How Long After Marriage Can I Apply For Residency?

The process of applying for a Green Card in Canada involves two steps: sponsoring your spouse, partner, or dependent children to become permanent residents, and applying for spousal sponsorship. The Canadian government aims to make decisions on spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months, with processing times ranging from 8 months to 5 years.

To adjust status, you must fill out USCIS Form I-485, along with supporting forms and documents. The process is divided into two parts: the U.S. spouse (sponsor) and the beneficiary (beneficiary). If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a permanent resident for at least 3 years.

After a visa number becomes available, you can apply to adjust status to permanent residency using Form I-485. However, unless the beneficiary had an immigrant visa petition or labor certification pending prior to April 30, 2001, they must have continuously maintained lawful status in the United States.

The adjustment of status marriage green card application process typically takes about 10-13 months. If you are already a permanent resident, you can apply for citizenship after 5 years. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for conditional permanent residence for two years.

Marriage is a relatively easy route to permanent residence, and you can begin the naturalization process by filing Form N-400 after three years of marriage. If you come on a visit visa, don’t get married in those first 60 days because the government could say that you misrepresented yourself when you arrived.

How long does it take for I-130 to get approved for spouse in 2024?

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:

Can I bring my wife to the USA after marriage?

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 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.

Do you get residency if you marry an American citizen?

• Just because you marry a U.S. citizen doesn’t mean you’re a U.S. citizen. But marriage to a U.S. citizen can lead to immigration benefits, like getting a green card. After getting a green card, the non-U.S. citizen spouse can apply for U.S. citizenship. The naturalization process can take different amounts of time depending on things like how long you’ve been married, how long you’ve lived in the US, and whether you meet the USCIS’s requirements. How to get a green card through marriage
• where to get married
• marrying in the United States
• marrying abroad
• marriage fraud and visa fraud
• related information

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 may be able to 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.

How to apply for residency in the USA after marriage?

To get a green card, the U.S. citizen spouse files Form I-130. Apply for the green card through Form I-485 if you live in the U.S. or Form DS-260 if you live abroad. Attend the green card interview and wait for approval. 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 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 long after marriage can I get a green card?

How long does it take to get a green card from marriage? If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you will wait about: 10–23 months if you currently live in the U.S. 13.5–15 months if you currently live abroad..5–20.5 months abroad 29–40 months Marriage Green Card Timeline When the couple lives in the U.S. Marriage Green Card Timeline When the spouse lives outside the U.S. Frequently Asked Questions Related Information How long does it take to get a green card from marriage? The average wait time for a marriage-based green card is about 9.3 months. Boundless updates these figures monthly based on USCIS data. This depends on whether you are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder and where you live. It takes about 9.3 months to get a marriage green card.

Is it faster to get green card through marriage?

If your spouse is a green card holder and you live in the United States, you will wait about 13.5–20.5 months to receive your green card. If your spouse is a green card holder and you live outside the United States, you will wait about 29–40 months to receive your green card.

Widows of U.S. citizens. Widows and widowers of U.S. citizens can apply for a green card within two years of their spouse’s death. The process is similar to the marriage-based green card process for spouses of U.S. citizens, but instead of the I-130, widows and widowers will file Form I-360.

What happens when an American marries a foreigner?

A green card holder can marry a foreigner. Marriage to a foreigner doesn’t affect the green card holder’s status. The foreign spouse would need to get a visa or change their status to join the green card holder in the United States. Green card holders can’t bring their fiancé to the United States through the K-1 visa process. The K-1 visa is only for U.S. citizens engaged to foreign nationals. Green card holders can ask for their fiancé to come to the United States through other immigration processes, such as getting a family-based immigrant visa or a marriage-based green card.

How long does it take for spouse to get residency?

How long does it take to get a green card if an immigrant spouse is living in the U.S. and married to a U.S. citizen? If the immigrant spouse lives in the U.S., the application takes about 15–20 months. You can get a green card if you are married to a U.S. citizen, you are at least 18, and your spouse makes enough money. When a foreigner marries a U.S. citizen, they become an immediate relative. They have a higher priority in the process. You won’t have to worry about annual limits for this category. Green card processing is usually faster for those married to U.S. citizens. Let’s look at what to expect in each step to understand the timeline. Form I-130 proves your marriage is valid. The U.S. citizen spouse (the petitioner or sponsor) fills out this form.

How long can a foreigner stay in the U.S. after marriage?

USCIS grants two-year conditional permanent residence to those who marry. 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.

Can I stay in the US after marrying a U.S. citizen?

Your spouse can apply for permanent residence and stay in the United States while we process the application. File Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). You can find the forms and instructions on our website at www.uscis.gov.