I'm a legal Permanent Resident, can my spouse stay legally in the states?
Answers:
No, absolutely not.
These people do not know what they're talking about.
You are only a Green Card holder. That makes your wife priority 2A. Your spouse will have to return to her country and wait for a visa to become available. It should take about 5 years.
has anyone here got their green card through 4th preference?
How long has she been here?
Can anyone recommend an affordable, legitimate immigration lawyer?
I think so, but I am not sure. You really ought to ask a lawyer who specialises in immigration. Most will answer this type of question on the phone. I was allowed to remain in the states while my visa was adjusted, and I get my Green Card on Wednesday, if all goes well. This whole process has taken only 4 months. It's the citizenship part that takes the time, as you can't apply for a further two years after getting your Green Card. But your Green Card entitles you to be a legal permanent resident.
ADDED LATER:
I misunderstood. I thought you were a citizen, not just a permanent resident. Please disregard all my advice. It is wrong.
Hi, I am a NZ citizen, does H1B for 2007 quota apply to me ?
I don't think it takes 5 years in your situation. Your wife must be getting her Green Card pretty soon. Until then, she can stay in the U.S. and keep extending her visitor visa.
why is it so hard to get disability and foreigners can get what ever they want?
Getting her a green card, with any luck, should take less than five years (although my wife's immigrant visa has taken us about a year, it's not because immigration itself takes much time, just because they demand too much paperwork and it all adds up), you may be thinking of citizenship (which you are eligible for in five years of legal residence, or possibly less by marriage)
I'm having similar problems, I'm living in Argentina to be with my wife while we do her paperwork. I'm not sure on all this, but what I would recommend is this: If you can possibly get all the paperwork done before her visitor visa runs out, I think you will either get an extension or the transference to immigrant visa before she will have to leave. The best thing to do is find an immigration office and talk to them in person.
By the way, just so you know, a legal resident has the right to sponsor a spouse, and she will NOT have to wait in line or apply for the green card lottery.
And texasgirl is a racist.
Yak Rider is right, I didn't know what I was talking about. She WILL have to wait in line, being the spouse of a permanent resident. Spouses of citizens do not have to wait in line.
Do you think that The United States should close their doors to imigration?
No, not after her visa runs out. Otherwise the quota would be meaningless, sorry.
go to uscis.gov for details.
The Immigration information post by website user ,ImmigrationReady.com not guarantee correctness.