question about authenticity of this statement.

[babypea 0]

found on a visa site: Note: If you have already been married for two years when you apply for a marriage to U.S. citizen based Green Card the USCIS will grant you a permanent Green Card.

does this mean if the US citizen can take care of the both of them, then in 2 years time the green card is given to the immigrant spouse? at no cost, even?

[wizardfitz 13]

found on a visa site: Note: If you have already been married for two years when you apply for a marriage to U.S. citizen based Green Card the USCIS will grant you a permanent Green Card.

does this mean if the US citizen can take care of the both of them, then in 2 years time the green card is given to the immigrant spouse? at no cost, even?

there is a cost, you will still have to file for the green card but since its been a 2yr marriage then if granted they will give you the 10yr perm gc but application fees still apply

[NickD 203]

found on a visa site: Note: If you have already been married for two years when you apply for a marriage to U.S. citizen based Green Card the USCIS will grant you a permanent Green Card.

does this mean if the US citizen can take care of the both of them, then in 2 years time the green card is given to the immigrant spouse? at no cost, even?

Wonder who wrote that, gives the impression that the married immigrant will automatically get a ten year card after two years of marriage.

First off the length of the marriage has nothing to do with being issued a ten year card, the immigrant has to hold the conditional card for at least two years, but you must apply for it with an I-751 90 days before that conditional card expires or else the immigrant will be here illegally and can even be deported. Current fees are $465 (plus $80 biometric service fee), but immigrant children can be included in the form, but with an extra 80 bucks per child. Plus you have to send a lot of evidence to prove your marriage status, it's all in the instructions.

That phrase, "marriage to U.S. citizen based Green Card" doesn't even make sense, get your information from:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

And carefully read the instructions, immigration is your responsibility and you will find that you have to fight for it rather than get help.

[moonhunt 1]

found on a visa site: Note: If you have already been married for two years when you apply for a marriage to U.S. citizen based Green Card the USCIS will grant you a permanent Green Card.

does this mean if the US citizen can take care of the both of them, then in 2 years time the green card is given to the immigrant spouse? at no cost, even?

Nope.

If you married for 2 years when you petition for Greencard sponsorship for your spouse based on the spouse of US citizen condition, you will be easier to collect the proof for bona-fide marriage relationship.

Plus USCIS will give 10 year validity Green Card upon approval of the case instead of 2 year validity conditional green card, which will required to lift the condition on the time when you reach two year anniversary date from green card issurance using I-751 form.

That's it.

Edited November 13, 2008 by moonhunt

[T and M 1]

found on a visa site: Note: If you have already been married for two years when you apply for a marriage to U.S. citizen based Green Card the USCIS will grant you a permanent Green Card.

does this mean if the US citizen can take care of the both of them, then in 2 years time the green card is given to the immigrant spouse? at no cost, even?

Nope.

If you married for 2 years when you petition for Greencard sponsorship for your spouse based on the spouse of US citizen condition, you will be easier to collect the proof for bona-fide marriage relationship.

Plus USCIS will give 10 year validity Green Card upon approval of the case instead of 2 year validity conditional green card, which will required to lift the condition on the time when you reach two year anniversary date from green card issurance using I-751 form.

That's it.

Exactly. If you have been married for 2 years when you apply for a Green card based on marriage to a US citizen, then USCIS will grant you a permanent (read: 10 year) green card rather than the 2 year conditional green card. Either way, the process is long, tedious, painful, and costly.

My wife and I were not married for two years when we applied for her Green Card. She received a conditional Green Card in July 2008 and by July 2010, we have to apply to get the conditions removed and she will receive her 10 year Green Card. If you have already been married for 2 years then you would be granted the 10-year Green Card straight away. (After waiting 4-6 months and paying $400-500.) It makes very little difference which you get though, b/c a Conditional Green Card holder has exactly the same rights and responsibilities as a 10 year Green Card holder. Both have to wait 3 years for naturalization, neither can leave the US for long periods of time without losing PR status. It's the same really.