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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    3

    Default How Long Do I Have to Be Married to Apply for a Spouse Green Card

    I currently live with my boyfriend in Canada. I am a US citizen and he is Malaysian. We both have working visas in Canada, but I want to move back to the US to do my Masters and then work there. We have always planned to get married (we were thinking of getting married next year), but now we are thinking about getting married sooner so that I can sponsor him to come to the US when I go there in September 2013.

    Assuming that it may take one year for him to get a green card, we would have to apply this September and get married this summer. Will it look suspicious if we get married and then apply for the green card a month later? We have been living together for two years, so we have a shared lease and a shared bank account (although it doesn't have much money in it because we only use it for food). For us, marriage is just a formality because we are already committed to each other, but I am not sure the immigration officers will understand. It is also complicated for us to have a wedding with both of our parents present because his mom has previously been denied a visa to the US so getting married in the States might be a problem, and my Dad can't come to Canada because of a minor criminal record.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: How Long Do I Have to Be Married to Apply for a Spouse Green Card

    He would be issued a conditional residence card which would be reviewed in two years to find out whether you in fact are married.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: How Long Do I Have to Be Married to Apply for a Spouse Green Card

    You could literally apply the day after (or even the day itself) you get married.

    Depending on where you live, the time from application to approval can take between 6-18 months. He'll generally be able to obtain permission to work earlier than that though.

    Your situation sounds pretty normal, actually. I wouldn't worry too much.

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