illegal alien marrying a US citizen

[bergita]

What is the name of your state? california

can an illegal alien who will marry a US citizen be at any risk of deportation prior to the wedding should she be discovered as such when she submits some of her papers and documents for the wedding requirements?

what is the best way for her to marry the US citizen?

 

[shs157]

Yes, she can be deported if she is found to be illegal before the wedding (and afterwards too, until you do the paperwork).

However, applying for a marriage license shouldn't raise any flags to anyone that she's illegal. I married an illegal, and all's we needed was a photo ID to get our license or birth cert, if no acceptable ID was available (my husband has a valid license so we used that. Passport OK too). City Hall doesn't check into these things and report them to immigration. They just issue your license.

 

[bergita]

Yes, she can be deported if she is found to be illegal before the wedding (and afterwards too, until you do the paperwork).

when she is married to the citizen already, how can she still be a candidate for deportation? doesnt she automatically become a permanent resident there?

 

[AHA]

Yes, she can be deported if she is found to be illegal before the wedding (and afterwards too, until you do the paperwork).

when she is married to the citizen already, how can she still be a candidate for deportation? doesnt she automatically become a permanent resident there?

No foreigner becomes a permanent resident automatically, they have to qualify, apply and be interviewed for it.
Usually previous illegal presence and working illegally will be forgiven if you marry a USC, but if the foreigner has not been of "good moral caracter" there could be deportation issues. US immigration do not sympathise with criminal behavior from foreigners and do certainly not reward them with a Green Card or citizenship.

 

[evcalyptos]

Yes, she can be deported if she is found to be illegal before the wedding (and afterwards too, until you do the paperwork).

when she is married to the citizen already, how can she still be a candidate for deportation? doesnt she automatically become a permanent resident there?

Not only is it not automatic, depending on what type of illegal she is, there may be a return to her home country, visa denial and waivers filed before she gets any perm. residence.