Can a non-US-citizen marrying a US-citizen stay in the country while filing?
Would it be a good idea to get married in a civil ceremony a month earlier in April so that we could file in a month earlier? Then perform the religious ceremonies and take pictues and everything in May. Or would that make it seem to them that the marriage was performed just for obtaining Green Card?
Answer:
Several Questions several answers.
1. She can stay after mariage while processing being done. Once you submit all those papers, her status in US will be "Pending adjustment of status". Filing I-765 and I-130 will allow her to work and travel to US and back (so she will be kinda like GC holder).
2. Civil marriage in April is a good idea. Ther is no problems with immigration aofficer about that. They would be way more concerned, if marriage took place after her visa expires, and since religious ceremony preparation can take a lot of time, its understandible to do that way. The earlier you start, the better.
Religious wedding after is a good idea, but not even nesessary. If being held, make sure take a lot of pictures, know all names, and so on(Big ceremonies are also held for fake marriages, to make them look real, thats why they can grill you with names).
3.If she just graduated, she might be able to get OPT - Optional practical training (its a right to work for a year), and that will give you more time.
Hope that helps.
Yeah, but it's very expensive to get the "green card"
Yes! She can stay here. Starting early is good! Unless you are doing a marriage of convenience, you need not worry too much about pictures etc.
Sure she can stay. you can get married in a civil ceremony and later plan a big religious wedding, however immigration might ask why you did it that way. They may even want to see pics. I think you can wait and have your wedding in May and file papers immediatly after.
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