Contents
- Applying for a marriage green card
- What travel restrictions to expect
- How to prepare for the interview
- What documents to submit
- How to fill out the application
- How to pay the fees
- How to submit the application
- What happens after the application is submitted
- How to check the status of the application
- What to do if the application is denied
If you’re planning on getting married to a foreign national, you’ll need to apply for a marriage green card. Here’s everything you need to know about the process and what travel restrictions to expect.
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Applying for a marriage green card
If you are married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for a green card. The first step is to complete an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative form and submit it, along with supporting documentation, to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once your petition is approved, you will be notified and asked to complete additional forms as part of your application process.
You will also be required to attend an interview at a USCIS office, during which a determination will be made as to whether or not your marriage is legitimate. If your application is approved, you will be issued a green card and granted permanent residence status in the United States.
There are some travel restrictions that you should be aware of if you are in the process of applying for a marriage green card. First, you should not travel outside of the United States until you have been issued a green card. Second, if you leave the country while your application is pending, it may be considered abandoned and denied. Finally, if your application is denied, you may be barred from entering the United States for up to five years.
What travel restrictions to expect
If you are married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for a green card. This process is known as “adjustment of status.” Once your application is approved, you will be issued a green card and will be able to live and work in the United States indefinitely.
However, there are some travel restrictions that you should be aware of before applying for a marriage green card. First, you will need to obtain a travel document known as an “advance parole” before leaving the United States. Otherwise, your adjustment of status application will be considered abandoned and you will not be able to return to the United States.
Second, you should avoid traveling outside of the United States for more than six months at a time. If you do so, you may have to restart the entire adjustment of status process from scratch. Therefore, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney before making any travel plans.
thirdly , please keep in mind that even though your spouse is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, they cannot sponsor your parents or siblings for green cards through family-based immigration..
How to prepare for the interview
When you file for a marriage-based green card, you and your spouse will be scheduled for an interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer. The interview is conducted to verify the information on your application and to confirm that your marriage is bona fide—that is, that it’s not a sham marriage for immigration purposes. It’s important to remember that the burden of proof is on you to show that your marriage is real.
The USCIS officer will ask you and your spouse questions about each other and your relationship. He or she may also ask about your backgrounds, employment, financial circumstances, and other matters. The questions will be based on the information in your application, so it’s important to know what you put in it.
You’ll want to be prepared for the interview so that you can present yourselves as a credible couple. Here are some tips on how to prepare:
– Review your application—know what you wrote and be prepared to discuss it in detail. The USCIS officer will be looking for inconsistencies between what you’ve said in your application and what you say during the interview, so it’s important to be consistent.
– Be honest—if there are any negative factors in your relationship (such as a large age difference or different religious beliefs), be prepared to discuss them openly and honestly. The USCIS officer doesn’t expect every couple to be perfect, but he or she will be looking for evidence that you’re in a genuine relationship despite these differences.
– Bring documentation—the USCIS officer will probably ask to see evidence of your relationship, such as photos of the two of you together, joint bank statements or utility bills, leases or mortgage documents showing that you live together, birth certificates of any children you have together, etc. It’s a good idea to bring copies of these documents even if the officer doesn’t ask for them—it shows that you’re organized and prepared, and it gives the officer a chance to review the documents before moving on to other topics.
– Be respectful—the USCIS officer is just doing his or her job by asking personal questions about your relationship. It’s important to answer these questions truthfully but also respectfully. Avoid getting defensive or argumentative—it won’t help your case.
– Relax—try not to let the interview process stress you out too much. Remember that most couples who apply for a marriage-based green card are approved without any problems. Even if there are some negative factors in your relationship (such as a large age difference or different religious beliefs), as long as overall it appears to be a genuine marriage, you should be approved for a green card.
What documents to submit
When applying for a marriage green card, you and your spouse will need to submit a number of documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These include:
-A valid passport
-Proof of your identity
-Evidence of your relationship (e.g. wedding photos, joint bank account)
-A completed I-130 form
-A completed I-485 form
-An Affidavit of Support from your spouse
You may also be required to attend an interview at a USCIS office, during which you will be asked to provide even more evidence of your relationship. Once approved, you will be issued a green card valid for two years. You can then apply for permanent residency status after living together in the U.S. for two years.
How to fill out the application
The first step is to fill out the application. The application must be filled out completely and accurately. All questions must be answered truthfully. Failure to do so may result in delays or denial of your application.
Next, you will need to gather the required documents. These include:
-A copy of your passport
-A copy of your birth certificate
-A copy of your marriage certificate
-A copy of your spouse’s passport
-A copy of your spouse’s birth certificate
-Financial documentation (e.g., tax returns, pay stubs)
-Proof of health insurance coverage
Once you have gathered all the required documents, you will need to submit them to the USCIS along with the filing fee. You can submit your application online, by mail, or in person at a USCIS office. If you choose to submit your application online, you will need to create a user account and pay the filing fee with a credit or debit card. If you submit by mail, you will need to include a check or money order for the filing fee. You can also submit your application in person at a USCIS office, but you will need to make an appointment first.
After your application has been processed and approved, you will be issued a marriage green card. This card allows you to live and work in the United States permanently. You will also be able to travel freely in and out of the country.
How to pay the fees
There are a few fees that you will need to pay in order to apply for your marriage green card. The first is the filing fee for your I-130 petition, which is $535. You will also need to pay a biometrics fee of $85 and, if you are applying from outside the United States, an additional fee of $325 for the visa application. Finally, if you are applying for a waiver of the immigration fees, you will need to pay an additional $170.
How to submit the application
The first step is to submit the I-130 application, which is the basis for your petition. You will need to include proof of your relationship, as well as evidence that you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are not already married, you will need to include a copy of your marriage certificate.
Once the I-130 is approved, your spouse will be notified and can begin the next step in the process, which is to submit the I-485 application. This application is for those who want to adjust their status to permanent resident. You will need to provide evidence of your relationship, as well as proof that you meet all the requirements for permanent residence.
Once both applications have been approved, your spouse will be notified and can schedule an interview with a U.S. consulate or embassy. After the interview, your spouse will be issued a green card, which will allow them to live and work in the United States indefinitely.
What happens after the application is submitted
After you have submitted your application, you will receive a notice in the mail telling you the next steps in the process. You may be asked to attend an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy, or you may be asked to submit additional documentation. If your application is approved, you will be issued a green card and will be able to travel to the United States. There are no travel restrictions for green card holders but you will need to renew your green card every 10 years.
How to check the status of the application
The best way to check the status of your application is to call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. You will need your alien registration number, which is also called your A-number, and your date of birth.
What to do if the application is denied
If your application is denied, you may be able to reapply if you can show that the denial was due to a technical error. If you are reapplying, you will need to submit a new application along with a letter explaining the circumstances of the denial. You may also need to provide additional documentation, such as evidence of changed circumstances or updated information.