Im a US army veteran and we've been together for over two years.
2007-12-21 04:40:39 · 7 answers · asked by coldwinter313 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Nope. She needs to get her citizenship paperwork just like any other person would.
2007-12-21 04:45:18 · answer #1 · answered by NickynJessie H 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just to dispel any confusion: RENEE915 above me said that her sister-in-law is still not "100% legal". I don't know the specifics of her case, so maybe there is indeed something with her sister in law having been an illegal at some point. However and pertaining to your case, there will be no "illegal" status for your fiancee as long as you go through the proper channels. She will be a legal immigrant all the way through the process, and then she can apply for citizenship.
Since you two are not married yet, this is how things work:
You (the US citizen) need to file a form I-129F with USCIS. The petition, when approved, is forwarded to the US embassy in your fiancee's homeland, where she can then apply for a K-1 visa, a.k.a. the fiance visa.
When she gets that visa, she can fly over to the US and you guys will need to get married within 90 days of her entering the country.
Then you file for a green card.
Once approved, you get a conditional green card, and after two years you can have the conditions removed.
One year after successfully removing conditions, you can apply for citizenship.
Filing form I-130 as someone else suggested is not an option, because that's for people who are already married, toward obtaining a K-3 visa for the foreign spouse.
Throughout the whole process, it doesn't really matter how long you've been together, nor does it matter that you're an US armed forces veteran.
I suggest you go to http://www.visajourney.com/ for all your spousal visa questions, the community there specializes in family-related visas and is just generally awesome. Read the guides there in particular.
2007-12-21 05:17:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No one has become a U.S. citizen through marriage since the year 1911, so unless your spouse arrived before 1911, and you married before 1911, she's not a U.S. citizen.
If you haven't petitioned for her to become a legal permanent resident, then she is one of the 20 million illegal aliens you hear about on TV. No one comes to the U.S. for a two year vacation.
At this moment, your wife is subject to arrest & deportation as an overstay.
2007-12-21 15:28:23 · answer #3 · answered by Fred S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No There is a process that takes a pretty long time. My sister in law had to do this and it is not only paperwork that needs to be filled out, you need to make appointments to see different people, you need to take a test a whole bunch of paper work. They have been married for 4 years and she is still not 100% legal...
Good luck...
2007-12-21 04:51:09 · answer #4 · answered by RENEE915 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, you need to petition her with an i-130 form. It takes about a year to be completed.
2007-12-21 04:44:31 · answer #5 · answered by delina_m 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nope. She has to apply for a green card, and then apply for citizenship.
2007-12-21 04:44:57 · answer #6 · answered by Stuart 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, there is an immigration process to undergo.
2007-12-21 04:43:24 · answer #7 · answered by Ricky T 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