No Title
If the spouse of GC holder is outside USA then the spouse has to wait for several years to come to USA ( V visa might help if you file I-130 form before December 21 2000 and if it\'s pending for more than 3 years ).
However if the spouse is legally in USA then here is what INS Web site says :
Usually, if a spouse is petitioning for you and you are currently in the United States through a lawful admission or parole, you may file a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, at the same time your spouse files the I-130 petition on your behalf.
So you need to file I-130 form ( the petition to sponsor a LPR status for your spouse ) and at the same time your spouse files I-485 form however after I-130 gets approved your spouse will have to wait for 4-6 years to get an immigrant visa number.
Some lawyers say that all this time your spouse will have to maintain his/her Visa status in USA on his/her own and NO work permit will come out as a result of I-130/I-485 filling. Though it contradicts with what the guide for I-485 says : since you file this form you can get a work permit and you are legally in USA as a holder of I-485. No need to maintain your Visa status on your own.
Also now there is a new law in the Congress which will allow the spouses of LPR to stay and to work in USA while their applications for LPR are pending. But ... God knows now long it\'s going to take for this law to go thru the Congress.
Does anyone have any practical experience of joining the spouse of LPR if the spouse is in USA ?
Thank you,
Alex.