While it isnt true that marrying a us citizen will automatically get you citizenship, it does make it easier to obtain permanent residence, commonly called a green card. Marriage green card application process for spouses. Permanent resident faqs pdf berkeley international office. The green card process is hard, long and can be expensive. The process varies depending on whether the sponsor is a us citizen or a green card holder. The second step is the application to become a permanent resident. Marriage green card visa interview preparing and questions. After youve filed the initial paperwork, your interview will be scheduled approximately 34 months later. Apply for a green card infos, instructions and tips. As part of the marriage based green card process, the u. Having an experienced attorney in your corner can streamline the process for faster processing, eliminate mistakes that lead to. Throughout the green card application process remember that spouses are considered immediate relatives. Marriage based green card interview questions, experience.
Citizenship and immigration services uscis if youre adjusting status in the united states. It will be conducted by immigrant officials with the purpose of verifying the validity of the marriage. Evidence of family relationship with one of the following see form instructions for more detailed guidance. The green card marriage process can also begin when the foreignborn spouse is already in the u. For details on that, see what the medical exam for a u. Get usa green card through marriage lightman law firm. The biggest factor is whether a couple are already married and where the nonus fiance or fiancee of the us citizen is living. The green card interview usually takes place from 3 months after your marriage green card is filed with uscis. The r1 visa provides a convenient way for people to gain that two years of experience in the united states. However, in the case of married couples, the interview serves an additional purpose. Green card for battered spouse, child or parent of u. Expect a months or yearslong process of filling out forms, providing documents, attending interviews, and waiting for the gears of a busy government bureaucracy to grind along.
It is possible to get a green card by marriage if you are married or will marry a us citizen. F1 visa to marriagebased green card student marrying a. Boundless makes it easy to complete your green card application by turning all. Therefore, getting a green card through marriage is closely scrutinized by uscis. If you are a green card holder, rather than a citizen, then your spouse can get a green card by being listed on your green card notice or by applying for immigration using an immigration petition. The term derives from the availability of permanent resident documents green cards for spouses of legal residents in the united states, where. Getting ready for a marriage based green card interview. If you are a cr and you immigrated based on your marriage to a u. The green card through marriage process is explained for each situation below. Even if you have overstayed a visa, worked unlawfully in the united states, or accrued unlawful presence, you may still be able to apply for a green card through marriage to a united states citizen. It is important to note that all supporting documents birth and marriage certificates not in english or german must be translated for submission. Rapidvisa assists with fiance visas, spousal visas. Which forms are required to file for green card through. This is the first step in filing a marriage based green card.
If you are currently in the united states, in order to be eligible for a green card as a family preference immigrant, you must meet the following requirements you properly file form i485, application to register permanent residence or adjust status. These officials will ask you a series of marriage based green card interview questions as well as verify any forms and documents submitted in the couples filed a petition. There are several paths to obtaining a green card through marriage. There a several benefits to getting a green card through marriage. I help married couples through the adjustment or consular process, and we work as a team. A copy of the front and back of your permanent resident card also known as a green card or a form i551. Green card through marriage to a us citizen the procedure. A legal marriage is one that is officially recognized by the government in the country or state where you were married.
Green card by marriage family green card marriage green card. I got my green card through marriage us immigration blog. To qualify for a marriage based visa or green card, you must be legally married. Even though a fair amount of luck is needed, this path is the most available to those looking to make their dream of living in the usa come true. Resident alien card green card 7th army training command. Write your anumber on the back of the check or money order. The green card through marriage process is closely scrutinized to eliminate couples who arent actually interested in getting married. How do i help my relative become a us permanent resident. If you havent already retained the services of an immigration attorney, you should consider doing so before submitting any of the uscis forms, petitions, and packets listed below.
So the first issue in the family based green card application is making sure you, the petitioner, have enough income to sponsor your spouse. Sample marriage based green card interview questions. Obtaining a permanent residence green card through marriage can often times be the fastest way to obtain residency in the us, however approval is not guaranteed or automatic. The official name for the green card is the permanent resident card or form i551. You must use form i751 if you became a conditional resident through marriage to a u. Many couples with an alien but legally married partner say marriage is not the easy or even automatic pathway towards us residency. Because of this, the marriage green card process has been prone to fraud by certain individuals that fake a marriage in order to gain immigration benefits.
