Korean Job Discussion Forums

[newrealization]

My Korean girlfriend and I have plans to marry and eventually I would like to bring her to America with me. We have heard different things about the rules. Someone told us that we have to wait 2 years in order for her to be a permanent resident in the states. Does anyone know the deal? Thanks.

[Richard Krainium]

[Kimsmith]

That's more or less my current situation. My husband and I got married in Korea, applied for the visa at the US embassy and I am a 'conditional permanent resident' because we were married for less than 2 years before I got my visa. It means I have a 2-year limit on my green card. But I have the right to work, get a social security number, and all the stuff that comes with permanent residency. I just have to apply to have the condition removed a couple of months before the 2 year conditional period is up. After that I'll be a 'permanent resident'. They want to check that you are married for real, and not just for a visa. It's no big deal.

[Milwaukiedave]

You have to be able to show you have a residence and verifiable income before you can even apply for residency for her.

My advice is get married and then apply for the first part (the I-130). That is good forever. The second part is where you have to have all your ducks in a row. So timing is something you really have to take into consideration. I would allow at least 6 months after she has her interview before she can even buy her ticket.

We went through this a couple of years ago and stopped at the second part and just decided to stay here for now.