What are the Steps of getting marriage between F1 visa holder and U.S citizen?

Question

I've been legally staying in the U.s as F1- visa holder for 3 years. Now i'm planning on getting marriage to a citizen. But i dont know where to start. Me and my bf is now living in Rockford, Illinois and we're both just turn 18.
What are the steps of getting marriage? ( where do we have to go?what forms we have to fill out ?,etc)

What are the steps of getting a green card after i get marriage and the forms that are included ?
I heard that i have to stay in the u.s 3 years after i get the marriage if i desire to go back to my home country. is that correct?

Answer 1

Answer is above is absolutely wrong, it does not apply to you. First step is just doing what any couple would do to get married - getting a marriage license and the marriage itself. After that, you will have to submit the following forms all at the same time: Form I-130, I-485, I-864, I-693, I-765, G-325a. Make sure to read all the instructions well. After you submit the forms you will be called in for a biometrics appointment and then eventually your adjustment of status interview. Please note that your US citizen boyfriend (who will be then your husband) has to be making at least $19000 a year in order to be eligible to sign form I-864 which is the Affidavit of Support, as proof that he can support you. If he doesn't make enough then you would have to get a co-sponsor. There's a confusion with the information you have gotten. You are free to travel back to your home country once you have received your green card. If you wish to apply for citizenship 3 years after you get your green card (which is when you start to be eligible), you should keep each trip outside the US less than 6 months.

Filing fees for all the forms would be a total of $1365. Medical exam would be around $300-$500.

Answer 2

You don't have to stay in the US 3 years after getting married as long as you legally acquire residency you may travel whenever you want as long as it is not out of the country for more than 6 months in any year.When you get married you file the following.The most and absolute most important thing is your I-94 record of arrival to showcase you came in legally since it will be required at the adjustment interview.The following should help out somewhat.



"Marriage Green Card



If both the U.S. Citizen and Foreign National Spouse are in the U.S., the U.S. Citizen may apply for the Foreign National Spouse’s Permanent Residence through Adjustment of Status with the USCIS.



Who Qualifies:



Any U.S. Citizen in the United States with a Foreign National Spouse who entered the U.S. legally with a visa or a visa waiver. It is OK if the visa or I-94 has expired. Canadian Citizens do NOT need to show proof of entry (visa or visa waiver).



An Overview of the Process:



Once the marriage has taken place, the couple files the following with USCIS:



1. Petition for Alien Relative (USCIS Form I-130)

2. Application to Register Permanent Residence (USCIS Form I-485)

3. Biographic Information (USCIS Form G-325A)

4. Affidavit of Support (USCIS Form I-864)

5. Permission for Work Authorization (Optional) (USCIS Form I-765)

6. Medical Examination Results (USCIS Form I-693)

7. Request for Travel Documents (Optional) (USCIS Form I-131)

8. The appropriate supporting documents

9. The USCIS filing fees ($1,010 to $1,365).



The USCIS will contact you first regarding the Biometrics / Fingerprinting Appointment.



The USCIS will then issue the work authorization and permission to travel approximately 90 days after filing.



The USCIS will contact you next to schedule an interview. This will be anywhere from 6 months to 9 months after filing the initial application.



Following a successful interview, the foreign national spouse will receive a stamp classifying him/her as a Conditional Permanent Resident.



USCIS will mail the Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) approx 4-8 weeks after the successful interview.



The Conditional Status may be dropped by applying for Removal of Conditional Status (USCIS Form I-751) within 90 days of the 2 year anniversary of the granting of Conditional Permanent Residency."





All the above information pertains to AFTER being married.

Answer 3

You are too young to get married .. I doubt the US cit could afford to file the affidavit of support



if you cannot understand the system get a lawyer

Answer 4

Green Card for an Immediate Relative of a U.S. Citizen

(www.uscis.gov/greencard)



To promote family unity, immigration law allows U.S. citizens to petition for certain qualified relatives to come and live permanently in the United States. Eligible immediate relatives include the U.S. citizen’s:



Spouse



Unmarried child under the age of 21

Parent (if the U.S. citizen is over the age of 21)

Immediate relatives have special immigration priority and do not have to wait in line for a visa number to become available for them to immigrate because there are an unlimited number of visas for their particular categories.



For other qualified relatives that a U.S. citizen may petition for, see the “Green Card for a Family Member of a U.S. Citizen” link under “Green Card Through Family” to the left.



Get a Green Card While Inside the United States



One Step Process

Certain people are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) while inside the United States. An immediate relative relationship allows you to apply on Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to become a permanent resident at the same time your U.S. citizen petitioner files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. For more information on filing for permanent residence in one step, see the “Concurrent Filing” link under “Green Card Processes & Procedures” to the left.



Two Step Process



You still have the option to file your I-485 application any time after your petitioner files a Form I-130, for you, as long as it has not been denied. Generally, you will need to submit a copy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, with your Form I-485, that shows the Form I-130 petition is either pending or approved.



Step One – Your U.S. citizen immediate relative must file the Form I-130 for you and it must be either pending or approved. For more information on Form I-130 petitions, see the “Family” link to the right.



Step Two – After you receive Form I-797, Notice of Action, showing that the Form I-130 has either been received by us or approved, then you may file Form I-485. When you file your I-485 application package, you must include a copy of the Form I-130 receipt or approval notice (the Form I-797). For more information on filing for permanent residence, see the “Adjustment of Status” link to the left under “Green Card Processes & Procedures.”

Get a Green Card While Outside the United States

If you are currently outside the United States and are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, you can become a permanent resident through consular processing. Consular processing is when USCIS works with the Department of State to issue a visa on an approved Form I-130 petition when a visa is available. You may then travel on the visa and will officially become a permanent resident when admitted at a U.S. port of entry. For more information on consular processing for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, see the “Consular Processing” link to the left under “Green Card Processes & Procedures.” The Department of State will notify you when you are eligible to apply for an immigrant visa. If you do not apply for an immigrant visa within one year following notification from the Department of State, your petition may be terminated.





Things to keep in mind:



Turning 21 years of age. When an immediate relative child of a U.S. citizen reaches the 21 years of age, he or she generally will become a “first preference” (F1) category son or daughter (over 21 years of age) of a U.S. citizen, and will no longer have a visa immediately available. This change may result in a significant delay in adjustment of status or visa processing because he or she will now need to wait for an immigrant visa to become available. For more information, see the “Visa Availability & Priority Dates” link under “Green Card Processes & Procedures” to the left.

Child Status Protection Act. In certain cases, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may allow you to retain the classification of “child” even if you have reached age 21. Generally, your age is “frozen” as of the date your U.S. citizen parent files Form I-130 for you. To determine if the CSPA applies to you, see the “Child Status Protection Act” link to the left under “Green Card Processes & Procedures.”



Getting Married. If an immediate relative child under age 21 gets married, he or she can no longer be classified as an “immediate relative” and will become a “third preference” (F3) category married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen and a visa would no longer be immediately available. You must notify us of any change in your marital status after Form I-130 has been filed for you and prior to becoming a permanent resident or obtaining an immigrant visa.