Need help deciding on how to proceed with marriage papers

[ncincott]

Hello,

I recently got engaged to my Taiwanese girlfriend whom I've been dating for over 2 years. I am a US Citizen born and raised. I wanted to get the paperwork rolling on her entry and perm residence status for the US but I am stuck on deciding which form to fill. We plan to get married in Taiwan first before coming to the US. Should I fill out a form for a spouse first even tho I don't have the marraige certificate? If we decide to wait to submit the marriage form until after the ceremony how long does it usually take to get approved for citizen?

Also, if I decide just to fill out the fiance forms instead: 1) Would it matter if we got married in her home country during the time when plans are being made for us to get married in the US? and 2) When the forms are complete is there a time limit on how long she can wait before coming to the US?


I really appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Nick

 

[TheRealCanadian]

We plan to get married in Taiwan first before coming to the US.

Bad idea. If she shows up and attempts to enter the US with you (unless she has an H-1 or L-1) she will get placed on the plane back to Taipei.

Should I fill out a form for a spouse first even tho I don't have the marraige certificate?

You cannot sponsor a spouse if you aren't married to her.

If we decide to wait to submit the marriage form until after the ceremony how long does it usually take to get approved for citizen?

Several months.

Would it matter if we got married in her home country during the time when plans are being made for us to get married in the US?

Of course it would! If you got married in Taiwan, she is no longer your fiancee and is ineligible to enter as one.

When the forms are complete is there a time limit on how long she can wait before coming to the US?

No.

 

[ncincott]

Taken from the UCIS Website:

"Information for Citizens
If you are a U.S. citizen, your spouse is considered an immediate relative and is immediately eligible for an immigrant visa if your petition is approved. Generally, if your spouse is in the U.S. (through a lawful admission or parole) at the time you file the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, your spouse may file a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status at the same time. For more information, your spouse should refer to How Do I Become a Lawful Permanent Resident While In the United States? If he or she is outside the U.S., your spouse will need to go to the nearest U.S. consulate to apply for an immigrant visa."

So when it says imediately eligible for an immigrant visa that means after the petition (which takes several months to approve) is complete?

Thanks for your response.

 

[shelbean]

hi

yes, that means after the petion is approved.
Just to give you an idea......my husband and i were married in england. I came back in sept 2004 and filed i 103. its yet to have a decsion even though they are processing cases that were submitted in feb 2005(last time i checked the processing dates list)
i also filed i 129f k-3 visa. which if approved would allow my husband to come to the US and work while his i 130 is being processed. That too has now went behind the said processing time.
I wish you the best of luck. I dont have much advice as im new to all this. But i will say, my senators and congresswoman have been helping me. And they stay in contact with me. So if your state is as lucky as mine to have reps that care, if you need them, they are there to help you with your immigration matters.
I get good advice here at this forum. So keep up on here and youll get the advice that i did.
again, good luck and best wishs. and congrads on your engagement
shel