Filing Dilemma

I realize that I am lucky and let me clarify at the outset that I am not trying to offend anybody.

My EB2-I Employment based application has a priority date 08/03/2009. Looks like there is a chance of getting approved this year.

On the other hand, I got married the end of 2014 and I could apply through my wife (she is a citizen). Given the timing, expense, probing associated with this, I have been thinking that I would not pursue an application through my spouse.

Given recent announcements from the USCIS however, I am wondering if I am making the right decision. Wondering if forum members have any feedback.

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Originally Posted by BBear123

I realize that I am lucky and let me clarify at the outset that I am not trying to offend anybody.

My EB2-I Employment based application has a priority date 08/03/2009. Looks like there is a chance of getting approved this year.

On the other hand, I got married the end of 2014 and I could apply through my wife (she is a citizen). Given the timing, expense, probing associated with this, I have been thinking that I would not pursue an application through my spouse.

Given recent announcements from the USCIS however, I am wondering if I am making the right decision. Wondering if forum members have any feedback.

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Honestly, I don't see any hint of even a slightest offense to anyone.

Congratulations on getting married.

I am not an expert on marriage based GCs, so you might want to consult an attorney. From a high level logistical perspective, getting the GC through your spouse is a no brainer for me. Your journey can end right now, and the additional cost is worth it in my opinion. Also given the recent outlook, as of now, August 2009 has about 50% chance of being current. If this unpredictability and the wait times end for you now, you should go for it.

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Originally Posted by BBear123

I realize that I am lucky and let me clarify at the outset that I am not trying to offend anybody.

My EB2-I Employment based application has a priority date 08/03/2009. Looks like there is a chance of getting approved this year.

On the other hand, I got married the end of 2014 and I could apply through my wife (she is a citizen). Given the timing, expense, probing associated with this, I have been thinking that I would not pursue an application through my spouse.

Given recent announcements from the USCIS however, I am wondering if I am making the right decision. Wondering if forum members have any feedback.

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Congrats. It makes sense getting a GC through marriage. If nothing else - it will shorten your path to Citizenship (3 years as opposed to 5). Besides you will release 1 EB for some other backlogged EB candidate and earn some good Karma !!

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Originally Posted by sportsfan33

Honestly, I don't see any hint of even a slightest offense to anyone.

Congratulations on getting married.

I am not an expert on marriage based GCs, so you might want to consult an attorney. From a high level logistical perspective, getting the GC through your spouse is a no brainer for me. Your journey can end right now, and the additional cost is worth it in my opinion. Also given the recent outlook, as of now, August 2009 has about 50% chance of being current. If this unpredictability and the wait times end for you now, you should go for it.

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I see what you are saying. Thanks. Part of me thinks I should just wait a few months see the PD movement and re-evaluate. Then again I might as well get started on the process.

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Originally Posted by qesehmk

Congrats. It makes sense getting a GC through marriage. If nothing else - it will shorten your path to Citizenship (3 years as opposed to 5). Besides you will release 1 EB for some other backlogged EB candidate and earn some good Karma !!

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Great point about the 3 year path to citizenship. I am still holding out hope for an allowance for dual citizenship before I take that leap. Releasing a visa for another EB candidate would certainly be nice :).

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Originally Posted by sportsfan33

... Also given the recent outlook, as of now, August 2009 has about 50% chance of being current....

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Man - this stings!

To the OP - just go the marriage route. No uncertainty and as Q says - you earn some good karma. Other route might just be to wait out the coming summer and if it does not happen by then then commit to the marriage route.

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Originally Posted by imdeng

Man - this stings!

To the OP - just go the marriage route. No uncertainty and as Q says - you earn some good karma. Other route might just be to wait out the coming summer and if it does not happen by then then commit to the marriage route.

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Imdeng, this really doesn't mean I am too prescient about future! Every year around this time, we say the same thing over and over again.

I mainly based my opinion on CO's promise to keep moving the date. Now that would be really bad and land us in the dreaded prediction of summer 2009. But then again, he might wise up and not do it. If things were to remain the same as last year, we should still see end of 2009.

Going back to the topic, OP: Q made an absolutely critical point. Getting citizenship in 3 years versus 5 is a huge deal and it can also help your career tremendously. If I were you, I would have started my GC process right away. Not being a citizen is certainly holding me back in my career - in a big way that too (will this thing ever end?!?!?!?!) If saving a few hundred dollars is the only thing holding you back, then my advice is - don't be penny-wise.

