If I marry someone from Canada, how long until they become a permanent resident of the US?

[geol19]

I am a US Citizen and plan to be marrying someone from Canada sometime this year in 2012. She will be applying for FAFSA for financial aid, so she will need to be at least a US Permanent Resident. I understand it could take up to a year for citizenship (if not longer), but how long would it take for her to become a permanent resident after our legal marriage contract? Is it instantaneous?

[larenzo]

I am a US Citizen and plan to be marrying someone from Canada sometime this year in 2012. She will be applying for FAFSA for financial aid, so she will need to be at least a US Permanent Resident. I understand it could take up to a year for citizenship (if not longer), but how long would it take for her to become a permanent resident after our legal marriage contract? Is it instantaneous?

You probably do not earn enough to get a visa to marry
you need around $19K a year income

it will take up to year to get her her green card and 3 more years to get citizenship

[taillefer]

Great just what America needs more freeloaders.

Sorry I can't resist anymore. I don't know you could check with the US Immigration and customs they would know.

[chika]

It doesn't matter how you feel. It matters what the law says. Your marriage is a fraudulent green card marriage. You should know that your fake wife will get only a 2-year conditional card at first. Three months before the card's expiration, you two will need to file to remove conditions in order for her to get a permanent card. At either point, when you first apply or when you apply to remove conditions, USCIS may call you in for separate interviews and approval is not guaranteed. This YA forum regularly gets questions from people whose spousal green card applications were denied.

You must sign an affidavit of support and if you do not make at least $19,500, you will need to find at least one co-sponsor. The affidavit of support is a legally binding document which obligates you and any co-sponsors to repay the government if your fake wife uses any means-tested benefits like food stamps or Medicaid. The affidavit is valid for ten years or until your fake wife naturalizes as a US citizen. Even if you two divorce, the affidavit is still valid. Do you really want to sign this legally binding financial commitment to help friend get federal financial aid?

Oh, yeah, and let's suppose you divorce and later fall in love with a foreign student or someone who's overstayed a tourist visa, and you now want to petition her for a green card. You will have a very, very, very hard time persuading USCIS that you're not in the business of green card marriages. I hope I've helped you realize that collaborating with your friend to scam the US government isn't risk-free for you.

EDIT: Your question did not contain any information suggesting that your marriage was a love match for life. Your question was concerned only with the practicalities of helping this woman get a green card and college financial aid and an entitlement defense of your plan. I 'misunderstood' because of what you wrote and what you didn't. Regardless of your intentions, it's your choice and your risk.