I have resident visa can I get married?

[jcontreras 0]

Hi,

I am new using this service. I got my residency in 2007, however, I am currently living in my home country. Next year I am planning to move to the U.S and start the process to become a U.S. citizen. My problem is that I got married last year and I want to go with my wife. Can I get her a resident visa while I have resident status?

I appreciate any lead regarding this matter. Web sites, publications, comments, will help me a lot.

Thanks a lot,

Jcontreras

[Ban Hammer 13,470]

moved from off topic to General Immigration Related Discussion

This forum is for discussing topics other than Family Immigration. Work Visas, Student Visas, and other immigration related discussions should be posted here.

[payxibka 10,047]

If you petition now as a resident then it is 4-5 years to get the visa

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

P is correct, it'll take a few years but it is possible to get your wife a visa to live in the US. If you become a citizen in the meantime, you can upgrade your petition and it'll be faster, but one way or the other it won't be in time for her to move back with you in early 2010.

But also: How long have you been living abroad? Unless you have a re-entry permit or work for a US company/ the military, you may have difficulty returning yourself if you stay out a long time (esp. if longer than a year).

[payxibka 10,047]

P is correct, it'll take a few years but it is possible to get your wife a visa to live in the US. If you become a citizen in the meantime, you can upgrade your petition and it'll be faster, but one way or the other it won't be in time for her to move back with you in early 2010.

But also: How long have you been living abroad? Unless you have a re-entry permit or work for a US company/ the military, you may have difficulty returning yourself if you stay out a long time (esp. if longer than a year).

Yup,

last year, this year, next year... living in home country... sounds like abandonment of residency... maybe a much bigger problem

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You have to be a permanent resident for 5 years to apply for citizenship. The way I see it, you are not a permanent resident, as you live in Columbia since . . . when?

The previous poster is correct: you need to supply us with detailed information on WHEN exactly you got your GC, WHEN you left the US for Columbia, and what paperwork you filed before leaving.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Hi,

I am new using this service. I got my residency in 2007, however, I am currently living in my home country. Next year I am planning to move to the U.S and start the process to become a U.S. citizen. My problem is that I got married last year and I want to go with my wife. Can I get her a resident visa while I have resident status?

I appreciate any lead regarding this matter. Web sites, publications, comments, will help me a lot.

Thanks a lot,

Jcontreras

If you got the GC in 2007, you still have a long time to wait to become a citizen of the USA.

The law states that you must be present in the USA at least three of the previous five years as a resident before you can apply for naturalization.

As a resident, your wife can apply for residency too, but she will have to wait her turn ... currently processing only April/2005. Therefore, her wait will also be close to five years.

An another part of the law is that you cannot spend more than one continuous year outside the USA without having obtained first a reentry permit. If you do (or did), you automatically lose your residency (you are found to have abandoned your residency).

Read THIS link for more information.