HELP! lpr wife petition

[tkat22 0]

hi there. i'm new here so any help or advice would be great. Also, sharing your journey with me on how you or your wife/husband got your f2a visas

me and my boyfriend of 4 years (almost 5 this coming december) are planning to get married when we get there in the states. he is a green card holder and i am a filipino visa though i have a multiple entry visa. when we get married is it better if we file our I-130 form right away? how long is the waiting time now. can i still visit him in the states while waiting for the visa?

please help. i know all or some of you can relate that being away from your loved one is very hard.

-kat

[Asia 2,499]

According to visa bulletin, waiting time in the F2A category is around 2 years (for now).

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5759.html

You can visit him in the States.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

How far is he from becoming or to qualify for a citizenship? Isn't it better to apply for K1 once he's naturalized or if they get married to apply for CR-1? Just an inquiring mind

Edited September 3, 2012 by Tintin and Mike

[tkat22 0]

Hes been studying here in the philippines for his college degree but he does have his re entry permit. although, he stayed in the states for more than 7years his mother didnt follow up for his naturalization so when he studied here he spent more than 6 months of stay here so his 5 year count went back to zero. so he still needs another 5 more years. well, that's what i know and what his mom told me.

Edited September 3, 2012 by tkat22

[apple21 953]

you can get married here in the Philippines.

after getting your NSO Marriage Certificate, he can file I-130.

waiting period is atleast 2 years.

you can still visit him using your tourist visa. i just don't know if you still need to replace the visa in case you're considering using your soon-to-be husband's surname.

[apple21 953]

ooppss, correction.

if you have an existing valid US tourist visa, there might be a problem if you try to visit your husband to the US AFTER he files your f2a petition.

remember... it is the discretion of the immigration officer on your port of entry to "question" your intent of entering the US.

they might assume that you have plans of over-staying since your husband is an LPR.

sometimes having a pending petition might hinder the chances of obtaining a tourist visa or entering the US.

[Mrs Green 6]

Yes, you can visit your husband while I-130 is pending. I have visited 3 times since we file in 2010 and have never had an issue at POE JFK, New York. Only on my first trip in December 2010, did the IO ask why i was not residing with my family in the USA. I wish you all the best on your visa journey and hope someone from your country can advise if there is additional scrutiny.