Maud, this is not exactly how it works. In order to ask for US citizenship after 3 years, you need to have been married to a US citizen for more than 2 years when you ask for a spousal visa.
This is what happened for me. When I got my immigrant visa, exH and I had been married for more than 2 years. Once I entered the US, I got a 10-year Green Card right away. If you've been married for less than 2 years, you have to file some petitions after a couple years to remove your conditional status.
Post by snipsnsnails on May 20, 2013 14:23:10 GMT -5
I'm sorry. FWIW, a similar situation happened to a friend and her El Salvadorian DH. His mother and three brothers were still living in El Salvador and targeted by some criminals b/c it was known that she had a son in the US (and some other reasons). They did not get support from the local authorities and ended up moving within the country.
My friend from Portugal says the same thing. When she goes back to visit, everyone expects her to pay for their restaurant meals when they go out to dinner together. And bring them pricey gifts from the US.
I‘m portuguese and I find this weird. Maybe your friend specific family and friends do this?
She swears that it happens with all of her friends/family that now live in the US, but of course that's not the be-all end-all of all Portuguese people.
For those wondering why they haven't completed the process through the sister/aunt: Family based immigration depends on the degree of familial relationship and the country of origin. For some countries and some relationships it is basically nonexistent. (for example, siblings of USCs from the Phillipines are only now eligible to apply for a green card if they filed the family petition in 1989)
She swears that it happens with all of her friends/family that now live in the US, but of course that's not the be-all end-all of all Portuguese people.
Obviously. Portugal isn't exactly a developing country. They're not all that in awe of the Western world. Lol.
She's from a small village.
She's never said it's all Portuguese people, just those that she visits when she goes back. So maybe she's just friends with a bunch of freeloading jerks, lol.
Sure, but why not the US embassy? I would have dad and mom over here as asylum seekers in 10 seconds. A far better use for the $2.5K.
We will gladly pay your fee if you could work that magic. Are you familiar with immigration laws/proceedings? If so, you know even asylum seekers can't get here that fast.
I don't think I am the one you want for this, I probably cost more than paying the extortionists, but call an immigration lawyer. The most expedient way is to come to America to visit then seek asylum once here but obviously that is not proper so I would never tell someone to do that.. Document everything. If they want to come to America a good asylum lawyer can take this on. And yes, raise hell at the embassy because that will help. They are being targeted because their son married a US citizen. That is the way the frame it. You need the emphasis to be on your status. And seriously, talk to an immigration lawyer.
I don't want to get bogged down in this post, but I also don't want OP to get confused. You cannot apply for asylum until and unless you are present in the US or at a port of entry. The refugee process is available to people outside the US.
Maud, this is not exactly how it works. In order to ask for US citizenship after 3 years, you need to have been married to a US citizen for more than 2 years when you ask for a spousal visa.
This is what happened for me. When I got my immigrant visa, exH and I had been married for more than 2 years. Once I entered the US, I got a 10-year Green Card right away. If you've been married for less than 2 years, you have to file some petitions after a couple years to remove your conditional status.
That was not the case for me. I was eligible for citizenship 3 years after marriage. I came in on a fiancé visa, got my conditional green card and then my permanent green card maybe a year later. The conditional status didn't matter.
Maybe in your case it was because you weren't resident in the US for part of your marriage? I'm thinking the requirement might be 3 years married + resident for those three years.
Honestly, there seem to be so many variables in the immigration process I've blocked lots of it out since I don't have to deal with it anymore
Spouses need to have been LPRs for 3 years to apply for citizenship. It doesn't matter if you were married for a decade before applying or if your file sat with USCIS for a decade before they issued the green card. Maud: if you qualified after 3 years, then your green card must have been issued shortly after your marriage.