Can You Become A Legal Citizen By Marriage?

Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically grant someone U.S. citizenship, but it can be a pathway to immigration benefits. To become a U.S. citizen through marriage, one must apply for a green card and be in a valid marriage from the time they file their Form N. There is no specific period of continuous residence or physical presence in the United States, but both spouses must be in a valid marriage.

Marriage to a U.S. citizen makes someone eligible for U.S. lawful permanent residence (a green card), not for U.S. citizenship. To apply for U.S. citizenship, a spouse must submit an official civil record to establish that the marriage is legal and valid. If an official civil record cannot be obtained, the spouse must submit a visa petition on Form I-130 to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The form must be accompanied by evidence of the marriage being legally valid, such as a marriage certificate, and proof that the marriage is bona fide.

In Japan, the German Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt) is responsible for citizenship in Germany, and spouses or registered same-sex partners of German citizens are eligible for naturalization after three years of legal residence in Germany. British citizens can also get British citizenship by marriage if married to a UK national.

To legally change your name after filing a naturalization application with USCIS, provide the document(s) that legally changed your name, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, or other documents.

In summary, marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically grant someone U.S. citizenship, but it can be a pathway to immigration benefits.

Can you bring two wives to the USA?

You can’t add both wives to the application. The US doesn’t allow polygamy, so the USCIS won’t give visas to both wives. Also, the marital status of an investor usually doesn’t affect the I-526 petition.

How long for a green card after marriage?

It takes 9.3 months on average to get a green card through marriage. What is a marriage green card? A marriage-based green card lets a U.S. citizen or green card holder’s spouse live and work anywhere in the United States. A green card holder is a permanent resident until they apply for U.S. citizenship after three years of marriage.

Quick facts. As of January 2024, it takes 9.3 months to get a marriage green card. The cost is $3005 for couples living in the U.S. and $1340 when one or both spouses live outside the U.S. The first step is for the sponsoring spouse to file Form I-130 to prove the marriage is real.How to get a marriage green card Supporting documents for a marriage green card Timeline for a marriage-based green card Cost of a marriage-based green card Process for marriage green card applicants Denial rate for marriage green card applicants What’s next? FAQs about marriage green cards Boundless guides Information about marriage green cards Boundless reviews.

Does marrying an American guarantee citizenship?

Can I make someone a U.S. citizen if I marry them? Just because you marry a U.S. citizen doesn’t mean you’re a U.S. citizen. But marrying a U.S. citizen can help you get a green card.

Marriage and visa fraud. The U.S. only recognizes civil marriages for immigration purposes. USCIS will not recognize: polygamous relationships; underage marriages; civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other such relationships not recognized as marriages; proxy marriages; and relationships entered into for immigration reasons. USCIS recognizes same-sex marriages, but they must be documented by a marriage certificate from a country where they are legal. USCIS says the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated determines whether the marriage is valid for immigration purposes. LGBTQ couples can get more help with immigration in our guide.

Is second marriage legal in the US?

History People have been getting married in the United States for a long time. Most US marriages were in churches. Marriage licenses were created by the government. Before licenses were introduced, many states banned polygamy. Early Mormons were persecuted for practicing polygamy. No state allows more than one legally licensed marriage at a time. People who get a second marriage license are usually prosecuted for bigamy. People sometimes confuse bigamy and polygamy. Some states call it polygamy, while others call it bigamy. Sentences vary. Prosecutions for either are rare. Polygamy is hard to define because it almost never happens with legal licenses. Mormon polygamists moved to the Rocky Mountains in 1847 to escape prosecution for polygamy in the east. Efforts to stop the practice focused on Utah and the surrounding territories in the 1800s. Utah and four other western territories had to include a ban on polygamy in their state constitutions. Mormon polygamy was one of the most important moral issues in the United States in the 19th century, second only to slavery. The U.S. government took steps against polygamy, but they were not very effective. In 1856, the Republican Party said it would end slavery and polygamy. After many attempts in Congress, anti-polygamy laws began to pass ten years after the church announced that it would practice polygamy.It’s hard to criminalize polygamy because few people get a second marriage license. Most people consider the additional partner a wife in terms of religion. It’s more like adultery. Criminal prosecutions of adultery are rare in the United States. It remains a crime in several states.

