PR needs to bring wife from overseas

[gc2004]

I am a PR and will be marrying my fiancee who lives overseas this summer. I am not eligable to apply for citizenship until end of this year. What paper work do I need to fill out to get my new wife to join me in the US ? or do I have to be a citizen to get her here. They do not give visiters visa that easily from my county. What are my options ?

[Laura]

It's probably better if you wait until you are a citizen. What country are you from? The spouse of a permanent resident has to wait for a visa number, which can take several years (depending on the country where she's from) where the spouse of a citizen can get a visa in a year or so.

[Marie]

You can go over there and marry her and file the paperwork but it will take time. Your wife will be in the second preferences.


Here is the process:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5aa3e6b0eb13d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR D&vgnextchannel=54519c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD

Depending on where she is from, here are the current dates:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4177.html

Once you become a US Citizen, you can "upgrade" her petition and speed things up.