Alien Relative outside the country?

Question

My father received conflicting information from his lawyer. We are thinking of finding a new one for him. He was told to go to China to visit his fiancee and marry her in China. He did. He is now told that because he is a permanent resident of the US he will have to wait to become a US citizen and then apply. That might not be for many more years. Can he apply for a V-1 visa and if so, can she visit once in a while until the application is complete?

Answer 1

I am not sure but I thought that V visas were only for those spouses and minor children of green card holders for whom the I-130 paperwork was filed prior to Dec 21, 2000.  Citizenship for him seems to be the best way forward.