GC Holder Marrying an F1

I'm an Indian citizen GC holder and I'm engaged to an F1 student. We're getting married this May in India. She graduates at the end of this year and her F1 visa is valid till 2013 so there's no problems with that. I have a couple of questions though:

(1) I understand that it's better for me to sponsor her for a GC after I myself have naturalized. I can apply for naturalization this Dec and should hopefully complete the process by Sept '10. Should I wait until then to even file her application or can I begin the process sometime before I actually get citizenship?

(2) Will she have any trouble entering the country after the wedding or remaining here if the authorities find out she got married while on an F1? Should she just keep quiet about it and indicate "Single" on the arrival form?

(3) Will our wedding this May (ie, before I get naturalized) be enough proof of relationship when I apply for her I-130 after I get my citizenship? Or should we get married again (in court, for US purposes) after I get my citizenship, but before I file the I-130?

(4) Am I completely mistaken about this whole process and is there some key piece of the puzzle I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!

Quote:

---

Quoting gvn2fly

---

(1) I understand that it's better for me to sponsor her for a GC after I myself have naturalized. I can apply for naturalization this Dec and should hopefully complete the process by Sept '10. Should I wait until then to even file her application or can I begin the process sometime before I actually get citizenship?

---

Wait to do what? If you're waiting to sponsor her until after you naturalize, and that does make sense, you would do exactly that - wait to file anything until after you naturalize.

Quote:

---

Quoting gvn2fly

---

(2) Will she have any trouble entering the country after the wedding or remaining here if the authorities find out she got married while on an F1? Should she just keep quiet about it and indicate "Single" on the arrival form?

---

Should she lie on her documents when entering the country? If she wants to risk being accused of fraud, doesn't want to naturalize, and wishes for you to live out your married life in India, maybe. But seriously, no, you never lie on your immigration documents.

If she remains in status on her F1, she shouldn't have a problem. People get married. If you're worried that she may be accused of misrepresenting her intentions by entering on an F1 visa then later seeking to adjust her status based upon a prior marriage, you can consider delaying marriage or running the specifics of your plan past an immigration lawyer.

Quote:

---

Quoting gvn2fly

---

(3) Will our wedding this May (ie, before I get naturalized) be enough proof of relationship when I apply for her I-130 after I get my citizenship? Or should we get married again (in court, for US purposes) after I get my citizenship, but before I file the I-130?

---

I have no reason to expect that the USCIS would have difficulty processing proof of marriage from India; it's easier to prove a domestic marriage, but there's no reason you can't proceed based upon proof of your Indian marriage.

Quote:

---

Quoting gvn2fly

---

(4) Am I completely mistaken about this whole process and is there some key piece of the puzzle I'm missing?

---

There's a loaded question. We have no way of answering it, though, as we only know what you have told us. If you're worried about missing pieces, consult an immigration lawyer.