The OP is eligible for citizenship in 3 years as a PR being married to a US citizen for 3 years. There is no condition(as far as I know) on the class of the GC whether it is EB or FB.

Guys ... sorry to interject but it's a good idea to call somebody by a proper name rather than OP (i.e. original poster I believe!).

Of course you can do whatever you like. Just a suggestion.

That's correct Q. Mentioning the poster as OP has become a forum dialect all around the internet, just a fancy way of referring to. I used it coz of laziness to scroll back :) Sorry BBear .

One more request from my part, Guys registering as new members, please try to avoid using ur priority date as User Name, it is very hard to differentiate between who is who.

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Originally Posted by imdeng

Man - this stings!

To the OP - just go the marriage route. No uncertainty and as Q says - you earn some good karma. Other route might just be to wait out the coming summer and if it does not happen by then then commit to the marriage route.

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The latter is the route i am considering right now.

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Originally Posted by sportsfan33

Imdeng, this really doesn't mean I am too prescient about future! Every year around this time, we say the same thing over and over again.

I mainly based my opinion on CO's promise to keep moving the date. Now that would be really bad and land us in the dreaded prediction of summer 2009. But then again, he might wise up and not do it. If things were to remain the same as last year, we should still see end of 2009.

Going back to the topic, OP: Q made an absolutely critical point. Getting citizenship in 3 years versus 5 is a huge deal and it can also help your career tremendously. If I were you, I would have started my GC process right away. Not being a citizen is certainly holding me back in my career - in a big way that too (will this thing ever end?!?!?!?!) If saving a few hundred dollars is the only thing holding you back, then my advice is - don't be penny-wise.

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Thats unfortunate sportsfan33. Thankfully my career isnt as held back by citizenship requirements. I do travel quite a bit internationally and its a PITA to go through secondary screening every time, honestly that alone might make me spend the money. Thing its not a few just a few 100's, between application fees, perhaps a lawyer, medical etc etc its end up being a few thousands. Enough to make you think twice.

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Originally Posted by Kanmani

The OP is eligible for citizenship in 3 years as a PR being married to a US citizen for 3 years. There is no condition(as far as I know) on the class of the GC whether it is EB or FB.

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Originally Posted by Kanmani

That's correct Q. Mentioning the poster as OP has become a forum dialect all around the internet, just a fancy way of referring to. I used it coz of laziness to scroll back :) Sorry BBear .

One more request from my part, Guys registering as new members, please try to avoid using ur priority date as User Name, it is very hard to differentiate between who is who.

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Ah thanks for that data point on 3 year deadline, No worries about usernames/OP etc Kanmani :).

I agree - in a small, tightly knit forum like ours, it makes sense to use names. My bad habits from other, larger forums (mainly Bogleheads, look it up if you are not familiar) caught up to me. BBear: get moving and shorten your citizenship time - it's a a no brainer.

I know Sports - we are all guessing here. Its just the case of so-near-yet-so-far that is so frustrating.

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Originally Posted by sportsfan33

Imdeng, this really doesn't mean I am too prescient about future! Every year around this time, we say the same thing over and over again.

I mainly based my opinion on CO's promise to keep moving the date. Now that would be really bad and land us in the dreaded prediction of summer 2009. But then again, he might wise up and not do it. If things were to remain the same as last year, we should still see end of 2009.

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BBear, I see where you are coming from. Kanmani corrected me that any PR married to a USC can get the citizenship in 3 years. I guess you could wait until June/July to make your move. If your date is going to be current, perhaps that's the best way to go about it.

Yeah, where I live and the industry I work in, a citizenship is required for all top jobs. It's just sad that I had to relinquish so many jobs where I could really grow quickly because I am not a citizen. Anyway, can't really fret over the next best thing always. I was still lucky to get out of the GC mess.

Imdeng, I am really rooting for all the guys (Edit: and gals) in 2009. I really hope this is the year!

Just getting back to this thread. We finally did file for AOS through a FB application in Feb 2016 and i got my green card last week, a year or so after filing the application. In the end if was the fact that we were expecting that made us overlook the expense and hassle. To be honest I have spent way too much time in secondary inspection the past 6 years or so and that was getting problematic as well. Good luck to other folks waiting in line.