How to Marry a U.S. Citizen

Congratulations on finding love and deciding to get married!

Now, because your loved one is a U.S. citizen, you’re probably wondering how to come live with them in the United States, and how the process works. Although at first the process will seem complicated and unfamiliar, because you are marrying or have married a U.S. citizen, you are not subject to the long wait times associated with other family visa categories, such as siblings.

However, as with all U.S immigration, sponsorship is required. In your case, your sponsor will be your U.S. spouse, who will need to apply for you to come and live with them in the United States. You will both need to follow a series of steps in order for you to apply and receive a green card.

In this guide, we will be looking at:

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To come and live in the United States permanently, you will need to apply for a marriage-based green card.

A marriage green card allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen or green card holder to live and work anywhere in the United States. A green card holder will then have “permanent resident” status until they apply for U.S. citizenship, if they choose to do so.

To receive a green card, you must either be sponsored by a family member — in this case, your spouse — or an employer. There are usually caps or wait times associated with almost all green cards because of the high demand, but good news for you: no wait times or caps apply to marriage green cards! This means that you can apply for a green card immediately when you marry your U.S. citizen spouse.

However, just because there are no wait times or caps does not mean the process will be smooth or quick. It can take months, sometimes years, for the whole process to be complete from start to finish, especially if your case is complex or you have children.

Also, you still require sponsorship from your spouse. They will need to prove they pay their taxes and have sufficient income to support you, or have a sponsor that is willing to instead. This is called an Affidavit of Support and is a legal contract stating that the sponsor will support you if you cannot find income or employment in the United States.

If all of this sounds complicated and daunting, don’t worry! With Boundless, you get an independent immigration attorney who can answer all legal questions related to your application. Boundless also makes the whole application process easy by turning all the government requirements into simple questions you can answer online — on your own time. Learn more about how we help you complete all the required forms, or check your eligibility for a marriage-based green card.

For most couples, deciding where to get married can be challenging. Add in a foreign spouse and U.S. immigration laws, and the task becomes even harder.

If you decide to get married in the United States, you will be eligible to apply for Adjustment of Status (AOS). This is an internal process whereby you can stay with your spouse in the United States and possibly eventually work while your case is processed.

Importantly, you must be mindful of what visa you are on in the United States and the “90-day rule”. The rule is a USCIS guideline used to determine whether green card applicants applying from within the United States misled officials on their initial visa application to come to the United States. It generally means you cannot apply for AOS within the first 90 days of your stay in the United States and if you do, your case will most likely be denied.

If you decide to get married abroad, you will have to go through Consular Processing (CP). When you apply via consular processing, you remain in your country while waiting for your green card application to process.

Importantly, U.S. authorities only recognize civil marriages registered with the authorities of the country in which the marriage was celebrated. So, be sure to check that your marriage will be valid for U.S. immigration purposes.

Boundless makes it easy to complete your green card application. With our online tool, all the required forms for your situation become simple questions you can answer in a short amount of time — typically under two hours. Learn more, or get started now!

If you are already on a temporary visa in the U.S., you will need to apply for a green card via the Adjustment of Status process. Before applying, you’ll first need to get married.

When applying for a green card, you will need to file two forms: Form I-130 (“Petition for Alien Relative”) and Form I-485 (“Application for Adjustment of Status”).

You will also need to attend a an appointment to have your fingerprints taken and attend an interview. The goal of the interview is for the government to make sure your relationship is genuine.

There are no wait times or caps associated with spouses of U.S. citizens — unlike those of green card holders — and importantly, if you legally entered the United States but fell out of status, you can have it forgiven during the adjustment of status process.

Boundless can help you respond to government questions and prepare for your green card interview. Learn more about what Boundless does, or start your application now.

If you live outside the U.S., you have the following options:

1. Get married outside the U.S. and then apply for a green card via consular processing. You will need to file Form I-130 and then Form DS-160 (“Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application”), and also attend a medical exam and an interview at a U.S. Embassy or consulate.

Although this can sometimes be a long process, this option does lead to a green card as soon as you arrive in the United States. So you can begin living and working here immediately!

2. Have your fiancé enter the U.S. on a K1 visa, which permits you to marry in the United States and then apply for a green card.

Boundless takes all the required government forms and turns them into simple questions you can answer online. Ready to start?

U.S. authorities only recognize civil marriages for immigration purposes, in which a marriage certificate has been issued by recognized authorities at a local or national level.

USCIS will not recognize (even if valid in the place it was celebrated): polygamous relationships; underage marriages; civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other such relationships not recognized as marriages in the place of celebration; proxy marriages where one person was not present during the ceremony; and relationships entered into for purely immigration reasons.

Remember that same-sex marriages are recognized by USCIS but must be documented by a marriage certificate from a country in which they are legal. This is because USCIS says the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated determines whether the marriage is legally valid for immigration purposes.

Finally, marriage fraud or the intent to fraudulently immigrate to the United States through marriage is taken very seriously by USCIS. They may require marriage bona fides — proof that your marriage is formed from a genuine relationship — either as part of your application or for your interview.

You may also face further requests for evidence or questioning during your interview if the officer believes your may not have a genuine marriage.

Boundless stays with you until the finish line, helping you keep on top of interview preparation, follow-on forms, and every other important milestone along the way. Get started today!