United States Immigration

Green Card Application Through Marriage Information Guide

How to Apply for a United States Green Card if Married to a U.S. Citizen

Format: Instant Download

A green card is also called an immigrant visa or legal permanent residence and it allows you to live permanently in the United States with many rights as a permanent resident, including the legal right live, work and study. Married couples with one American Citizen and one non-American citizen in general have the right to apply for a Green Card for the non-American citizen so that the married couple can live together in the United States of America. In most cases if the alien spouse has underage and unmarried children they are also eligible to apply for a Green Card as step children of their American Citizen step parent.

The Application for a Green Card or Lawful Permanent Residence through Marriage is a process involving multiple steps. There are few different ways to apply and obtain a Green Card through marriage but also several requirements, procedures, and forms to file. You have to submit support documentation to prove that you are eligible to apply for a Green Card though marriage. In terms of the application the American citizen will be sponsoring by filing a petition for his wife or husband, and there are several requirements for both the sponsor and the Green Card applicant. Once the petition for an immigrant visa is approved them there are many other steps in the process including apply for the actual immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, or if the foreign spouse is present inside the U.S. then it is possible to adjust status to change from a non-immigrant visa into an immigrant visa that will give the right to live in the U.S. and obtain a Green Card.

Consular Application for a Green Card Through Marriage or Adjustment of Status in the United States

Some American citizens living abroad may apply and petition for the spouse at a local consulate abroad and this usually makes the application process faster, however not all citizens and not all consulates are eligible for this as there are certain requirements including a minimum time of residency abroad. Spouses of U.S. citizens that are currently in the United States with a legal status with another type of visa may be eligible to Adjus Status and change from their current non-immigrant status as a visa holder and become U.S. Legal Permanent Residents without having to leave the country. To learn more about the application process applying at a local U.S. consulate or inside the U.S. or how to adjust status please order this information package.

K1 fiancée fiancé visa

The Green Card through Marriage application package also includes information about how to apply for the K1 fiancée visa for engaged couples that are not married yet, and prefer to apply first for a fiancée visa to travel to the US, and then get married in the U.S.

Conditional Green Card for couples that have been married for less than two years

Married couples that got married less than two years before receiving their received their immigrant visa as legal permanent residents they will initially receive a green card valid for two years only and with conditions. 90 days before the green card two year expiration then the couple is supposed to apply together to remove the conditions on their green card, to remove the green card the couple show go to an interview and provide evidence showing that the marriage is legitimate. However if at the time of receiving the visa approval the marriage is already two years or longer, then the new immigrant will receive a valid green card valid for 10 years.

This page can be found at: http://www.immigrationunitedstates.org/products/green-card-marriage.html

How to Apply for a Green Card Through Marriage

Immigration is a complex process and as you start you application you may have several questions about the application process for a Green Card through marriage. Several Frequently Asked Questions will be answered when ordering this download, including the following questions:

• What is a Green Card or a Lawful Permanent Resident Card of the United States?
• How to apply for a Green Card though marriage if I am married to an American Citizen?
• Should we apply in the US to adjust status from another visa to a Green Card? or should we apply at our local US consulate abroad?
• How to provide and prepare documentation with all support evidence and requirement?
• Difference between a Conditional Green Card and a Permanent Green Card?
• How to apply for a Green Card for the underage unmarried children of my spouse?
• What type of forms to file? and how to find helpful links to official forms and instructions?
• General Information about how to apply for a Green Card including application forms
• For how long do we have to be married to receive a green card?
• If we are not married yet, where should we get married? in the US? or abroad?
• Can I get married to a U.S. citizen outside of the U.S., and still be eligible to obtain a green card?
• How to get a fiancé or fiancée visa for my girlfriend or boyfriend to travel to the U.S.?
• What if we get divorced? Can I still get or keep my green card or citizenship?
• What if my husband/wife died? Can I still get my green card?
• Contact information for U.S. embassies and consulates abroad
• USCIS Contact information in the U.S.
• Once I have a green card, can I apply for the U.S. citizenship? How long do I have to wait to apply?

Green Card Marriage Package Application Forms

• Petition for Alien Relative
• Poverty Guidelines
• Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act
• E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
• Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

• Choice of Address and Agent

Order and download this guide to learn how to apply for a Green Card through marriage.