spouses of Green card holders

[dvk_srivastava]

Hello! Does anyone know of the best way to bring a green card holder's spouse from India. Someone mentioned that it can take up to 5 years for the spouse visa to come through. is that accurate? she has the resources to get an H1B processed as well. Should I advise my friend to bring her fiance' on an H1B and then get married here? Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!

[kumaabh]

You've heard right. It takes atleast 5 years or more to bring your spouse from india if you have a green card. Not only that in that 5 years the couple cannot be together because the wife will not be issued any kind of visa(visitor's for example will almost certainly be denied). The wife can only join the husband after 5 years after the counseler processing of her green card in india.

The best way for the couple to be together is to bring in the wife as a H1B visa holder and then get married here. The wife will not get any immediate benefits from the fact that the husband is a Green Card holder. So, she will have to maintain H1B Status for 5 years. After the end of the 5 years the husband should apply to become a citizen and then get an Adjustment of Status for the wife stating that he is an american citizen.

Bottom line tell ur friend to get his wife to the US on H1B. It will be much simpler and the couple can be together.