is it better to wait to get green card before applying to phd?

[throwaway_throwaway]

Hi. Throwaway account here. I have a bit of a dilemma and I was wondering what you thought.

I am hoping to apply to neuroscience phd soon. I attended a top-tier college in the U.S. and have two years of post-undergraduate research experience. However I was wondering if it'd be a good idea to wait to apply to PhD programs until I get my green card - I married an American citizen and have just applied for the car. The problem is, the process is thought to take at least a year in the current political climate, maybe even more, meaning that it could delay my PhD applications for up to two years. This just seems too long a wait for me. 

Would having a green card significantly boost my chances of getting into a PhD? What about writing an addendum about my status and future green card - will that help chances at all?

Thanks.

[AP]

In addition to weighing the waiting time for the green card, you should also remember that if you apply and enroll in a program before you get the green card, you will need a visa and you can only get visas abroad. So, there is a cost there too. 

Make sure you know what type of visa you would need (F1/J1) and the requirements for maintaining them. In addition, take into account how the "transition" would from visa to green card in terms of enrollment and taxes. I've learned the hard way that what might look easy/obvious, is not so much for (any) bureaucracy. 

I would also contact the International office of the schools you are interested in (if you have any). They are legally prepared to answer your questions.