Overview of Marriage-Based Green Cards
Overview of Marriage-Based Green Cards
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Obtaining Permanent Residency (Green Card) Through Marriage
Here's an overview of the process to get permanent residence through marriage to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.
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How to Get Citizenship After Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
Summary of rules on obtaining a U.S. green card - and naturalized citizenship - based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
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Filing an Immigration Petition (I-130) for a Foreign Spouse
An overview of the process, and some tips on the form to petition for your foreign spouse to immigrate to the U.S.
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How to Adjust Status (to Permanent Resident) After Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
An overview on eligibility for a green card after marriage, necessary forms, documents, how to survive the interview, and much more.
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What Happens at the Green Card Marriage Interview?
Learn about the questions the immigration interviewer may ask in order to test the validity of a marriage.
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Marriage Just for a Green Card? Legal and Procedural Problems
Here's what really happens when well-meaning friends offer to marry someone for immigration purposes.
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What If Your Spouse's Immigrant Visa (Green Card) Is Denied?
What can you do if you husband or wife is denied a green card based on your marriage?
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U.S. Citizen Marrying a Foreigner or Immigrant - FAQs
As a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you're free to marry a foreign national or non-citizen immigrant - but you'll need to consider immigration laws to move your new spouse to the U.S. permanently.
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Adjusting Status From F-1 Visa After Marrying a U.S. Citizen
If you've come to the U.S. on a student visa, but then married a U.S. citizen, you can get a green card (permanent residency) through the adjustment of status process.
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Can You Get a Green Card By Common-Law Marriage?
When common law marriages may be used as a basis for an application for U.S. lawful permanent residence.
Proving Your Marriage for Immigration Purposes
Proving Your Marriage for Immigration Purposes
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Proving a "Bona Fide" Marriage for U.S. Immigration Purposes
Start planning now to prove that your marriage is the real thing, by gathering documents and preparing for your marriage interview.
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Defining a Legally Valid Marriage Under U.S. Immigration Law
Make sure your marriage meets the requirements to obtain a green card for the immigrant.
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Penalties for Immigration Related Marriage Fraud
Learn about the legal consequences for both the immigrant and U.S. citizen or permanent resident engaging in marriage fraud for immigration purposes.
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Mistakes That Threaten a Marriage-Based Visa or Green Card
Here are five common errors that can lead to problems getting a visa or green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.
Impact of Divorce or Separation on Your Green Card
Impact of Divorce or Separation on Your Green Card
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Can a Permanent Resident Lose Their Green Card After Divorce?
Learn about the circumstances under which divorce can lead to revocation of permanent residence, and even removal from the U.S.
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Divorce Issues for a U.S. Immigrant or Permanent Resident
The effects of divorce on a marriage based green card application, at every phase in the process.
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How an Annulment Will Affect the Marriage-Based Green Card Process
Depending on where you are in the application process to become a legal permanent resident based on marriage, an annulment of that marriage may present some complications.
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Legal Separation and Your Marriage-Based Green Card
An overview of the laws on how and when the immigrant may retain permanent resident status even after a legal separation.
FAQs About Marriage-Based Green Cards
FAQs About Marriage-Based Green Cards
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Can an Undocumented Immigrant Get a Green Card Through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen or Resident?
Undocumented (illegal) immigrants can get permanent residency through marriage, but it's not a simple process, and might actual be impossible, due to penalties for both illegal entry and overstaying.
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Can an Undocumented Immigrant Marry a U.S. Citizen?
There's no law preventing an undocumented (illegal) immigrant from marrying a U.S. citizen, but getting a green card (permanent residence) is not quite so simple.
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Should I Get Married Abroad or Bring My Foreign Fiance To The U.S.?
If you're a U.S. citizen, you have various application options for getting a green card (permanent resident status) for your soon-to-be spouse.
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Can You Get Married on a U.S. Visitor Visa?
Learn about the limited situations where it's acceptable to get married while in the U.S. on a tourist visa, and recommendations for alternatives.
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Immigration Based on Marriage to a U.S. Citizen vs. a Green Card Holder
Immigrants can obtain permanent resident status through marriage to either a U.S. citizen or green card holder, but the rules are a little different in each case.
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Can a Green Card Holder Get an Immigrant Visa for a Spouse?
As a permanent resident, you can petition for your spouse to get a U.S. visa - and ultimately a green card - but it's much easier and faster if you become a U.S. citizen first.
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Do Canadians Need a K-1 Visa to Enter the U.S. & Marry a U.S. Citizen?
Canadian citizens typically enjoy easy entry into the United States, but to enter and marry a U.S. citizen, the K-1 visa process still applies.
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Will My Visa Overstay Be Waived If I Marry a U.S. Citizen?
How legal entry plus relationship to a U.S. citizen helps cure visa overstay and unlawful presence problems.
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Proxy Marriage Validity Under U.S. Immigration Law
How will a proxy wedding, where one spouse is not present, affect an immigrant spouse's ability to get a green card?
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Will Marriage to a U.S. Citizen "Waive" Your Unlawful Stay?
There are two ways that an immigrant married to a U.S. citizen can potentially avoid the problem of inadmissibility based on unlawful presence.
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Immigration Considerations When Getting Married Overseas
If you're a U.S. citizen or green card holder getting married abroad to a foreign person, consider these immigration issues to help smooth the process.
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Can You Marry a U.S. Citizen While on a J-1 Visa and Get a Green Card?
As a J-1 visa holder, you are free to marry a U.S. citizen, but you may have to return to your country of residence before you can qualify for permanent residence.