When can i apply for my wife?

E

epicstruggle

Registered Users (C)
Hi, Im in the process of finally getting my naturalization done. Im 2 days from having my fingerprints taken, and a few weeks from the interview from taking place.

I have been married to a South African citizen for 3 year (religious ceremony) or 1.5 years (civil ceremony. We didnt realize that when we first got married that our religious ceremony would not be recognized by the US govermnent. Anyways I want to apply for her to come to the states but was wondering when i can do that. Is there a way to have it done prior to doing the oath ceremony?

kirit
 
epicstruggle said:
Hi, Im in the process of finally getting my naturalization done. Im 2 days from having my fingerprints taken, and a few weeks from the interview from taking place.

I have been married to a South African citizen for 3 year (religious ceremony) or 1.5 years (civil ceremony. We didnt realize that when we first got married that our religious ceremony would not be recognized by the US govermnent. Anyways I want to apply for her to come to the states but was wondering when i can do that. Is there a way to have it done prior to doing the oath ceremony?

kirit
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you can apply I-130 for your wife after you got your citizenship. it depends on when you will get your oath ceremony. not sure why you said you are a few weeks from the interview from taking place. (did you get an interview notice yet?)t
 
ocworker said:
you can apply I-130 for your wife after you got your citizenship. it depends on when you will get your oath ceremony. not sure why you said you are a few weeks from the interview from taking place. (did you get an interview notice yet?)t
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No i have not received an interview notice, Im just thinking hopefully. :)

So there is no way to do it before i get the oath ceremony done? Darn that sucks. Ive heard second hand accounts that its faster if i go to south africa and fill the forms there. Any truth to that?

kirit
 
epicstruggle said:
No i have not received an interview notice, Im just thinking hopefully. :)

So there is no way to do it before i get the oath ceremony done? Darn that sucks. Ive heard second hand accounts that its faster if i go to south africa and fill the forms there. Any truth to that?

kirit
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you can file the I-130 when you are on GC status, but you two will wait years before the visa number becomes current. check the online timeline for your represent service center for details



by applying I-130 with USC status, you do not have to wait for the visa number becomes current.

i am not sure it makes different to file it in S. Africa or do it in US, since you are applying the immigrantion visa for your sponuse, not fiancee.

basically, from what i understand, you only have one way to do, file the I-130 since you are already married. for someone who is still single, they can file the I-129F fiancee visa and their half can come to US and get married, and do AOS in US, which seems it is faster now.

check with www.uscis.gov for more details.
 
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Check out some of the threads on DCF - Direct Consular Filing. This is done for "immediate relatives", including a spouse. In india, it takes 90 days - and you have to be in India to do it. I don't know if it can be done in SA.

-Ocelot
 
Ocelot said:
Check out some of the threads on DCF - Direct Consular Filing. This is done for "immediate relatives", including a spouse. In india, it takes 90 days - and you have to be in India to do it. I don't know if it can be done in SA.

-Ocelot
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Ocelot, when you said "you have to be in India to do it". Does that mean the person who applies his/her spouse need ot be in the country (i.e. India) for whole 90 days ?
 
S. Africa

Yes you hve to live there for 60 days priore to file I-130 at US embassy.

So Do one thing send email to US embassy at S. Africa and ask them if they accept I-130 for Spouse in S. Africa or not. Also, Ask them is there any time limite for you to stay before you file or you can just walk-in and file it.

Here some links that i found it for you
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/sf1/wwwhmain.html

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/sf1/wwwhst1.html ( In this link look for "Our Contact Information" it is at Johannesburg.) There is a email address that you can send email to US consulate.

Good luck
 
wow, thanks for the info. Ill look into it right away.

Just got done with my fingerprints yesterday. So now waiting on my interview date. God i hope it comes quick. Ive been separated from my wife for too long. sigh.
 
well, Lets see how fast you will receive your Interview call. In my case i wait almost 2 year and get my citizenship done. So keep pray...boss
My service center was Texas and its SUCKSSS....
Dont know which one is yrs

Good luck
 
detroit, michigan so i go through vermont. God i hope its not 2 years. Weve been separated for almost 3 years and its getting really tiring.

kirit
 
ocworker said:
you can apply I-130 for your wife after you got your citizenship. it depends on when you will get your oath ceremony. not sure why you said you are a few weeks from the interview from taking place. (did you get an interview notice yet?)t
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IMO she can apply after this person is naturalized for atleast 3 years. The law states that a spouse can apply for NAtz if married to a USC for 3 years - clear.

2 people may have been married 20 years, and one spouse gets his Citizenship , does not mean that the other can apply for hers the very next day. Also if the US Govt does not recognize the 3 year religious ceremony, then only 1.5 years is taken to account ie. she has been married just 1.5 years and not 3.0 years!
 
I thought detroit applications will be submitted to Nebraska not Vermont .

Michigan residents seeking Naturalization status should send completed N-400 forms to the following address:
USINS Nebraska Service Center
Attention N-400 Unit
P.O. Box 87400
Lincoln, NE 68501-7400
 
Rahul Kumar said:
IMO she can apply after this person is naturalized for atleast 3 years. The law states that a spouse can apply for NAtz if married to a USC for 3 years - clear.

2 people may have been married 20 years, and one spouse gets his Citizenship , does not mean that the other can apply for hers the very next day. Also if the US Govt does not recognize the 3 year religious ceremony, then only 1.5 years is taken to account ie. she has been married just 1.5 years and not 3.0 years!
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i thought the I-130 is only to apply for the spouse coming to US for PR. not the citizenship.

I do not think the OP was talking about getting his wife citizenship at all.
 
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Whatever way gets her here fastest is the way i would like to go. I think going through the i130 will be fastest once i become a citizen, right?

kirit
 
Rahul Kumar said:
The husband must become a Citizen first and remain so for 3 years before trying to get a greencard for his wife.
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Rahul,

Is this really true? As soon as naturalization is done, one could apply for a green card for a spouse/parents etc., right?
 
Rahul Kumar said:
The husband must become a Citizen first and remain so for 3 years before trying to get a greencard for his wife.
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wow.. that is odd.. i think i better not apply I-130 and I might go with I-129F.
 
JoeF said:
Nope. A PR can file an I-130 to sponsor a spouse for a GC, but that takes 5+ years (family category 2a.) A US citizen can file an I-130 for a spouse without any waiting time. There is no quota. The spouse of a US citizen is classified as an immediate relative. It also doesn't matter how long the person has been a US citizen.

There is a 3-year timeframe for a PR married to a US citizen to apply for naturalization.
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I thought so too. but however, Rahul Kumar said it in the other way.

Can anyone point out a link from USCIS regarding "The husband must become a Citizen first and remain so for 3 years before trying to get a greencard for his wife"?
 
ocworker said:
I thought so too. but however, Rahul Kumar said it in the other way.

Can anyone point out a link from USCIS regarding "The husband must become a Citizen first and remain so for 3 years before trying to get a greencard for his wife"?
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I think Rahul mixed up green card with naturalization. For green card application (i.e I-130), there no waiting. But for naturalization application (i.e. N-400), 3 year of citizenship + 3 years of marriage is required.
 
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pralay said:
I think Rahul mixed up green card with naturalization. For green card application (i.e I-130), there no waiting. But for naturalization application (i.e. N-400), 3 year of citizenship + 3 of marriage is required.
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I hope it is the case of misunderstanding thou. I am waiting for my naturalization then i might either file the I-130 or I-129F depending on if I will marry oversea, or bring her over to US and get married here.
 
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