Can an International Student marry in US with a person who owns green card?

Question

I am a Japanese and live here for 12 years, and have a green card (no US citizenship). My fiance is also a Japanese but an internatinoal student. Can we get marry while he is studying in US as an international student? Any experinced people? Any official web site about it? Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

I don't think I've met you before. But I'm Japanese, too. 初めまして！

Well, about your question... yes, you can marry him within the US. He stays here as a F-1 student and you live here as a green card holder so there is no problem for you guys to get married within the US.

And after he gets married to you, does he want to change his status? He can actually file the petition for Adjustment of Status to get his green card. But one problem is that it will take him at least 5 years to get his green card because you are not an American citizen. So if he wants to change his status, you and he need to contact an immigration lawyer about this. I really don't know what's going to happen to him while his case is pending.

And also, don't forget to inform your marriage to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General of Japan in the US. You might change your last name after getting married, which means you need to change your last name on your passport, too. Anyway, if you go to the website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General of Japan, you wil find the information of what you need to do after getting married. So download forms, fill them out and send them by mail or you can just go to the Embassy of Consulate General to do everything.

Anyway, there is no problem for you guys to get married within the US.

And if he wants to stay in the US, he needs to get his green card, anyway, so please check the USCIS website:http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=0775667706f7d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

And other useful websites are:
http://visajourney.com/forums/index.php?act=home
http://www.visapro.com/
http://www.visapro.com/Message-Board/index.php
http://www.kamya.com/aos/index.html
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/j/html/file/index.html

(immigration lawyer)
http://www.horitsu.com/index.html

If you have a question, e-mail him in English. It's free so just ask him if you have any questions.

Answer 2

you can marry him but if you file for an immigrant visa for him he will be on a waiting list for about 5-7 yrs or until you become a U.S. Citizen. I don't believe there many Japanese that actually want to emigrate to the U.S. In the 24 yrs I have assited people in immigration matters, I have seen very few Japanese in the immigration process.

Answer 3

You can get married no problem. As long as you both have ID's and single.
If you want for him to stay in US, you need to sponsor him for GC. You can do this as a GC holder, but it will take 5-7 years (Due to limited number of visas)., Or you can nuturalize (since you've been here for 12 years youare eligible), and then - Sponsor him like US citizen, with minimal delay.

Answer 4

I am sure that you can be married here. Of course that woudn't give either one of you citizenship.
But im sure if you had the legal documents that you were married that it would be recognized in the USA, in Japan or wherever.

Answer 5

USCIS.gov