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My spouse is abroad and we’re applying for a marriage green card using consular processing. Who needs to sign the application?


Independent attorneys in the Boundless network answer common U.S. immigration questions

Aug 18, 2021


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My spouse is abroad and we are applying for a marriage green card using consular processing. Who needs to sign the application?

If both partners live in the United States, the sponsoring spouse must sign Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and the spouse seeking a green card must sign Form I-130A (Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary). Neither is required to be a wet signature, though it is strongly recommended. If the spouse seeking a green card lives outside the United States, they do not need to sign Form I-130A, but the sponsor still must sign Form I-130. Please note that in all cases, USCIS reserves the right to request the original document with the wet signature at any time.

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If both partners live in the United States, the sponsoring spouse must sign Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and the spouse seeking a green card must sign Form I-130A (Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary). The signatures do not have to be wet, but it’s strongly recommended that they are to lower the chance of rejection. Please note that in all cases, USCIS reserves the right to request the original document with the wet signature at any time.


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