If the lady has been married for less than two years at the time when she receives a temporary status of the country's resident, the Greencard validity time would expire in two years. The spouses should submit a joint petition (form I-751) to "waiver" from this condition within 90 days preceding the termination of the two-year term. After that a permanent Greencard is issued, proving the status of a country's resident. In case of divorce, of death of the American spouse, or because of recorded domestic violence, the lady can submit an application to "waiver" from restrictions under the joint petition.
Some changes were recently introduced into the immigration legislation. Up to 1986 the status of resident was given to a foreign wife of a USA citizen quickly enough and almost without any problems. In 1986, in connection with the increase in the number of pro forma marriages, the Congress introduced some amendments into the legislation. They have considerably complicated the process of obtaining legal status for foreign spouses. After the amendments were ratified, the procedure is as following: the USA citizen has to solicit for the "status of conditional resident" for his spouse; after receiving it, they have to wait for 18 months, during which they have to be married, and only then draw up a joint application for a resident status. Then the spouses have to be interviewed by a representative of the Service of Immigration and Naturalization, when they must prove that their marriage is authentic. Sometimes, in connection with official delays, the procedure of obtaining a status could take up to four years.
Foreign wives more often than Americans become the objects of domestic violence, which - alas! - grows in the USA year after year. There is a simple explanation for it: the husband looked for a devoted and uncomplaining wife, and she yearned for better life. There is an obvious lack of convergence between the motives. When the period of adaptation to the new environment passes, the foreign wife becomes much more confident: she overcomes the language barrier, acquires new friends, begins to think about her own career. Her independence is in conflict with the desire of the husband to dominate and to command. After he realizes that his dreams about an obedient and devoted to companion life did not find embodiment, husband vents anger his disappointment and weakness on the woman. He requires divorce and has no desire to go to the interview in SIN.
As a result of repeated cases of cruel treatment and domestic violence in the families, where the husband is a USA citizen, and the wife is a foreigner, the Congress has accepted the bill in 1990. According to this bill, the wife who has a conditional status and who could prove that she was mistreated by the husband does not have to wait for two years to obtain a Greencard. Proof of mistreatment also frees from mandatory divorce suit. Such proofs could include (but are not limited by) testimonial evidence, protocols of the police, statement of the judge, of the medical worker, or of representatives of social services.
The existing immigration legislation facilitates unhindered marriages of USA residents to foreign women and their consequent immigration into the country of his residence. But there are rules that reduce to a minimum abuse and falsification. The agencies involved in "exporting" mail order brides have to inform potential wives about their rights and responsibilities. The existing dating industry is not devoid of many pitfalls. This is why the personality of a potential husband also requires direct attention. Even a man who has been divorced three times, who is an alcoholic or a drug addict, could come to a dating agency. This is why when making a decision you should be as careful as possible, and if any difficulties, even those that look unimportant, should come up, you should contact a qualified lawyer.