, when and where to file the docs.

All forms are HERE

There is no quick way. You have to do all the work and be patient like the rest of us. Your case seems to be straight forward. Get married. Take lots of photos of the wedding. Get joint bank accounts, insurance etc. Then apply for her green card.

You are already a citizen. You do not need a sponsor. Your aunt and uncle can sponsor her (Affidavit of support).

She does not need to go back to her country.
She could, however, go back to her country and apply for a fiance visa.
You would have to get married within 90 of her entering the country again.
What visa is she on at the moment?

It takes 9 to 12 months to get the green card. It is going faster lately.
 
?

if im here in california and im petitioning my hubby who is in the philippines, do i have to be present at his interview?
 
Thank you very much for your information BornintheRSA. My girlfriend is on F1 visa now. What I'm concerned is that whether we need pictures of the wedding because we plan to have a wedding after we both graduate and have a job.
We just have joint bank accounts, same cellphone line. For the last 1.5 years, we talked on the phone almost every night since we lived far away from each other and I can get copies of these calls. Since we'll go to the same school in August, she'll move in with me. But I don't really think that we'll have a wedding anytime soon unless we must do so. We both only work part-time since we're still in school. We can't really afford a wedding at the moment:( Do you think that photos of wedding is an essential proof?
 
Wedding photos are not essential proof, but you have to get married. If you have evidence of knowing each other from childhood and going to the same college and the joint accounts you'll be in good shape.

If you're waiting until you graduate and get a job, you'll be able to sponsor her without your aunt/uncle as co-sponsors. But you need to get married and file for her soon* after she graduates, because otherwise she would go out of status unless she gets an H1 visa.

Read the "Do it yourself" sticky thread for more details: http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?p=1975217#post1975217

*soon = 60 days after completing all classes, unless she gets OPT which would extend that to 1 year.
 
passionate0829 said:
We just have joint bank accounts, same cellphone line. For the last 1.5 years, we talked on the phone almost every night since we lived far away from each other and I can get copies of these calls. Since we'll go to the same school in August, she'll move in with me.
Click to expand...

Yes, get copies of those phone calls.
If you don't have a big wedding then at least make sure that you have lots of photos of the 2 of you with other people on different occasions.

You've known each other for so long and she is here legally.
You'll be fine.
 
Thank you very much for giving me lots of useful information, BornintheRSA, TripleCitizen and Jack. I've read the Do-it-yourself thread, and I'll start to work on the paper work as soon as possible.
 
Hi guys. I come back for some more help on the I-864 form. My girlfriend's uncle and aunt filed a joint tax return every year. Does this mean we have to use the income from both of them as my girlfriend's sponsor even though her uncle's income in 2007 and 2008 already exceeds the 125% income requirement? If my girlfriend only uses her uncle's income, then the answer for number 1 part 1 is d) I am the only joint sponsor. Correct? If she uses both then, it should be e) ?
Any help is appreciated.
 
I wouldn't do the paperwork before getting married since you need the marriage certificate to prove you are married.
 
MOM1211 said:
I wouldn't do the paperwork before getting married since you need the marriage certificate to prove you are married.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply, MOM1211
I'm getting married in 24 days and I want to finish most of the paper work that I need to have before hand. Can someone help me with the above questions please?
 
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