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Q: How hard is it to bring your Chinese spouse permanently to the U.S.?
Just thinking ahead for the future. I've heard conflicting reports. Some say it's a nightmare, while others say they had no problem. Has anyone actually done this?
12 years 22 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Ok...here we go. Were you married in China or the US? If you get married in the US it will be easier, but you will need to get a fiance visa, which requires a certain amoutn of assets in the US. If you get married in China, you will first need to bring the wife to the US on a spousal visa, and apply for a green card while in the states. It's a long and complicated process. Getting married in the US is the better idea if you want to relocate to America.
giadrosich:
Too late to get married in the U.S., lol,. We've been married for almost two years and living here in Changsha. I'm a teacher, and she works for the provincial government.
I got married in China. Its easy peasy. I used a service here in China in Guangdong. They were very good and affordable. If you like I can give you the particulars! Get everything done here, lawyers in the US charge out the ass, and are generally incompetent!
My wife is raising a garden and tending to chickens on my ranch in Texas as we speak! She has a green card as does our daughter and in 2012 they will become US citizens!
giadrosich:
Sure! I'd love to know the details. If you would, send me a message! Thanks, OG!
You can apply for CR1 - conditional residency - immediately. if you wait for 2yrs of marriage, you'll get an IR1 - immediate relative. the difference between the two is that with CR1, you'll have to apply to renew the permanent resident status in 2yrs, after which it will be good for another 10yrs. with IR1, you get the 10yrs permanent residency status right away.
in both cases, your spouse gets permanent resident status and is eligible to work right away.
You can hire an agency to help you through it, but it will cost a chunk of $$$$ ~1,000 usd. but if time is a factor and you need to get it done right the first time, then i think it would be worth considering..
Here is a link for further details:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2991.html#1
( HERE BELOW IS WHERE MOST FAIL )
What USCIS wants to see is that you have a legitimate mariage. Still, you need documentation and it all needs to be in English. At a minimum they will want birth certificates for the children and your marriage certificate. If you have been married before they will need documentation about that, too. Sometimes they will even call you in for an interview.
Once USCIS sends the approved petition to Guangzhou, they will send you additional forms to fill out and give you details for the medical examination. You will need to file an affidavit of support and show that you will be earning roughly $35,000 per year for three years in the US. If you do not have a firm offer of employment lined up, a family member can file an affidavit on your behalf or you can show liquid assets.
You dont need a 35 K salary if you can show a quarter mill in assets give or take.Who on here doesnt have that or much more in spades?
1000, that agency cost me 500! and they were good!
Call Judy Hiuang 020 388 53633 in GZ, and tell her that ole gunslinger and sender of souls to hell (Lenny and his wife Ann) sent you, you may even get a frickin discount!
bennyfulltrack:
That's why I wrote "or you can show liquid assets". The $$$$ just depends on which agency you use. If you do (it) by yourself (which is piss easy too, but time consuming it cost much less then $500)
If you have been married in China for over a year, getting the spouse visa is very easy. It is the people who have been married for less than a year that have problems.
Once you get her to the US, then the process to get a green card is fairly simple. My wife had her provisional green card in less than 6 months and permenant one in 2 years.
Now here is the kicker, if you have a green card, you must touch America every 6 months or you will lose the green card. This is what happened to my wife. We didn't know/forgot about this little rule and we now have to re-apply for her green card. But we will worry about that should we ever return to live in the US.
In the mean time it hasn't impeaded her from getting visas to visit the US whenever she wants.
bennyfulltrack:
Seriously.Does it hurt to read? You can apply for CR1 - conditional residency - IMMEDIATELY. With CR1, you'll have to apply to renew the permanent resident status in 2yrs, after which it will be good for another 10yrs. Your spouse gets permanent resident status and is eligible to work right away.
Xpat.John:
Benny, what are you talking about? Just what does that have to do with what I wrote?
bennyfulltrack:
It is the people who have been married for less than a year that have problems.This is what you wrote.
Xpat.John:
Yes, I wrote that. It has to do with getting the spousal visa. And that has nothing to do with the CR1 or IR1. And even if it did, what does it matter that something you said was reiterated by someone else? Should a thread stop just because you have dispensed your infallible wisdom?
If you are not already married, you can apply for a fiance visa, it's good for 2 years, then neither of you have to rush to get married, so if it doesn't work out, it's less complicated.
redblusher25:
the fiance is only valid for 90 days, then after you get married you get a 2 year visa. Then you have to live in america for 6 months before you can apply for a green card
