marriage before green card issuance?

[lucky_me25]

What is the name of your state? IL

i just arrived here in the US with an immigrant to work as a nurse. my bf is back in my country. am i already a permanent resident or til i receive my green card? we are hoping he could have follow-to-join in benefits if we marry before the green card is issued. how long does it take for the green card to be issued? thanks.What is the name of your state?

 

[FLMommy]

What kind of visa do you have???

 

[evcalyptos]

What is the name of your state? IL

i just arrived here in the US with an immigrant to work as a nurse. my bf is back in my country. am i already a permanent resident or til i receive my green card? we are hoping he could have follow-to-join in benefits if we marry before the green card is issued. how long does it take for the green card to be issued? thanks.What is the name of your state?

oops, you should've married before you left for the US. You became a permanent resident when you entered the US with your immigrant visa.

It will be a 4-5 year wait now before he can come to the US (if you got married). If he can get here on his own, then he should.

 

[lucky_me25]

oops, you should've married before you left for the US. You became a permanent resident when you entered the US with your immigrant visa.

It will be a 4-5 year wait now before he can come to the US (if you got married). If he can get here on his own, then he should.

really? i was informed i'd become a permanent resident once the green card is issued and the visa in my passport is temporary only. oh my gosh, can't believe it'll take that long. if i ask for lawyer assistance will that 4-5 years be shortened? thanks a lot.

 

[ImmigAttyLana]

The stamp in your passport is just temporary evidence of your permanent residence status (until you get the green card itself) but the status is not temporary. You are a permanent resident as of the date you enter the US on an immigrant visa and get your passport stamped at the port of entry. You should have gotten some legal advice prior to entering the US if your intention was to bring your bf to the US as your husband. You would have been advised to marry him before entering the US and that way he could have qualified for the following to join benefits along with you.

Now, you will have to petition him for an immigrant visa as a 2nd preference category and this takes about 4-6 years. Getting an attorney will ensure that this process is done correctly, but the attorney cannot expedite the wait times, as these are subject to visa availability. Unless and until the immigration reform bill is made into law, which may add additional visa numbers to clear the backlogs, you should anticipate the 4-6 year wait unless your boyfriend can qualify for an employment-based visa in his own right.

Lana
Immigration Attorney