How Can You Become A Us Citizen Through 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 become a U.S. citizen through marriage, one must be a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States for at least three years immediately before filing Form N-400. The process typically takes about 5 to 8 years.

To obtain a U.S. citizenship through marriage, the foreign-born national must prove that the marriage is lawful. The process involves establishing a permanent residency card, also known as Form I-551 or a “green card.” The U.S. citizen spouse must start the process for you by submitting a visa petition on Form I-130 to 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.

After obtaining a green card, the non-U.S. citizen spouse may become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process. The specific requirements and timeline for naturalization can vary based on factors such as the length of marriage, continuous residence in the United States, and meeting the necessary criteria outlined by the USCIS.

In addition to obtaining a green card, the non-U.S. citizen spouse may also apply for U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process. The process depends on whether you are living in the U.S. or abroad when applying. If you are a permanent resident (Green Card holder) and have been married to and living with the same U.S. citizen spouse during that time, most Green Card holders must wait 5 years before applying for naturalization.

How long does it take for I-130 to get approved for spouse?

The fee for Form I-130 is now $675 and it takes about 12 months to be approved. Filing and getting an I-130 approved doesn’t give you an immigration status. This is the first step in getting a green card. This article explains the cost, approval time, and steps to follow after submitting Form I-130.

I-130 processing times; Form I-130 used for; Form I-130 cost; Form I-130 eligibility; Form I-130 required documents; Alternative documents; What happens after the I-130 is approved?; I-130 FAQs; Boundless guides; Common marriage green card forms; Boundless reviews. The time it takes to get your I-130 petition approved in 2024 depends on two things:

How long do you have to be married to get citizenship in US?

The spouse of a U.S. citizen must have been married to their citizen spouse for at least three years before filing for citizenship. A. General Eligibility for Spouses Residing in the United States. A U.S. citizen’s spouse may be eligible for naturalization if they have lived in the United States for at least three years after becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and have lived in a marital union with their citizen spouse for at least three years. The spouse must meet the following criteria to qualify:

At least 18 years old at the time of filing; a LPR at the time of filing the naturalization application; and the spouse of the U.S. citizen until the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance.The applicant must have been married to the citizen spouse for at least three years and lived in the United States as an LPR for at least three years before filing for naturalization.Be in the United States for at least 18 months (548 days) out of the 3 years before filing the application. Live in the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over your place of residence for at least 3 months before filing. Know how to read, write, and speak English. Know the basics of US history, government, and civics. Demonstrate good moral character for at least three years before filing the application. Be attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United 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.

Can I get a green card if I marry a U.S. 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? 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.

What is the fastest spouse visa in the USA?

Fiancé(e) and Spousal Visa Application Process and Timeline. If you want to get to the U.S. fast, the K-1 fiancé(e) visa is the fastest option. If you want a green card quickly, a marriage-based visa is faster. For details on the steps involved, see the K-1 Fiancé Visa and Marriage-Based Immigrant Visa application guides. Overview: K-1 visa processing times have slowed. The average time to get the first step done, USCIS approval of the Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), was between 6 and 15 months in early 2024.

How long does it take to get a green card after marrying?

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 for marriage green card applicants Boundless guides Information about marriage green cards Boundless reviews.

How can I get I-130 approved fast?

You can ask the USCIS Contact Center or Emma to speed up your case. Click the Ask Emma icon on this page to access Emma. Explain why you need expedited processing. You also need to give the USCIS Contact Center your receipt number so they can send your request to the right office. If you have a USCIS online account and can use secure messaging, you can select “expedite” as the reason for your inquiry and submit your request there. You must provide evidence to justify your request. The Contact Center will ask for supporting documents. You must provide this to the office processing your case. If you have a USCISonline account, upload evidence through your account to support your expedite request. If you send a secure message, we will ask you to confirm you have uploaded evidence. If we don’t have evidence, we’ll tell you how to send it. Note: The process for requesting an expedited decision is different in some cases. See the chart below for information on expedite requests.

Can you marry someone in another country if you’re already married?

If you are married to someone in the U.S., what happens overseas depends on the country. If polygamy is recognized in another country, you can get married again. However, if you return to the U.S., your foreign marriage won’t be recognized. If you are already married in the U.S., you have to get divorced or widowed before you can remarry. Laws vary by state and country. Contact a local family law attorney before planning a wedding in a foreign country.

What is the fastest way to get a US green card?

Marry a U.S. citizen. This is the fastest way to immigrate. … Immigration through family. … Asylum in the USA. … Immigration of people with extraordinary abilities. Investment immigration. Many immigrants want to become permanent residents of the USA. There are several ways to achieve that goal. 1. Marry a U.S. citizen. This is the fastest way to immigrate. The process takes about six to nine months, after which a temporary Green Card is received. In the next two years, you must prove your marriage is still valid. Then you can get a permanent Green Card.

2. Reuniting with family through immigration. It can take from nine months to five years to immigrate through family reunification. The fastest option is for a U.S. citizen to reunite with their closest relatives.

How hard is it to get a green card?

It’s hard to get a green card. The process of getting a green card can be long and complicated. Mistakes could cost you years and money. It could also get you deported, charged with a crime, and barred from ever entering the US. We offer affordable, expert immigration help to make it easier for you to get your green card. Contact us now.

How hard is it to get a green card through marriage?

Getting a green card through marriage is not easy. There are many steps to follow. Not filing your case right or not following the rules can cause your case to be delayed or even denied. The rules for getting a green card through marriage depend on whether you are marrying a US citizen or a US permanent resident. I will explain these differences throughout this guide.

2. The benefits of getting a green card through marriage. There are several benefits to getting a green card through marriage. Here are a few:

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 for marriage green card applicants Boundless guides Information about marriage green cards Boundless reviews.