How Long Does A Marriage Green Card Last?

Marrying a U.S. citizen does not guarantee immediate citizenship, but it allows spouses to obtain a green card as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. The processing time for a marriage-based green card averages about 9.3 months, depending on the type of application. The cost for applying for a marriage-based green card is $3005 for couples living in the U.S. and $1340 when one or both spouses live.

As of January 2024, the processing time for a marriage-based green card is 9.3 months. The cost for applying for a marriage-based green card is $3005 for couples living in the U.S. and $1340 when one or both spouses live. There is no minimum age for a U.S. sponsor (petitioner) to file a petition for a spouse, but they must be at least 18 years of age and have a residence in the U.S. before signing the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864 or I-864EZ).

The interviewing officer’s primary goal is to assess the authenticity of the marriage and whether the foreign spouse qualifies for a green card. Factors affecting processing time include relationship to sponsor, home country, and USCIS backlogs. Marriage-based green cards take 18-22 months for applicants inside the U.S., 12.5-26 months for applicants outside. Green card holder spouses take three years.

Green card types include permanent renewable green cards valid for ten years or conditional two-year green cards issued to applicants who have been married for less than two years at the time the card is issued. The current total wait time for a marriage-based green card averages about 9.3 months.

What is the 5 year rule for green card?

A. To become a naturalized citizen, you must have lived in the United States for at least five years after becoming a lawful permanent resident.

A. Continuous Residence Requirement. To become a naturalized citizen, you must have lived in the United States for at least five years after becoming a lawful permanent resident. The applicant must also prove they have lived in the state or district for three months before filing. The concept of continuous residence means the applicant must live in the US for the required period. The residence in question is the same as the alien’s domicile, or main place of residence. The alien’s residence is generally their actual physical location. Some applicants may be eligible for a shorter period of residence, for residence while outside the United States, or for no residence requirement at all. These include military members and spouses of U.S. citizens.

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 happens if you get married and you are already married?

What are the consequences? If you remarry while still married, it’s illegal. Marriage is a legal contract. By marrying again, you are breaking your contract. If you are convicted of bigamy, you could receive a fine of up to $100,000 or up to 40 years in prison. If you commit bigamy, you can be prosecuted in your state based on where you did it, where you live, and where you lived with your new spouse. However, if you thought your first marriage was over when you got married again, the punishment might not be as bad as it would be if you knew you were committing bigamy. Legal Zoom says there are a few ways to defend against bigamy. If the first spouse is missing and it seems they are dead, or if the person representing your spouse didn’t file the paperwork, this could help you. A bigamous marriage is illegal.

The legal system moves slowly. Getting a marriage license shows you and your partner are single and can get married. You can’t plan a wedding until your divorce is final.

What if I get a 10 year green card instead of 2 years?

If you get a 10-year Green Card by mistake, treat it as a 2-year Green Card. At the one-year and nine-month mark, file an I-751. This is the same as if you had a two-year Green Card. You don’t get a pass. You don’t have to skip the I-751 just because USCIS gave you a 10-year Green Card instead of a 2-year one. You must keep your immigration record and history clean. If you try to become a citizen later and haven’t removed the conditions, you could have trouble. The naturalization case would probably be denied. You could be deported for not removing conditions, even though USCIS made a mistake in giving you a 10-year Green Card. Don’t think you got away with it. Don’t be clever. Tell them you got the wrong green card. It should have been a two-year card. You filed a timely I-751 petition to remove conditions on your permanent residence.

Applying to remove conditions. The Petition to Remove Conditions is an important step in getting a green card. If you have conditional permanent residency, you and your spouse/partner must file this document 90 days before your conditional Green Card expires. Otherwise, you will lose this right. Timing is important. File your I-751 within 90 days of your conditional green card expiring. If you file early, your application will be rejected. If you file too late, your application will be denied unless you can show a good reason for filing it late. You must prove your marriage is real. You should have new photos together, joint financial documents, or kids since you’ve been married for over two years. You need to submit similar types of evidence when you applied for your marriage-based green card, and any evidence you have collected since you got your conditional permanent resident card. Filing Form I-751 is a joint petition. You and your spouse must file the form together. Include a copy of your conditional green card, front and back, with the filing fee.

What happens if you marry someone with a green card?

Can you get a green card by marrying another green card holder? You can also get a green card if you’re married to a green card holder. Your spouse must file Form I-130 with USCIS to get the status. This form proves you are married to a lawful permanent resident or green card holder. You’ll usually wait 1-6 months for approval, then move on to the next step. You will have to do an interview to get a green card. The officer will ask you questions about your marriage. They will also ask you about sensitive or confidential information. What are the implications of marrying a green card holder? If you are married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you can work and live anywhere in the U.S. After two years, you can apply for a green card.

How long does a green card through marriage last?

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 Next steps FAQs Boundless guides Information on marriage green cards Boundless reviews.

Can you stay in the US while waiting for a marriage green card?

Can my wife stay in the US while waiting for a green card? It depends on what you mean by “waiting for a green card.” If she has filed an I-485, she can stay in the US as long as her I-485 is pending.

Can you let your Green Card expire?

There are no penalties for an expired green card. If your green card expires, you remain a lawful permanent resident. USCIS won’t charge extra. You pay the same renewal fee. Don’t delay your renewal. If you don’t have a green card, you won’t be able to travel, get a job, renew your license, or do other things that require proof of residence. If you got your green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, it expires after two years. Don’t use Form I-90 to renew a conditional green card. Instead of renewing it, file to remove the conditions on residence using Form I-751. File this form within 90 days of your green card expiring. If you don’t, you could be deported.

Likewise, conditional residents who got status through investing in a U.S. business should not use Form I-90 to renew an expired green card. Investor permanent residents should use Form I-829.

How long is the green card valid for?

Some Green Cards don’t expire, but most do. If you have been granted conditional permanent resident status, the card is valid for two years. Keep your card up to date.

What happens to Green Card after 10 years?

A Green Card expires 10 years after it is issued. You are a permanent resident forever.