Hello friends,
I am trying to help out a friend here. Your suggestions will be appreciated and I can forward those to her.

She is a student on F-1 visa and is planning to marry a guy who is a US permanent resident (GreenCard holder). She wants to know the following:

1. How long will it take her to get a work permit once she marries him? She has 2 more yrs to complete her education and wants to be able to get her work permit before finishing so she's able to work.
2. Will she have to change her visa type from F-1 to something else upon marriage?
3. How long will it take for her to get her permanent residency (greencard)?

Marrying a permanent resident mean nothing. It will take upto 5yrs to get the green card and you will not receive the work permit unless your spouse is a citizen. She may be able to get her work permit sooner if he becomes citizen.

hope this will help

Just curious,
Is this lady marring with a guy or a green card ? Thanks

- Badal

Best if you get green card together as couple. If not, become a citizen first, then get married.

SimpleGal:

According to what I've read & heard, marrying a permanent resident (PR) will not change your status. It's only after that PR becomes a citizen can one apply for change of status. On the other hand, marrying a citizen allows you to have a temp green card for the first two years (and later a green card).

SimpleG, is it REALLY for your friend? Not for yourself, right? ;-) :)

1. How long will it take her to get a work permit once she marries him? She has 2 more yrs to complete her education and wants to be able to get her work permit before finishing so she's able to work.

Currentlly, the Govt. is processing May 2000 applications. This means there is nearly 3.5 to 4 years of waiting period. Your friend will have to hang in there with her F-1 then OPT, or her own H1. (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_bulletincurrent.html , family based PR's spouse's priority is 2A)

2. Will she have to change her visa type from F-1 to something else upon marriage?
She needs to apply for permanent residency right away. Then wait for nearly four years to hear from the immigration dept.

3. How long will it take for her to get her permanent residency (greencard)?
See above. Nearly four years.

If HE is eligible to apply for citizenship, then it takes about 4-6 months to get his citizenship. Then SHE can apply for permanent residency and work permit.

(There is a little complication regarding applying for permanent residency now, and during the four years of waiting period keep applying for temporary residence visa like F-1, OPT, or H1. You see there is a conflict. But I think the Immigration Dept. has been more flexible nowadays.)

badal, how abt mind ur own bussiness :P