Marriage is One of the Fastest Ways to Get a Green Card
There are several ways to get a green card – all of which require a sponsor. The most common ways are through an employer or a family member. Employment-based sponsorship is an arduous process, requiring a company to demonstrate that it could not find any available U.S. workers to fill a certain position.
Family-based sponsorship can be divided into a few categories, including sponsorship by a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Being sponsored by a U.S. citizen sibling can take over a decade. Being sponsored by a U.S. citizen parent can also take several years if the child is over 21. All of these can be further delayed based on your country of birth and your Priority Date.
Marriage to a U.S. citizen provides one of the fastest ways to get a green card. There are no backlogs, no priority dates, and your country of birth does not matter. A green card is immediately available to you so long as you are legally married to an American citizen.
There are two ways in which one can apply for a green card through marriage.
Adjustment of Status
If the foreign spouse is currently in the United States in non-immigrant status, such a work visa, student visa, or as a temporary visitor, they can apply to adjust their status while remaining in the U.S. throughout the adjudication of the application.
Consular Processing
If the foreign spouse is currently residing outside of the United States, they would process their application through the U.S. consulate in their country of residency. The consulate will eventually schedule an interview at which time the foreign spouse would attend and, if approved, be issued an Immigrant Visa to enter the U.S. as a resident.
If you are married to an American citizen and you are looking to move to the United States, contact our offices to learn more about your green card options.