If you are married to a United States citizen, a marriage visa, also known as an Immigrant Visa for Spouse of a U.S. Citizen, can allow you to obtain legal permanent resident status in the United States. A Palm Bay marriage visa lawyer could help you navigate the complex process of securing the status you need. Working with an experienced family immigration attorney could ensure you follow all necessary protocols and meet all requirements to obtain your visa.
A marriage visa has several key components.
To apply for a marriage visa as an immediate relative, an applicant must have a spouse who is a United States citizen. The U.S. citizen spouse will submit the initial application for their partner’s visa and agree to sponsor them when they enter the United States. In addition to showing proof of their relationship and a bona fide marriage, the sponsoring spouse must provide financial proof that they can support their partner as they enter the United States.
IR-1 visas are intended for spouses who, at the time a green card is approved, have been married for two or more years. CR-1 visas, on the other hand, are issued to spouses of United States citizens who have been married for less than two years at the time a green card is approved.
CR-1 visas grant conditional permanent resident status for two years. The spouses are required to petition to remove conditions 90 days before the expiration date on the green card. The petition will be reviewed to determine whether the marriage remains bona fide. If it is determined that a bona fide marriage still exists, the immigrant spouse will be granted a permanent green card valid for 10 years. Those who have been granted CR-1 status must ensure that they complete this process, or they risk losing status altogether.
The spouse who is a U.S. citizen will start by filing a petition, Form I-130, with USCIS. This will initiate an affirmative request for immigration benefits. Working with a Palm Bay marriage visa attorney could help both the sponsoring spouse and the prospective immigrant ensure they have all necessary information and documentation, streamlining the immigration process and making it easier to obtain resident status.
Marriage visas are often faster than other methods of obtaining legal permanent resident status and may have shorter waiting times than other visa types. However, immigrants intending to use an IR-1 or CR-1 visa to enter the United States should still expect considerable wait times. Thus, it is important to ensure that you have professional guidance throughout this complicated process.
The United States allows individuals who are engaged but not yet married to U.S. citizens to enter the United States on a K-1 visa. This visa allows them 90 days to get married, and in many cases, can allow prospective citizens to streamline the application process and get their nonresident partner into the country sooner. However, a K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and does not automatically provide benefits like the right to work. The foreign spouse must get married within the allotted period upon entering the United States and must adjust their status to gain benefits. A marriage visa lawyer in Palm Bay could help interested immigrants and their partners choose the best solution for their needs.
If you intend to immigrate to the United States via a marriage visa or have a spouse who intends to use this method to become a legal permanent resident, consider working with a Palm Bay marriage visa lawyer. An attorney could help you choose the best immigration process for your family’s needs. Contact Jag Law, PLLC today to receive dedicated support.
