Marriage after green card

[solstice 6]

My son arrived with an F11 visa a little over a month ago and is waiting for his green card. Once he gets that his plan is to marry his girlfriend back in Russia. With Russia in the picture that's a whole challenge in itself. I'm just wondering what would be the best way for them to get married and get her over to the US. Does anyone have any suggestions, they would be appreciated.

Edited April 23, 2022 by solstice

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to Bringing Family of LPR forum ***

 

34 minutes ago, solstice said:

I'm just wondering what would be the best way for them to get married and get her over to the US.

 

Your son and his girlfriend will need to marry and meet in person again before he can start the immigration process for her.  No need to marry in Russia, if the marriage process there is too onerous.  Any country where they are able to meet and marry is fine.  Utah online wedding is also an option, but they must be together in person during or after the wedding ceremony before he can file an I-130 petition for her.  After the petition is approved, his wife can proceed with F2A visa application.

 

[Boiler 46,109]

The important issue is that the marriage is legal

 

he can file a I 130 to petition her once they are married 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Boiler

[solstice 6]

Here's the thing, he's been with this girl for about a year or so and when he got his visa approved he didn't come over here immediately. His POE Atlanta is March 12 and paid his immigrant fee back in January. He has to go back to Russia (if he can get there) for some time after he gets his green card to take care of some business. Him and his girlfriend want to move out of Russia and we're worried that he might step off the plane and into a military convoy headed for Ukraine. He's wondering what the best course of action would be to get her here ASAP. He had a tough time (like many) getting his visa after 9 yrs. Had to go to Warsaw for the interview, then back to Russia. Some time in there they's like to get married they're just not sure when or where and how long it would take to get here over here. 

[Chancy 6,243]

6 minutes ago, solstice said:

He's wondering what the best course of action would be to get her here ASAP.

 

Like we said above -- marry anywhere it is legal for them to do so, file the I-130 after getting married, wait for I-130 approval, apply for F2A visa.

 

[solstice 6]

Thanks for your help. Any idea what the wait times are these days for this process? Would it be any faster to get a tourist visa then they get married once she's here or would that not work?

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

9 minutes ago, solstice said:

Thanks for your help. Any idea what the wait times are these days for this process? Would it be any faster to get a tourist visa then they get married once she's here or would that not work?

That would be fraud. Not an option. She can get a tourist visa, they can get married here but she has to return to Russia for the consular process.

Edited April 24, 2022 by Letspaintcookies

[solstice 6]

👍

[Demise 1,337]

3 hours ago, solstice said:

Here's the thing, he's been with this girl for about a year or so and when he got his visa approved he didn't come over here immediately. His POE Atlanta is March 12 and paid his immigrant fee back in January. He has to go back to Russia (if he can get there) for some time after he gets his green card to take care of some business. Him and his girlfriend want to move out of Russia and we're worried that he might step off the plane and into a military convoy headed for Ukraine. He's wondering what the best course of action would be to get her here ASAP. He had a tough time (like many) getting his visa after 9 yrs. Had to go to Warsaw for the interview, then back to Russia. Some time in there they's like to get married they're just not sure when or where and how long it would take to get here over here. 

His stamped immigrant visa serves as evidence of permanent residence for 1 year and can be used for anything that a green card would be used for - work, getting a SSN, getting a driver's license, international travel, sponsoring a relative, etc.

 

So he could right now fly out to Russia, tie the knot, come back to US, and file an I-130 for his girlfriend (wife at that point) and include a the stamped immigrant visa as proof of being an LPR.

[SalishSea 18,142]

7 hours ago, solstice said:

Here's the thing, he's been with this girl for about a year or so and when he got his visa approved he didn't come over here immediately. His POE Atlanta is March 12 and paid his immigrant fee back in January. He has to go back to Russia (if he can get there) for some time after he gets his green card to take care of some business. Him and his girlfriend want to move out of Russia and we're worried that he might step off the plane and into a military convoy headed for Ukraine. He's wondering what the best course of action would be to get her here ASAP. He had a tough time (like many) getting his visa after 9 yrs. Had to go to Warsaw for the interview, then back to Russia. Some time in there they's like to get married they're just not sure when or where and how long it would take to get here over here. 

Sounds like this is not an issue about US immigration for the most part.

[SalishSea 18,142]

6 hours ago, solstice said:

Thanks for your help. Any idea what the wait times are these days for this process? Would it be any faster to get a tourist visa then they get married once she's here or would that not work?

There is no realistic way she will get a tourist visa.   And if she did, that would be immigration fraud.

 

Having an SO is Russia  in 2022= a long and arduous process.   

[carmel34 3,655]

9 hours ago, solstice said:

Any idea what the wait times are these days for this process?

1-2 years after filing an I-130 petition, maybe longer given the situation in Russia, interview would likely be in Warsaw.  First step would be to get married as others have said.

[solstice 6]

Hey, thanks for all your help and info on this. Once again it'll be a long process for him.

[Cathi 5,784]

There is nothing fast, easy or cheap about U.S. immigration. 

Entering the U.S with a visitor visa with the intent to marry, stay and adjust status is immigration fraud. Visitor visas are for visiting, nothing more.

[solstice 6]

If my son is going back to Russia does he need to get a re-entry permit before he leaves? His intentions are to return to the US sometime before the one year limitation.