We had the K-Visa. This gives her the right to enter the country (once) and get married, at which time you can apply for conditional permanent status. During the time you're waiting for conditional permanent (the green card, which isn't actually green) you can't leave the United States, because the K-Visa won't allow you to re-enter the country. And there's always the fear (slight though it should be) that they'll decide to not let you stay.
You also, with luck, get an employment authorization card during this whole process, which lets you get a job. Weds got hers not that long ago.
Once you have conditional permanent status, you're an official resident and you can enter and leave the country the same as American citizens (with an appropriate stamp in your passport, anyway), and there's no chance you'll be sent out of the country for at least two years. Before the end of that two year period, you need to apply to have the 'conditional' part of the permanent status removed. This is the infamous interview process where they grill you and your spouse in an effort to make sure you're actually living together as husband and wife. Assuming that goes fine, the conditional aspect is removed and you are made a permanent resident of the United States.
Citizenship is, naturally, a whole different deal.
Weds was allowed into the country back in May, conditional on our getting married within 90 days. We did this. We applied for employment authorization and change-of-status at that time. The authorization went through, and now (much earlier than we expecte) the change-of-status went through. In about 18 months we'll need to apply to have the conditional status removed, and then -- at last -- we'll be entirely done.
Regardless, for all practical purposes, we're done.
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Date: 2009-01-11 06:31 pm (UTC)You also, with luck, get an employment authorization card during this whole process, which lets you get a job. Weds got hers not that long ago.
Once you have conditional permanent status, you're an official resident and you can enter and leave the country the same as American citizens (with an appropriate stamp in your passport, anyway), and there's no chance you'll be sent out of the country for at least two years. Before the end of that two year period, you need to apply to have the 'conditional' part of the permanent status removed. This is the infamous interview process where they grill you and your spouse in an effort to make sure you're actually living together as husband and wife. Assuming that goes fine, the conditional aspect is removed and you are made a permanent resident of the United States.
Citizenship is, naturally, a whole different deal.
Weds was allowed into the country back in May, conditional on our getting married within 90 days. We did this. We applied for employment authorization and change-of-status at that time. The authorization went through, and now (much earlier than we expecte) the change-of-status went through. In about 18 months we'll need to apply to have the conditional status removed, and then -- at last -- we'll be entirely done.
Regardless, for all practical purposes, we're done.