After marriage to a U.S. citizen, how long does it take to get a green card?

My understanding is that a foreign citizen must get a green card and then wait 3-5 years before being eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. After a U.S. citizen marries a foreigner (a citizen of the People's Republic of China, in my fiancee's case), I have read that they can submit Form I-130 along with some other documents and $600-$700 to apply for the green card. After submitting the proper documents, how long does it normally take to get the green card?

After marriage to a U.S. citizen, how long does it take to get a green card?
It depends on whether or not you went through the K-1 process as required by law first. If you do that, you have the K-1 wait and then a very short wait, relatively, for the conditional green card, as long as the fraud division doesn't get involved.





If you try to do an end run around the K-1, fraud will almost definitely get involved and then the wait is much longer IF it even gets approved at all. Your new spouse can end up deported if things don't go your way.





If you follow the process exactly as the law proscribes, it's possible to go from fiancee in foreign country with no visa to conditional green card holder in 18 months or so.
Reply:Hi, it depends on which country or which state you submitted your documents. I submitted all document in US after getting married, I waited for a year. my cousin submitted in Hong Kong, she only waited for 6 months. Hope this information can help you.
Reply:It normally takes between 7 - 10 months. It depends on where you live as some cities are busier than others. See if there is a checklist of forms and supporting docs you need to submit to the USCIS at http://www.sampleimmigrationforms.com There's also info on fiance visas at http://www.myfianceevisa.com good luck.
Reply:For my wife and I, start to finish took 5 months. Green Card in hand Feb 12 2008


The cost is a little more than you might think, when all is said and done It cost more like $1200.00. When you first get the card it is conditional for the first two years. You must apply to have the conditions removed after two years. Also it takes awhile to do this so they tell you to apply at your, 1 year and 9 month mark to apply in time. If you let the card expire, you start all over again.
Reply:she gets her green card (conditional if married under 2 yrs )upon her enterring US soil after the 2 yrs parole she must apply to have this lifted she must maintain residence and can apply for citizenship after 3 yrs before any green card is considered there must be a marriage first then the i130 is filed for the spouse spouse fiance visa marriage taking place in the USA within the 90 day prior to expiration she must file a for a visa adjustment to get here G/C
Reply:anywhere between a year to 3 years. depends on the workload of NVC and the local embassy where your spouse lives.





mine took a year and a month from start to finish... and that was in canada.
Reply:Five years minimum.

barber