What is the process to marry a non U.S. citizen?

You will need to file Form I-130 and then Form DS-160 (also called the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application), followed by a medical exam and an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Although this can sometimes be a long process,, this option does lead to a green card as soon as you arrive in the United States.

What happens when you marry someone who is not a U.S. citizen?

Will My Immigrant Spouse Become a U.S. Citizen Automatically? Sorry, but no. An immigrant who marries a U.S. citizen must apply for a green card (U.S. permanent residence). This is a long process involving many forms and documents.

How long is the process to marry a non-U.S. citizen?

The entire wait time for marrying someone from another country can take between 11 months and 30 months. Your spouse must have a valid visa during the waiting time. After meeting the spousal residency requirement of three years and filing an application, the naturalization process can take about six months.

Can a non-U.S. citizen get married to a U.S. citizen?

In a Nutshell

Green card holders and U.S. citizens are at liberty to marry non-U.S. citizens. Their foreign spouses can get a marriage green card and live with them in the United States. The application process looks different depending on where you and your future spouse live and your respective immigration statuses.

What documents does a foreigner need to marry a U.S. citizen?

How A US Citizen Can Sponsor A Spouse Abroad

Are you automatically a U.S. citizen if you marry one?

After marrying a US citizen you will not immediately become eligible to apply for US citizenship. However, as the spouse of a US citizen, you will be classed as an “immediate relative” and, accordingly, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residence, or what is commonly known as a green card.

Do you automatically get a green card when you marry a U.S. citizen?

The beneficiary, or person who is applying to receive a green card, is generally automatically eligible to receive a green card once they are lawfully married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

Does the U.S. honor foreign marriages?

In general, marriages which are legally performed and valid abroad are also legally valid in the United States. Inquiries regarding the validity of a marriage abroad should be directed to the attorney general of the state in the United States where the parties to the marriage live.

Can you stay in the U.S. while waiting for marriage green card?

It's possible to visit your spouse in the United States while your marriage-based green card application is pending. In order to do so, you would need to apply for a tourist visa.

How long does it take to get a work permit when you marry a U.S. citizen?

After submitting your marriage-based green card application, you'll receive your work permit — usually within around 150 days, though USCIS processing times are getting longer due to a backlog of applications.

How do you protect yourself when marrying a foreigner?

How long does it take to get a green card after marriage 2022?

If your spouse is a green card holder and you currently live in the United States, then you will wait about 12-27 months to receive your green card. If your spouse is a green card holder and you currently live outside the United States, then you will wait about 18.5-32.5 months to receive your green card.

How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen through marriage?

Government filing fee of $535. Proof that the sponsoring spouse is a U.S. citizen (copy of the sponsor's birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or valid U.S. passport photo page, for example) or permanent resident (copy of the sponsor's green card, for example)

What happens if you overstay your visa and get married?

U.S. immigration law provides that if an alien was inspected but overstayed their visa, their subsequent marriage to a United States citizen will “clean up” the overstay. That is, the spouse of a U.S. citizen can still adjust to lawful permanent resident status despite having overstayed.

Is marriage the fastest way to get a green card?

You and your spouse must follow a specific application process. Although a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen is one of the quickest ways to immigrate, there are several steps that include application forms, a medical examination, fingerprinting, and various approvals.

Can I marry a foreigner who visits the US?

The short answer to this complex question is yes, you can get married to someone who has entered the U.S. on a visitor visa. Generally, anyone from a foreign country enters the U.S. with a visa.

How do I register my foreign marriage in the US?

The United States has no national registration of marriages, foreign or domestic. U.S. states recognize marriages performed in other states and in other countries. If your marriage was legally performed in the country or state where you got married, then the marriage is recognized in the United States.

How long do you have to be married for a green card?

After two years, you will need to file Form I-751 to remove the conditions of residence and to get a permanent green card. If you have already been married for two years when you are interviewed for your initial green card, that card will be permanent.

Do you lose green card if you divorce?

If you divorce and you have a permanent green card, there is typically no impact to the renewal process. When it comes time to renew your green card, you simply file Form I-90 (officially called “Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card”).

Does divorce affect green card status?

If you already have your green card before you got divorced, the divorce shouldn't change your permanent residence status. The only thing that'll be affected is the naturalization process; you'll need to wait for five years to start, instead of three to have your permanent green card status reviewed.

What happens when an immigrant marries a U.S. citizen?

Persons married to US citizens are considered "immediate relatives" in the immigration process and can apply immediately for LPR status. The USC spouse may file an immigrant petition (Form I-130) for the alien spouse immediately after the marriage.

What documents do I need to get a green card through marriage?

Can you marry someone to keep them from getting deported?

The short answer is no. Marriage alone won't stop deportation or prevent you from being deported in the future. But, marriage to a US citizen can make it easier to establish your legal status in the United States.

Which country gives citizenship easily by marriage?

You can become a permanent resident via investments, marriage, naturalisation, etc. Some easiest countries to get citizenship to include Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Thailand, Australia and Ireland.

Can you work immediately after marrying a U.S. citizen?

You can work if you receive legal work authorization (EAD) while your green card application is undergoing processing. Typically, the marriage-based card processing time takes several months. Depending on your case, if you have applied as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, you may need to wait for 10-12 months.