The simplest way to get a green card is through the green card lottery. There is no limit on the number of people who can obtain a green card through marriage to us citizens. Both the sponsor and the beneficiary have to establish their eligibility. The policy manual is uscis centralized online repository for immigration. In order to complete the process and receive your card, you must provide a legallybinding marriage certificate. Why would a marriage green card application be denied. Sample marriagebased green card interview questions nolo. It is important to properly prepare for your marriage green card interview, or you could experience a delay in the approval of your case, or worse, your application could be denied if you dont present the proper information at your interview. Green card by marriage process us immigration news. Citizen applying to adjust status in the united states basically involves submitting forms, copies of documents, the results of a medical exam on the immigrant, and the appropriate fees, and later attending an interview at a uscis office. Marriagebased green card for persons already in the u. No, you must file an application with uscis citizenship and immigration. A green card marriage is a marriage of convenience between a legal resident of the united states of america and a person who would be ineligible for residency but for being married to the resident. Uscis generally requires that sponsoring spouse earn at least 125% of the federal poverty level in order for his or her spouse to qualify for a green.
One of the most stressful parts of this process is the interview. The application process for unifying foreignborn persons with their family members in the u. Key steps in applying for family or marriagebased green card. Filing as us citizen if you are filing for marriage based green card as a us citizen, your spouse is considered an immediate relative, for whom visas are automatically available there is no wait or priority date. Jan 01, 2018 the process related to getting a green card through marriage is long and a little complicated. Since this is a frequently exploited route for gaining immigrant status, uscis does not make it an effortless process. Applying for a green card can be a long and daunting challenge for many immigrants. What documents do i need to get married in germany. Us citizens and permanent residents can sponsor spouses through a petition for a green card by marriage.
You are physically present in the united states at the time. In immigration court, you appear and try to explain to the judge and prosecutor that the green card through marriage should be approved. Neither spouse is married to someone else at the same time. Howdy all, this is my first post and i wasnt sure where to categorize it so if an admin wishes to move this post to a more appropriate location please do.
The government looks at how many people you are supporting, including the intended immigrant from outside the united states, and how much income that you have on your tax return. It was formerly called alien registration card or alien registration receipt card. A green card holder will have permanent resident status until they decide if they wish to apply for u. Marriagebased green card attorney fees, interview questions. Apply for green card by marriage green card marriage. Form ia officially called the supplemental information for spouse. The steps you must take to apply for a green card will vary depending on your individual situation. A check or money order for the application fee and the biometric services fee, as stated in the m479, current naturalization fees, enclosure in the guide. What is the process for getting a green card through marriage. I, petition for alien relative green card by marriage. To see all the steps involved in the application process, and how long it takes, select the timeline applicable to your case.
Benefits of a getting a green card through marriage. The length of time it takes to get a green card through marriage will depend on many factors including whether you will be adjusting status in the us or applying for an immigrant visa outside of the us. The book thats helped thousands of couples around the world. So this video will explain all of the steps needed to get your green card through marriage if. You can get through this daunting immigration process, but only with current legal information that covers your exact situation. Having a green card officially known as a permanent resident card pdf, 6. The requirements for getting a green card through marriage are slightly different depending on whether you are marrying a us citizen or a us permanent resident. If you cant locate certain records, make sure to check out our. Applicants 75 years of age or older are exempted from the biometrics services fee. The green card interview is typically not required of cases that do not require verification. Marriage green card how to apply highly responsive. Maybe you should have thought more about that consultation with an immigration attorney.
What documents do we need for a marriage green card. Immigration form ia for spouses seeking a green card. To get a marriage based green card, the following forms must be filed and submitted. Due to the ease and speed with which aliens become citizens through marriage, many aliens marry for immigration benefits rather than for love. Publishers ebook division green card through marriage. A green card, known officially as a permanent resident card, is a document issued to. It has been called a green card because, when it was first introduced in the 1940s, the color of the plastic identification card with the aliens photo, registration number, date of birth, and date and port of entry was green.
Evidence you or your spouse terminated any prior marriages if applicable. Keep reading to find out which processing time applies to your own marriage based green card application. Legal requirements for a marriagebased visa or green card. According to uscis, this policy manual replaces the adjudicators field. A stepbystep online tool to complete the green card application package with confidence. Jan 15, 2019 although a green card through marriage to a u. Dec 17, 2019 a marriage based green card is one of the quickest paths to becoming a permanent resident in the united states. F1 visa to marriagebased green card student marrying a u. If you have an approved petition, you may be eligible to file for a green card. First, the marriage green card interview process takes place at your local united states citizenship and immigration services uscis office.
From start to finish, heres what to expect in the familybased green card application process. We have outlined every step and important point here. Youll also need to provide evidence that your marriage is about more than paper. Department of state gives away 55,000 green cards through the diversity visa program every year.
