Augusta, GA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Sorry to learn that your wife abandoned you. You posted your question to a forum for U.S. immigration legal matters, but your abandonment after eight years of marriage can be expected to have no bearing on her current status as I presume, a Lawful Permanent Resident (holder of a "Green Card"). I strongly recommend that you post your question to a forum for domestic relations/divorce legal matters, or, better yet, (1) consult a domestic relations/divorce attorney to address your legal rights and obligations in the context of a separation and/or divorce, and (2) consider working with a marriage counselor or similar professional about possibilities for resuscitating your marriage.

Sorry, but the answer is "no." Generally, you may file a petition for naturalization as early as 90 days before the end of five years from the date you became a Lawful Permanent Resident.

A U.S. citizen may petition for her husband to adjust status to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (to get a "Green Card"). If the U.S. citizen does not have sufficient documentable income to meet the requirements, then it will become necessary to have a "joint sponsor" in the application process. Generally, a joint sponsor may be any U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident with sufficient documentable income who is willing to assume the responsibilities specified in the Affidavit of Support document required for the process. Generally when someone married to a U.S. citizen has been a Permanent Resident for three years, he will become eligible to apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. The application process can be more complex than it appears, and failure to properly complete and fully document the application package can result in significant delays, denial or even more harsh consequences. It would be wise to work with an immigration attorney in that type of matter. Some immigration law firms, including mine, offer legal services on a "flat fee" basis so that a client will know the total expense from the very beginning, and a few immigration law firms, including mine, offer an initial consultation free of charge.