immigrations ??

Question

One of my girfriend is from the dominican republic she has been here since she was 6 or 7 she entered this country on a visa she has a bf and they want to get married but they both got in trouble with the law several times now she is scared to because she thinks they will deport her if they get together
She asked me for advice and i have no clue what the INS look for when two people get married and what kind of questions they will ask her ?
If there are people out there that have been through something similar or someone that knows what she should expect i will appreciate the answer ?
Since she has been here for so long why can't she just apply on her own ?

I guess i forgot to say he is a american citizen and they are trruly in love i mean i have known them for three years now and they have been together for that time period and they are in love he wants to marry her she is scred because she thinks once she goes through the process hey are going to look at his reccord and say no since he has a few DUI and so on lol
i think it's silly since she is more american than some people i know i mean her ways beliefs and such but thanks for the answers i will let her read them so she can finally realize she better gohead and marry him asap

Answer 1

I guess what others have forgotten to say is that one of the couple must be a U.S. citizen - otherwise, the possibility of deportation always exists.

If her boyfriend is a U.S. citizen, then they should get married asap. You don't need to show much documentation to do that...I think you only need to show that you've been in the U.S. over a certain period of time...or they can go to Vegas and get it done over the weekend - even fewer questions asked.

Being legally married to an American citizen should make things ok since her 'husband' will be able to file for permanent residency for her. Her run-ins with the law are immaterial unless they're felonies [in which case, I imagine she would have been deported already]. But it's going to be a long, drawn out process....

She cannot apply on her own because there is only one way for a non-citizen to become a citizen, i.e. naturalization. For naturalization, you have to be a permanent resident or be the relative of a U.S. citizen (think child/parent of U.S. citizen). The period of her overstay on that visa, if found offensive by the Dept. of Homeland Security/State Department, will actually get her immediately deported (no questions asked) and bar her from entering the U.S. again...for 10years.

Answer 2

She should get married before she talks to the INS or gov't.

Me and my wife got to talk with INS 2 years after marriage (like all nonnative spouses get to). They at the hardest try and ask questions to see if you really are married. The guy we had barely asked anything. We had all the proof and besides that wife was pregnant.

Very few illegal aliens will be able to stay if they try on their own. Its not easy to stay if you intend to get married and aren't either. Its only after the fact that you can get a temp green card.

Answer 3

i'm gunna deport her myself

Answer 4

all must be citizens