How To File For Green Card Through Marriage?

A marriage green card is an immigrant visa that allows a U.S. citizen to live and work in the U.S. as a permanent resident. To obtain a marriage-based green card, the spouse must file the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, which is the first step in filing a marriage. The spouse is the petitioner, while the foreign spouse is the beneficiary. The spouse is the petitioner, and the foreign spouse is the beneficiary.

To obtain a marriage-based green card, the spouse must file the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petitioner must establish the relationship of the foreign-born spouse to a U.S. citizen or resident. The spouse must prove that the marriage is legal and recognized by the US law, have a romantic relationship, and live together as husband and wife.

The processing time for a spousal visa can range from 8 months to 5 years. The U.S. spouse is the “sponsor” and the spouse looking for the green card is the “beneficiary.” For more information on becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or petitioning for family members, visit the Green Card or Family pages.

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.

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.

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.

When to file I-130 after marriage?

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you can file the Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) with USCIS as soon as you marry your immigrant spouse. Form I-130 is the first step for any alien who wants to immigrate to the United States as the relative of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you can file the Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) with USCIS as soon as you and your immigrant spouse are married. This is the first step for anyone who wants to immigrate to the United States as the spouse or other close family member of a U.S. citizen or green card holder. The form is signed and submitted by the U.S. family member who is petitioning for the immigrant.

Can I sponsor my wife to USA if I have a green card?

Green Card holders can petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States.

Spouse (husband or wife); Unmarried children under 21; Unmarried son or daughter of any age. To get a Green Card for your family member, you must: File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Show you are a permanent resident. Submit evidence of the qualifying relationship. See the form instructions for what documents you need to submit. Also, submit proof of any legal name changes for you or your family member.

How long do you need to be married to get a green card?

Two years: Marriage is a simple way to get permanent residence. USCIS gives you two years of conditional residence. After two years, you must file Form I-751 to remove the conditions of residence and get a 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.

How do I prepare for a green card for my marriage?

Review: Before your interview, sit down together or schedule a long phone call. Go over the important dates and events in your relationship. Collect your documents. Get copies of all the original documents you submitted to the government with your green card application (passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, court records, divorce documents, photos, and other evidence of your marriage). Make copies of documents that prove your marriage is real. Examples include recent photos, birth certificates, joint tax returns, recent bank statements, joint property and insurance documents. If you live in different countries, include copies of travel itineraries and phone records. Here are more ideas on documents you can use to prove your marriage is real. Get organized: Organize your documents in a folder and put photos in an album. Not sure which documents you need? Boundless has a guide on the documents needed for a green card. At the interview. The officer interviewing you. The interview will be done by a USCIS officer or a consular officer who is trained to do marriage-based green card interviews. The officer’s main goal is to make sure the marriage is real.

How much to apply for a green card through marriage?

How much does it cost to get a green card? The government filing fee for a family-based green card is $3,005 for applicants in the United States and $1,340 for applicants outside the United States. This does not include the cost of the medical exam, which varies by provider. Green Card Costs Will Increase April 1, 2024. USCIS confirmed that filing fees for various immigration forms will increase on April 1, 2024. Visa costs will go up, including green cards. The fee for a green card application, Form I-485, will go up from $1,225 to $1,440. To calculate your 2024 green card costs, check out the Boundless guide. Boundless Essential offers great service at a low price. No surprises here. Get unlimited support and your full application for one flat fee.

How to apply for marriage green card outside the US?

To get a green card from abroad, your spouse must file Form I-130, wait for a visa number, and file Forms DS-261 & DS-260. … Step 4: Attend medical and biometrics appointments. Step 5: Attend the consular interview. What happens next? Unlawful presence and consular processing.

Step 1: Your spouse files Form I-130. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can petition for their family members and immediate relatives to receive a green card. Your first step is for your spouse to file Form I-130. File for an Alien Relative with USCIS. This form shows you are eligible for a green card because you are married to a U.S. permanent resident. Your spouse is the sponsor or petitioner. You are the applicant or beneficiary. After you pay the $535 filing fee and mail your Form I-130 petition to USCIS, you will receive a receipt notice by mail. You should get this in two weeks. If USCIS needs more documents, they will send you a request for evidence within two or three months. The I-130 petition usually takes 7 to 10 months to process.

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.