** Please HELP **

[jsilver]

Hi! First of all, thank you for this helpful website and forum. I am a US Citizen, just proposed to my girlfriend and we are planning to get marry in the summer 2010. She came here through student visa about 10 years ago, after finished school, she applied for H-1 visa, her visa has expired for few years. I would like to apply a greencard for her...questions:

1. Do we need to apply for anything before getting marry beside the marriage license?
2. After we get marry, should we apply AOS & I-130 immediately?
3. Does she considers as a conditional permanent resident?
4. After we apply for AOS & I-130, can we also apply AP immediately for travelling purpose (honeymoon and go back to her home country to visit relatives)?
5. Will AP usually get approve within a month?
6. Is there any penalty for staying here with an expired visa?
7. Can she use copy of birth certificate or it has to be the original birth certificate to complete the process?

I appreciate your quick respond.

Thanks again,

Silver

[hotelier73]

immihelp.com

Please read this link first:

https://www.immihelp.com/i-485-adjustment-of-status/

It will asnwer even more questions you might have.

[Darthavner]

I can't figure out how to create a new thread so I'm just replying to this post.

What is the penalty to the spouse if a beneficiary applying for a Green Card works prior to having a permit?

Even though I can afford to support her, my fiance is not willing to wait the three months, or whatever it takes, for a work permit. If she has to, she will simply go home instead of waiting. It's the most important thing in the world to her. Unfortunately, more important than our relationship (that's a whole 'nother story, and call me crazy or whatever, but I have feelings for her and want to give this a shot). If she works, and I know about it, and she gets caught, what will happen? Will she be deported immediately? Will I be in legal trouble? What if she says she never worked at her interview down the road? If she admits to working, her employer who gave her the opportunity could get in trouble. If she lies then, what is the penalty? To her? To me? What kind of trouble could I be in if she lies on her application that I sign and at her interview?