Green Card through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
Getting a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen is one of the fastest ways to obtain permanent residence (and citizenship) in the United States.
Although a permanent resident status through marriage to a U.S. citizen is one of the quickest and most direct ways to obtain a legal status in the United States, there are several steps that include application forms, submitting persuasive evidence a medical examination, fingerprinting, and various approvals.
Apply for a Green Card through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
The process begins with the U.S. citizen filing Form I-130 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). When the I-130 petition is approved, the agency is acknowledging that there is a valid relationship and that a visa has been reserved.
Because marriage to a U.S. citizen fall under the immediate relatives category, it is given a degree of priority over other relationships, i.e., the visa number is available immediately which reduces the processing times to the minimum.
Spouses of U.S. citizens who are already physically present in the United States may be able to file for Adjustment of Status at the same time as filing Form I-130. Because a visa can be immediately reserved, most couples file the Form I-130 as part of a larger “adjustment of status packet” of USCIS forms that will expedite the process. By filing the Form I-485, and other required forms simultaneously with the Form I-130, couples ensure that USCIS can make a decision as soon as possible.
Eligibility for Green Card through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
Eligibility for the immigrant visa (also known as the green card) through marriage to a U.S. citizen requires that:
- There’s a legal marriage (from any country); and
- Neither spouse is married to someone else at the same time.
Additionally, eligibility for a green card through marriage hinges on other factors such as the bona fide nature of the marriage, periods of unlawful presence, criminal convictions, lawful admission into the United Staes, as well as other grounds for inadmissibility and even the use of prior non-immigrant visas.
About the Law Firm
Jakub Szlaga is an immigration lawyer helping individuals from Livonia, Canton, Westland, Novi, Northville with marriage green cards applications.
