Best way to get permanent residency thru marriage

[Audrey83 1]

Here's the situation: I am a French citizen and I live in France. My boyfriend is South African, lives and works in the U.S and has had his green card for 2 years (so not a US citizen yet). Our goal is for us to live together in the U.S and we are wondering what would be the best way to achieve that:

- get married in France and then once he gets his U.S citizenship file a petition for Alien Relative (and for a K-3 non immigrant visa in the meantime so I can stay and work there while awaiting the adjudication)

-wait for him to get his U.S citizenship and then apply for a K-1 fiancée visa; and then file I-765 for Application for Employment Authorization and I-485 for Application to Register Permanent Residence

Which one makes more sense and is the quickest or is there another way?

Thank you for your time and advice!

Audrey.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Why not get married now, petition for a spousal visa, then upgrade when he becomes a citizen?

Oh, and there isn't a K-3 anymore, there isn't an option for you to wait in the US while the petition is adjudicated

good luck

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

You can get married now and file an I-130 for a CR1, but the wait will be several years. If your priority date has not become current by the time he becomes a citizen, then he can upgrade the petition and then it will be processed then.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Nola123

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

**** Moving from K1 to General Immigration forum and removed duplicate in Bringing Fanily forum, as OP has not decided on a visa path yet ****

I agree with Canadian_Wife: marry now and have him petition you, then upgrade when he becomes a US citizen. It's the quickest and cheapest way.

[apple21 953]

If his naturalization will be based on the 5 year residency rule then it's a long wait until he becomes USC.

Get married in France. He files i-130 in the US. You will be under the F2A category (Spouse of a Lawful Permanent Resident). Waiting time is 2 and a half years.