I Just Got Married – How do I Get a Green Card for My Spouse?

Getting married is a huge personal step in your life, and one that often confers significant benefits to you and your spouse. If you’ve married a non-citizen, one of these benefits is that your spouse is now eligible for a “Green Card,” or permanent resident status. Once your spouse has a Green Card, he or she can stay in the U.S. indefinitely, is allowed to work, and is a significant step closer to obtaining his or her U.S. citizenship.

So how does one go about getting a Green Card for theirspouse? First, you must submit the proper forms with the U.S. Citizenship andImmigration Services (USCIS). The forms you must submit depends on a variety offactors, including whether you are a U.S. citizen or yourself are a Green Cardholder, whether your spouse in inside or outside of the United States. Theseforms will all require the submission of supporting documentation, such as acopy of your marriage certificate, documents demonstrating the termination ofprevious marriages, and documents supporting your citizenship or permanentresident status.

Next, you will need to attend an interview in which animmigration officer will attempt to determine whether your marriage is genuine.This is a vital part of the process, and a spouse found to be in a “fraudulent”marriage will not receive a Green Card. In fact, attempting to deceive theUSCIS may result in a permanent bar of entry into the United States.

Finally, if you were married for less than two years whenyour spouse was granted permanent resident status, his or her status will be“conditional.” To remove conditional status, you and your spouse mustapply together within 90 days before the expiration date on the conditionalresidence card. Failure to do so can result in the termination of yournoncitizen spouse’s resident status and removal from the United States.

Call Brudner Law Today to Speak with an Orange County Immigration Lawyer

If you have gotten married to a noncitizen and would them to obtain their Green Card, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. Attorney Yael Brudner is an experienced immigration attorney and is committed to helping families navigate the often complex landscape of U.S. immigration law. To schedule a consultation with Ms. Brudner, call our office today or contact us online.