USA Marriage Based Green Cards

US Citizens and US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) living in the United States have the ability to petition USCIS for the admittance of their spouse as a US Permanent Resident at any time. While the length of time required to obtain an approval may very depending upon the circumstances surrounding each individual application, US Green Cards issued on the basis of Marriage can sometimes be obtained in as little as 6 months.

Collating all the necessary information to apply for this type of US visa can be a complicated and lengthy process, which is why Global Visas is here to help. Click on the above link to atart your free visa assessment to find out your best option for US immigration.

Benefits

If you are comparing US visas, the primary benefit of filing an immigrant relative petition based upon marriage to a US citizen over filing a K-3 petition is that, if approved, the foreign spouse enters the US as lawful permanent resident or green card holder.  As a result, holders of US Green Cards will be able to immediately begin working in the US upon arrival, without first obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and they will already have completed the Green Card registration process.

Obtaining a US Green Card prior to immigrating to the USA also brings the prospect of obtaining US Citizenship one step closer than it is for individuals who choose to pursue other marriage visas.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to sponsor a foreign spouse for a US Green Card, petitioners must either be US Citizens or US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders). In addition, petitioners must be able to meet the following requirements:

• Parties must be legally married and able to produce a valid Marriage Certificate. Unmarried cohabitation is not included in this category and unmarried partners may not sponsor USA visas.
• The sponsoring party must be over 18 years of age in order to sign an affidavit or support.
• In addition, a selection of documentation will be required including the applicant's passport, medical examinations and police clearances, proof of the petitioner's (sponsor's) citizenship, marriage certificate and where applicable documentary evidence of the termination of any previous marriages.

Dependent Immigration

Dependants under the age of 21 can be included on US Green Card applications provided that they are supported 100% by the primary beneficiary of the application. In cases involving joint custody, legal documentation must be provided to ensure  all parties with a responsibility for a child's well-being are aware of the intent to pursue permanent residency in the United States. Find out further information on our Immediate Relative Green Cards page.