How To Apply For American Citizenship After Marriage?

To be eligible for naturalization under section 319 (a) of the INA, you must be at least 18 years old when you submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and be a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States. If you are married to a U.S. citizen and have five years of permanent residence in the U.S., you can likely have a green card. The first step towards becoming a U.S. citizen through marriage is to apply for your marriage green card.

The next step in the application process depends on whether you are living in the U.S. or abroad when applying. If you live in the U.S., you will file for an adjustment of status. For couples married less than two years, a conditional green card is issued, which expires in two years. You must file for form I-751 90 days before the expiration date of the conditional green card.

For Mexican citizenship, the main application form is titled Solicitud de carta de naturalización, identified by its code DNN-3. The DNN-3 application form is a 9-page PDF file, but only the first three pages must be submitted. To enter the U.S. legally if you are married to a U.S. citizen, your spouse should complete Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and all supporting documents.

To qualify for permanent residence based on marriage, you must have lived in the U.S. continuously for the three years immediately preceding the date you file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. To prove that your spouse is a U.S. citizen, provide a copy of their birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or other relevant documents.

Can I get US citizenship if I marry an American?

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

How long does it take to get citizenship after marriage in US?

C.3 Years of Residency The spouse of a U.S. citizen must have lived in the United States as an LPR for at least three years before and up to the time of the oath of allegiance. The applicant must live in the United States for the required time. The residence is where the applicant lives, regardless of their intentions.

D. 18 months of physical presence. The spouse must have been in the United States for at least 18 months (548 days) out of the 3 years before filing the application. Physical presence means being in the United States for the required number of days during the statutory period up to the date of filing for naturalization. The spouse of a U.S. citizen filing for naturalization on the basis of marriage may file up to 90 days before the required 3-year period of residence. Although an applicant may file early and be interviewed, they are not eligible for naturalization until they have satisfied the required 3-year period of residence. All other requirements must be met at the time of filing.

How do I change my status after marriage to a U.S. citizen?

If you are in the United States and eligible for adjustment of status, file Form I-485. Go to the Form I-485 instructions and your immigrant category page for help filling out your application and filing it with USCIS. You can use adjustment of status to apply for a Green Card when you are in the United States. You can get a Green Card without going back to your home country to get a visa. If you are outside the United States, you must get your visa abroad. U.S. immigration laws offer many ways to apply for a Green Card. The rules for adjusting your status may differ depending on which category you are in. First, you have to decide if you fit into a specific immigrant category.

How long do you have to be married to get a green card in US?

Two years, often. 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.

Does marrying an American guarantee a green card?

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.

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.

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 does it take to bring spouse to USA as a citizen?

The wait time for the CR1 visa is 13.5–15 months if you’re married to a U.S. citizen and 29–40 months if you’re married to a green card holder. The CR1 is a two-year temporary green card. After two years, the couple can apply for a permanent green card. The K-1 visa takes longer to process than the CR-1. The K-1 will cost more when the government raises fees in late 2023. Your situation affects which visa you choose. Boundless has a guide on the pros and cons of the K-1 vs. CR-1 visas. The CR-1 visa lets you start working as soon as you enter the United States. You don’t need a separate work permit with a CR-1 visa.