How To Obtain American Citizenship Through Marriage?

Marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse makes someone eligible for U.S. lawful permanent residence (a green card), not for U.S. citizenship. The application for citizenship is made by submitting Form N-400 to USCIS, which typically takes 5 to 8 years. If the foreign national is in the U.S. illegally or has conditions on their immigration status (such as with a green card), they must still meet certain criteria to qualify for US Citizenship Through Marriage.

To get U.S. citizenship for your spouse through naturalization, you must establish a permanent residency card, also known as Form I-551 or a “green card.” To enter the U.S. legally, your newly married spouse must fill out the I-130 form.

Getting a marriage green card through marriage is a three-step process: the U.S. citizen spouse establishes the marriage relationship by filing Form I-130; apply for the green card through adjustment of status if you’re living in the U.S. or Form DS-260 if you’re a foreign national living abroad; attend the green card interview and complete the necessary steps.

For those married to a U.S. citizen, the first step is to download, fill out, and submit Form N-400, which includes an immigrant petition, providing evidence of the bona fide nature of the marriage, attending an interview, and completing the necessary steps. If the marriage breaks up or the couple stops living together, the immigrant must count a full five years from the date of approval for residence to apply for a green card through marriage.

How long do I have to stay married to my wife for green card?

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 before filing for naturalization. The citizen spouse must have been a U.S. citizen for those three years. The applicant must have been a lawful permanent resident 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 applying for citizenship. Be loyal to the U.S. Constitution and want the United States to be a good and happy country.

Can I get dual citizenship if I marry an American?

A U.S. citizen can become a citizen of another country through marriage. A person who has become a U.S. citizen cannot lose their original citizenship. U.S. law doesn’t mention dual nationality or require choosing one citizenship over another.

Can I get a Brazilian passport if I marry a Brazilian?

How long does it take to get Brazilian citizenship after residency? You can apply for citizenship after four years of permanent residency. If you’re married to a Brazilian citizen or have a Brazilian child, you can get citizenship in one year. It can be reduced to two years if the applicant works in Brazil or gets a recommendation based on their qualifications. What’s the best way to become a Brazilian citizen? The best way to become a Brazilian citizen depends on your situation. Most people will qualify for naturalization after living in Brazil for a while. How hard is it to become a Brazilian citizen? Becoming a Brazilian citizen is easy, but there are some paperwork requirements. It takes time, Portuguese skills, and commitment.

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

After filing Form I-130, the approval process can take 10 to 14 months for immediate relatives and several years for family preference categories. What happens after filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative? Receipt of Petition. Approximately 2 to 4 Weeks After Filing If you are helping a family member immigrate to the United States, you will file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to reserve an immigrant visa (green card). If you file it right, USCIS will mail you a receipt notice. The receipt notice, formally known as Form I-797C, arrives 2 to 4 weeks after filing. If you didn’t file Form I-130 correctly, USCIS will reject your petition. A rejection will delay your request and processing time. It’s important to prepare the immigrant visa petition correctly and submit all supporting documents. Learn how.

What happens if I marry a U.S. citizen?

Can I leave the US after I get married? After marrying a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a green card. While your application is being processed, you can apply for advance parole, which allows you to travel. USCIS will take two to three months to process your parole. You can leave and re-enter the United States without a new visa. If your spouse has a green card, you can’t get advance parole.

My friend got married at a courthouse in the United States and then had a big ceremony at home. How did she do that? That’s a good question. A civil marriage is official in the United States. Someone who wants a civil ceremony and a religious ceremony could have the civil one in the United States and apply for a green card. Then she could get advance parole, go home for the religious service, and come back to the United States.

Does marrying an American guarantee a green card?

If you marry a U.S. citizen, you can become a Green Card holder. If you want to immigrate to the United States or stay in America permanently, you need to know about the different ways to become a legal resident. If you’re engaged to a U.S. citizen, marriage can get you a Green Card. For more on getting a Green Card through marriage, contact our Nashville immigration attorneys at Ozment Law, PLC today.

Foreign nationals who are the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens can apply for a Green Card, which makes them lawful permanent residents. Immediate relatives are those who:

You are married to a U.S. citizen;

Your child is under 21 and unmarried;

Your child is 21 or older and a U.S. citizen.

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:

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 stay in America if I marry an American?

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), if you choose this method. You can find the forms and instructions on our website at www.

Which country is easiest to get citizenship by marriage?

The easiest countries to get citizenship by marriage are Brazil, Spain, and Belize. You can get it after one year of marriage. Italy, Mexico, and Colombia are also easy. You can get it after two years of marriage. Uruguay, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia, the USA, and the UK are also easy. You can get it after three years of marriage. Most countries allow dual nationality. To become a citizen of a country with two passports, you can get married, prove you’re related to someone in the country, live there for a while, help the country’s culture or science, and invest in it.

Each country has different rules for getting citizenship, so it might take a different amount of time.