Hello,
I'm a legal immagrant with a green card. I've had my green card for over 5 years now so I can be a citizen. Here's the situation: My girlfriends OPT expires this week so her work helped applied for a J-1 visa. She went back for teh interview, passed, came back only to get laid off today. I guess legally she has 30 days until she has to go back to her country.
We have been planning getting married later this year, but since this situation came up, we are thinking of getting married within 30 days. Question is if we get married before her 30 days run out, will she be able to stay while waiting for green card status to be approved? I really don't want her to go back and wait. Also if I become a citizen while in the process, will it help speed things up? If she have to go back after we get married, after I become a citizen, will she be able to come back sooner than later?
Thanks in advance.

