If you have determined that you are eligible for an immigrant visa and green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, and you will be applying for it from overseas, this article will orient you to the application procedures, including:
Again, this article focuses on cases where the U.S. sponsor is a citizen, not a lawful permanent resident (green card holder).
When we say this article describes how to get a "marriage-based immigrant visa" through a U.S. citizen, we mean a visa that allows the foreigner to come from another country to the United States and immediately become a permanent resident (green card holder). This article does NOT discuss the procedure used by many would-be immigrants already living in the U.S. legally or after a legal entry, which is called "adjustment of status" (though the end result is the same, namely to receive a green card).
The information in this article might, however, apply to you if despite currently living in the United States, you are not eligible to use the adjustment of status procedure and will need to return home for an interview at the U.S. consulate in your country. (Just be careful about going this procedural route if you've been living in the United States illegally, and have therefore become inadmissible, as described in Consequences of Unlawful Presence in the U.S.—Three– and Ten-Year Time Bars.)
We're also assuming that you're already married, and not already in removal (deportation) proceedings in the United States. If you are in removal proceedings, and therefore will need to present your case before an immigration court judge, the process will be quite different, and you should hire an attorney to help.
The application process involves four major steps:
In rare instances, USCIS will ask the U.S. spouse to attend a "fraud interview" if it or the consulate has doubts about your marriage being the real thing. This could happen as part of Step One or after Step Three.
This entire process usually takes 12 months or more. Although this is a frustratingly long time, there is almost nothing you can do to speed it up or create shortcuts, other than carefully following the U.S. government's instructions and double checking everything you submit, so as not to cause extra delays.
Don't make the mistake that some couples do and use a tourist visa or a visa waiver (VWP) to enter the United States in order to apply for the green card. First off, you might be denied entry at the border or airport if it's discovered that you real intention in entering is not merely to be a tourist, but to apply for permanent residence. Second, even if you succeed in entering and submitting your "adjustment of status" application to USCIS, the agency might ask questions and decide that you committed visa fraud, thus disqualifying you for the green card.
For personalized assistance with applying for lawful permanent residence based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or green card holder, consult an experienced attorney. The attorney can evaluate your personal circumstances, spot any trouble areas, strategize the fastest application procedure, prepare the paperwork and make sure you've gathered all the appropriate documents, write cover letters that explain what you're submitting and make any necessary legal arguments, and monitor your case to a successful conclusion.
Need a lawyer? Start here.