Requiring Clarification on F2A

[william james 0]

Hi Everyone - I will be moving to the US as soon as a visa becomes available. I have a girlfriend who I'm very serious about staying with and intend on getting married to. I'm a little confused, however, with respect to the I-130 process for LPR and sponsorship of his/her spouse. My understanding is that as soon as a Green Card is issued, I can get married and sponsor my wife under F2A. Under this category, the the priority date is Jun/2014. So in other words, I should expect to wait about a year and a half as a LPR filing for spouse? Is my understanding of this whole process (and timeframe) correct? Is there a more efficient and/or faster method of bringing my girlfriend (future wife) to the US?

Thanks in advance.

[arken 4,197]

On what visa will you be moving to US? You can get married whether you have GC or not (how are you getting GC?). You can sponsor your wife under F2A once you are a GC holder. One and half year or more of wait is common for F2A. Visitor visa is the only other faster method to bring your wife/girlfriend to US temporarily.

[william james 0]

On what visa will you be moving to US? You can get married whether you have GC or not (how are you getting GC?). You can sponsor your wife under F2A once you are a GC holder. One and half year or more of wait is common for F2A. Visitor visa is the only other faster method to bring your wife/girlfriend to US temporarily.

Arken,

Thank you so much for your reply. Here is some information you had requested in your post. I will be getting my GC through F1. My parent is a US Citizen and I'm over 21 but not married. However, I'm thinking if I get married prior to moving to the US, won't that move me to F3?

Can you also please elaborate on which visitor visa you are refering to? I know nothing about that and would like to learn more.

Thank you so much!

[arken 4,197]

In that case, you marriage before moving to the US will put you in F3 category and will require additional years of wait. So it's better to get the GC first after coming to the US and then plan to marry.

She can apply for Visitor visa (B-2) and if granted, she can stay in US for six months in each visit. However, getting B-2 visa is not easy and depends primarily on whether she can convince the CO that she will return back to her country after visiting US.

[william james 0]

In that case, you marriage before moving to the US will put you in F3 category and will require additional years of wait. So it's better to get the GC first after coming to the US and then plan to marry.

She can apply for Visitor visa (B-2) and if granted, she can stay in US for six months in each visit. However, getting B-2 visa is not easy and depends primarily on whether she can convince the CO that she will return back to her country after visiting US.

okay, so what if I get my GC, we get married, and instead of B-2, she applies to go to school in the states in the same city that I live? Will that mean the CO will be more strict because it puts her at risk of not returning (in the opinion of the CO)?

[Tracy-->NY 40]

as a lpr you should not marry before you enter the US and activate your green card. if you get married before you enter your IV would be void as it was issued to you as being single.

at my interview if I was married was one of the first questions the CO asked and said if I planned to I should not do so before entering the US which is what I did.

[william james 0]

as a lpr you should not marry before you enter the US and activate your green card. if you get married before you enter your IV would be void as it was issued to you as being single.

at my interview if I was married was one of the first questions the CO asked and said if I planned to I should not do so before entering the US which is what I did.

Thank you so much for the helpful information