Can my wife stay in the US while waiting for a green card?

Adjustment versus consular processing. Few people can choose between adjustment of status and consular processing. But some U.S. citizen spouses in the United States can choose. Most eligible spouses prefer to adjust their status. It lets the foreign spouse stay in the United States while waiting for the green card. Consular processing often results in quicker processing times. The couple may be separated. Each path has its own pros and cons. Read Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing for a detailed breakdown.

Inadmissible grounds. All green card applicants are checked for admissibility before entering the United States. If the applicant is already in the U.S., they are still checked for inadmissibility before becoming a permanent resident. People with a criminal or terrorist history, drug abuse, infectious diseases, or other characteristics will not be allowed to enter the U.S. The following list summarizes some of the major classes of inadmissibility. Sometimes a waiver is available.

What is the 3 year rule for relationships?

After three years, a couple knows if they want to be together long-term. But the relationship is new, so it’s easy to end it if they don’t see it going anywhere. Couples in love for three years aren’t necessarily committed. This might sound strange, but hear me out. When love fades, you choose to commit. That period in the relationship when you feel like you’re taking each other for granted and don’t want to see each other as much.

Can I move to America if I marry an American?

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can bring your foreign spouse to the United States in two ways. They are:

Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1) – You need to file an immigrant petition for your spouse. Learn more. Nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) – You must file for this visa in the country where you married your spouse. Once the visa is issued, the spouse can travel to the United States to wait for the immigrant visa case to be processed. Two petitions are needed. Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, and Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), Form I-129F. Learn more. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to marry and live here with a nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé(e) (K-1). You need an I-129F fiancé(e) petition. Learn more.

Can I get a green card if I marry a US citizen?

Yes. USCIS grants two-year conditional permanent residence for marriage. After two years, you must file Form I-751 to remove the conditions of residence and get a permanent green card.

It might be hard to travel after marrying an American. Is that true? Yes. If you marry an American or green card holder, be careful about travel. If you are in F, J, or tourist status, you must have a home abroad and intend to return. When you apply for a visa, you have to prove you have ties to your home country. Marriage to a U.S. citizen makes it hard to prove you have ties to your home country because you are assumed to want to immigrate to the United States. If you need a new visa to return to the United States, your will visa is likely to be denied, even if you plan to continue as a full-time student. What if I have a student visa in my passport? Can I travel then? As long as you have a valid visa, are a full-time student, and have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed for travel by OIS, you may be able to re-enter the United States even if you have married a U.S. citizen.

How long does it take to become a US resident after marriage?

How long does it take to get a green card through marriage? It takes about nine months to get a green card through marriage. It takes longer if you’re married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder. What is a marriage green card? A marriage-based green card lets a U.S. citizen or green card holder’s spouse live and work anywhere in the United States. A green card holder is a permanent resident until they apply for U.S. citizenship after three years of marriage.

Quick facts. As of January 2024, it takes 9.3 months to get a marriage green card. The cost is $3005 for couples living in the U.S. and $1340 when one or both spouses live outside the U.S. The first step is for the sponsoring spouse to file Form I-130 to prove the marriage is real.How to get a marriage green card Supporting documents for a marriage green card Timeline for a marriage-based green card Cost of a marriage-based green card Process for marriage green card applicants Denial rate for marriage green card applicants What’s next? FAQs for marriage green card applicants Boundless guides Information about marriage green cards Boundless reviews.

Can marriage make you a citizen?

First, let’s be clear: Marriage to a U.S. citizen makes someone eligible for U.S. permanent residence, not citizenship. Having a green card for a few years can make someone eligible for U.S. citizenship. It’s a two-step process. Even if the U.S. citizen husband sponsors the immigrant, the immigrant doesn’t become a U.S. citizen right away.

Below are the steps you will probably have to go through if this applies to you.

NOTE: This is for anyone not in the same situation. The process is different for people living outside the U.S., those who entered illegally, and those marrying a U.S. permanent resident, not a citizen. See the chart for different procedures.