In the tables below, well discuss which documents are required for each of the most common marriagebased green card forms and who must submit them to the u. The biggest factor is whether a couple are already married and where. One of the most common paths to a green card in the united states is through the green card marriage process, but it is not without risks. The total wait time for a marriage based green card ranges between 10 to 38 months, depending on whether you are married to a u. This period may be shortened to three years if married to a u. You will bring your marriage green card interview notice with you, along with all the other documents requested on the notice. Download form ia pdf directly from uscis, or fill it out the easy way through. The united states immigration law gives two different means through which a foreign national with f1 status can acquire a green card through marriage. Application process for a green card based on marriage nolo. Green card through marriage immigration forums for visa. Aug, 2019 the following is the breakdown of the f1 to marriage based green card process. Family based green card petitions, especially those involving adjustment of status based on marriage, require you and your spouse to appear for a uscis interview to verify that the marriage is genuine and does not involve fraud for the purpose of. The marriage green card for clients of law191 the community law office of andrew bartlett.
Im pretty much looking for some input as iwe wish to file for my wifes green card. Citizen this video describes the process of obtaining a green card through marriage to a u. Even though authorities uncover and deny only approximately 200 fake marriage applications per year less than 0. Form i485, application to register permanent residence or adjust. You cannot qualify for a green card as the derivative beneficiary based on the immediate relatives application. In the tables below, well discuss which documents are required for each of the most common marriage based green card forms and who must submit them to the u. Do i get to be a permanent resident just by marrying an american. Its also important to follow all of the legal regulations, including providing proper documentation that affirms that the marriage is based on a real, personal relationship and not only conducted. During the process of obtaining a green card, the us government will require proof of your marriage. What many people dont realize is that the immigration laws require that a formal process be. Green card through marriage information and application guide 18th edition electronic version ebook disclaimer u. The marriage based green card interview is a major aspect of the inspection process before granting a green card through marriage. You were inspected and admitted or inspected and paroled into the united states. S citizens must follow a specific application process.
Marriagebased green card document checklist what to file. They even send you to immigration court for a deportation removal hearing. How long does it take to get a marriage green card. Although much of this information still applies, this article is about green card marriage that begins when the u. The other, less commonly used application procedure is called adjustment of status, and takes place at a uscis office inside the united states. Green card through marriage process immigration forums. The immigration process for green card application through marriage varies based on whether a foreign spouse intends to marry the us citizen in the us or outside the us. Key steps in applying for family or marriage based green card. You should not submit this form if you are a conditional resident and your status is expiring. Marriage green card application process for spouses citizenpath. A simple route to the green card for a religious worker, therefore, is to obtain the r1 visa, work for two years, and then have the same or another employer start the green card process. A green card through marriage to a us citizen is the most common way to become a permanent resident.
Green card through marriage i discuss the new rules, how they work, how to get around them, and who is exempt. A marriagebased green card is one of the quickest paths to becoming a permanent resident in the united states. We have noticed an unusual activity from your ip 54. If you are currently outside the united states, see consular processing for information about how to apply for a green card as an immediate relative. Welcome to the united states anne arundel county public library.
Basic eligibility for the immigrant visa also known as the green card through marriage to a u. From start to finish, heres what to expect in the familybased green card application process by ilona bray, j. A green card is the physical card that serves as proof to employers and government agencies that an immigrant has legal permanent resident status. Green card through marriage forms online us immigration. For certain people, applying for a green card through marriage can create significant, longterm immigration problems. How to get a marriage green card in the united states.
Citizen every year, thousands of foreignborn spouses become engaged or married to us citizens. If you have stayed illegally 6 months or more, accompany your application with a request for a waiver of your illegal stay. You may wish to print out our standard letter pdf and take it to the registrars office. The immigration petition is called form i, sponsor family for a green card. This usually means that an official record of your marriage was made or can be obtained from some government office.
If the duration of your marriage at the time of issuance of the green card is less than two years, then the spouse will be issued a conditional green card as in scenario a. Below is a recap of the marriage based green card required forms. If the spouse needing a green card is outside of the u. Next, make sure to plan to get there around 30 minutes early, that way you give yourself enough time to get situated and. The spouse of a us citizen is an immediate relative. Green card through marriage processing time ashoori law. The documents required for a marriage green card vary by situation but generally include the following. Getting a green card through marriage can be a relatively straightforward process if done properly. Apr 19, 2018 the green card process is long and drawn out, and the burden of proof is on the couple. However, a green card does not follow automatically after marriage, and people married to u. Changing from f1 to green card if you are married to a u. I will make these differences clear throughout this guide. This is to prevent people from faking marriages to gain citizenship. However, the process for getting a green card by marriage can differ widely, depending on your situation.
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