F1 marriage with citizen

[SaidJan]

Hi
I'll graduate on May 15th and I want to marry a citizen. I only have 60 days to leave the US. I get to know her less than a month ago, and if I want to marry, it's fast. So does the USCIS reject my GC ?
Usually how long after marriage or meet each other for the 1st time, I can apply for GC, so that USCIS don't reject me?
2- And since we don't wanna have a big celebration, how does that work?
3- If our parents don't know about our marriage, does it make problem?
4- What do you recommend me to do?
Thank you.

[foxglove]

The ceremony doesn't matter at all. That's up to personal preference, there's nothing that says that your marriage is not "legitimate" if you don't have a big wedding - a lot of people just do it very quietly. You just need a marriage certificate. Once your petition for permanent residency based on marriage to a US citizen is filed, you're allowed to stay in the country while it's pending regardless of your visa status. At first you get a conditional green card, which is valid for 2 years. Before the end of that time, you and your spouse have to petition to get the conditions removed - then you get a regular green card. You can still get the conditions removed if you and your spouse have divorced in that time, as long as you can prove that you married in good faith (ie not to get a green card).