Green cards

[RADAR1797]

Howdy all,

I am hoping we have some folks here who have some experience with the INS. I have a friend that when she was 5 or 6 years old, her parents applied for a visa to enter the US from the UK for themselves and two children. Well fast forward to 1991, my friend files for a seperate student visa and is awarded so starts school in the US in 1992. Well her parents' and little sister's visas are approved in 1994 and they move to the US, but my friend's visa is disapproved because she is now over 21. When she is approaching graduation, she and her mother applies for a permenant resident visa and green card in 1997. According to the INS she can stay here as the paperwork is being processed, but it has been over 5 years and the INS just tells her that her paperwork is being processed. Should she be worried or this just another example of governmental ineptness?

-RADAR

[Gouki]

I know it costs money...but get a good lawyer. My wife had some special circumstances and we had no clue as to where we should even begin.

Getting a lawyer costs money...but I think it's worth it. We weren't stressed at all, just let him take care of everything...we do what he says...and everything works out. ;-)

Btw...my wife had her interview for her Green Card last month. We're still waiting for the approval notice.

[ben-the-slacker]

I agree. A good lawyer will get the job done quicker.

We have some family friends who hired an avg. one. It's been around 6 years, and they're still waiting for their green cards.

It's all inefficient bureaucracy. When I first came here in December 1999, they stamped my passport with a temp green card. In about 4 months they sent me the permanent one. I'd either go thru a lawyer or keep follow up with INS.

[vass0922]

Don't you have to live here for like 5 years before you can get a green card??
I got a friend from Moscow that lived here for like 6 years before he finally got his GC.

No, you have to live here 5 years to apply for US citizenship. For GC, you have to live here a few months a year or permanently whatever suits you. But if you are away too long, they revoke it.

[Gouki]

And the first GC they give you is only a temporary one...good for 2 years. After which you apply for a "permanent" one good for 10 years.

Actually...our lawyer told us that after 3 years my wife could apply for citzenship. But that might be because she's married to an American? I don't recall.

My wife had some special circumstances that we didn't know how we were going to get around...but with the lawyers help he made it seem like nothing. Get a good lawyer...you'll be glad ya did. :-)