My girlfriend wants a green card

enamel said:
Once were married (probably soon), and when I actually apply for her GC (I want the immediate one, and apply again after the conditional period is up), do I need to have an actual income to support her?
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Wait until you have citizenship before applying for her. Applying as a permanent resident won't give her any immigration benefits or status for 4-5 years, so it would be a waste of time considering that you are 1 year from citizenship.

I'm technically still going to be a student until May 2011 (graduate), and after that I'll still technically be a student for the next 4-6 years after that. During those 4-6 years, my income will be somewhere in the range 50,000.00 (it is just a stipend). Will this be enough on the application?
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The taxable part of it -- the amount of the stipend that goes towards room and board and other miscellaneous expenses -- can definitely be used towards the income requirement. If that is still not enough, get a co-sponsor to make up the difference, or you can use her income in the calculation if she is legally employed in the US and her job is reasonably expected to continue after she gets a green card (i.e. it must not be a short-term job like a summer internship).
 
First, you should wait until September 2010 to apply for citizenship.
Second, you can marry your girlfriend anytime but your GC can't help her until you are a citizen, so she must maintain her status during the waiting.
Third, don't file I-130 for her before you become a citizen because it takes much longer time - I am talking about years - for a GC holder to apply GC for his/her spouse. As a US citizen, it takes less than 6 months. The best option is to file I-130 and I-485 when you are a citizen.
Last but not least, you may need a co-sponsor because USCIS will look into 2010 income if you file GC application for your wife in 2011.
People, please feel free to correct me if I made any wrong statements.
Best of luck. Happy holidays.
 
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