New to this website, and need some help!

[joelgrow 0]

First off, I would like to wish everybody happy new year!!!

I am very new to this web site, and I don't know anything about the process of getting a green care or whatsoever.

I am here on a student visa(F-1), which is going to expire on the Nov.29 2014.

I am engaged to an American, and we want to get married in 2014, also we both want to live in America.

I want to get a green card before my F-1 visa expires, but I have no clue what I need to do to get a green card.

First, I called the attorney, and they were kind of expensive, and they said It is hard to get a green card on your own, so better to get a lawyer.

The overall charge was about $3600(lawrence holmes attorney law firm)

I have two questions.

1. How hard is it to get a green card from my status, on a student visa?

2. If it is not too hard, what are the steps that I need to do?

Thank you!

[Merrytooth 5,748]

You don't need to go through the lawyers if you have a straight forward case.

Follow this guide here.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

[Ontarkie 14,510]

~~Duplicate thread merged and thread moved to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas , from Direct Consular Filing (DCF) General Discussion~~

[Teddy B 17,252]

Agreed, no lawyer needed. Follow the guide that was linked above and ask your questions here. Start building and keeping all proof of a bonafide relationship for evidence at your interview if needed. IE: e-mails, letters, phone call logs, photos of the two of you, wedding photos and cards from friends and family, joint bank account, joint lease, joint anything.

Good Luck!

Edited January 2, 2014 by Teddy B

[joelgrow 0]

Thanks guy.

So, If I follow the guide book, I should be able to get a green card without any problems?

I don't understand what straight forward case means.

Also. If I do the guide book, How long would it take to get a GC?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Like what Teddy B said, as long as you guys have all proof of a bonafide relationship, you should be able to get green card without problems.

Straight forward case ---> no big age difference, no illegal entry to US, no criminal record.. etc

And you would have interview for the green card application since you are adjusting status from F1.

So start building and collecting all relationship evidence.

The processing time could be checked from here:

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do

Edited January 2, 2014 by Merrytooth

[joelgrow 0]

Thank yall.

God bless

[jan22 3,066]

By now, I hope you've studied the guides and realized this -- but one thing the other posters did not explicitly state is that YOU cannot file for and get a green card. Your now fiancé will need to do that after you are married and you can file for adjustment of status. So, the only thing you need to do right now is study, plan a wedding, and then nag your new husband about filing paperwork!