Q: Does it hurt to apply now for a green card or wait to get married first?
We don't know if we should apply for my girlfriend to get a green card now or wait to get married first and then apply. I am a naturalized citizen and i know its better to get married first but my question is if she puts in for her papers before we get married and then we decide later to get married while she is still in the process, will there be any reason not to do this or should we just wait till we get married and then apply. We are not looking to get married for another 2 years when i finish college so its apply now or wait 2 years, get married and then apply.
A:
If you are planning to sponsor your girlfriend you can only do so if you two are married. You can not sponsor your "Girlfriend" you can only sponsor your "Spouse". But if someone from your girlfriend's family is sponsoring her for a green card then she can go ahead with the green card process and it has no impact on your marriage. But she will be able to get the green card sooner if you sponsor her(as you are a US citizen). Many immigration attorneys including me offer free consultations, make use of the consultations and talk to an attorney soon. All the best.
-Shan Potts
Like our facebook page for regular immigration and visa updates - www.facebook.com/pottsmartinez
15 years of successful immigration law experience. The answer above is only general in nature cannot be construed as legal advice, given that not enough facts are known. It is your responsibility to retain a lawyer to analyze the facts specific to your particular situation in order to give you specific advice. Specific answers will require cognizance of all pertinent facts about your case. Any answers offered are of a general nature only, and are not meant to create an attorney-client relationship.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
