Steps in Getting a Green Card through Marriage

One way to obtain a green card is through marrying. It may sound easy but walking down the aisle and saying your vows and “I do’s” isn’t enough. There are many steps that you have to go through so that you would be granted a green card via marrying a U.S. citizen. Many assume wrongly that U.S. citizenship is given automatically to people who marry American citizens. But the truth is, there are still many processes that the alien has to go through in order to become a U.S. citizen.

There are many factors that would come into play in getting a U.S. citizenship. Some of it are the alien’s immigration status during the marriage and the location of the wedding; whether it took place inside or outside the US.

The very first step in the process of getting a green card lottery through marriage is of course, marriage. You have to get married first but don’t try bogus marriages that were done just so you could apply for a green card since the immigration services would not take your fake marriage lightly. Make sure that your marriage is legitimate and that it is real. You have to demonstrate to the immigration services that you married not for the purpose of making your application for a green card easier.

Next, undergo an immigrations medical examination. Not all medical examinations would be accepted since the examination has to be performed by a USCIS approved doctor. The original results of the examination must be sealed when submitted together with your I-485 application. You could also ask for a courtesy copy from your doctor to keep in your records.

The application for a Green Card by an alien who married a U.S. citizen would start by filling up the I-485 application form. Be sure to review first the instructions written on the application form as well as the fields that you have to fill in with information so that you could determine if you qualify to be admitted to the US and be given a permanent resident status. Be sure also that you consult an immigration attorney if your immigration status has already reached its expiration, if you went to the US undocumented, and if you are in the using a visitor’s visa. You may face issues in the future if you don’t deal with these as early as now. Being in one of these situations may not give you the eligibility to adjust your current status but you could request that you be given a waiver.

if you will continue to process you application, there are necessary documents that you have to attach with your application form. Your criminal history, arrest, and charges, if there are any, must be presented to the immigration services. Two recent passport style photographs of the applicant, a copy of the birth certificate, and of his/her non-immigrant visa are just some of the documents that also have to be submitted by the applicant. An Affidavit of Support with the latest tax returns and a letter that verifies the employment of the applicant, as well as marriage certificate have to submitted as well. If the alien applicant had a previous marriage, divorce decrees must be submitted by both parties.

 I-130, I-485, and G-325A forms have to be filed together with the payment of filing fees. After that, the applicant should attend the appointment for his/her biometrics and fingerprinting. If the applicant would want to get a permit to work in the US while the green card lottery application is still pending, a I-765 form could be filed. A waiting period of 90 days might be given to process this application.

You will be given an appointment for your biometrics and fingerprinting. It is important that you wouldn’t miss this appointment or else your application will be denied. Reapplication may be done but you have to pay for the filing fees once again.

Lastly, be present at the appointment of your Adjustment of Status interview. Be sure that you bring with evidences to prove the legitimacy of your marriage with the US citizen. Some of these evidences could include records of your shared bank accounts, properties, lease agreements, birth certificates of your children, and even pictures.