One of the ways you may become eligible for a green card is by getting married to a United States citizen. Here, you may first file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, to be legally admitted into the U.S. and enter a bona fide marriage with your petitioning fiancé within 90 days. Or, you may establish a marriage relationship by submitting Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. From here, you may proceed with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Being that this is a process with many critical steps, please read on to discover what you need to apply for a green card through marriage successfully and how one of the seasoned Lancaster, PA green card lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you execute this without any issues.

What evidence do I need to apply for a green card through marriage?

You must prove to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that you should be treated as the immediate relative of your U.S. citizen spouse for your green card application. And so, you may have to support your application with the following essential documents:

  • Your official legal marriage certificate with your U.S. citizen spouse.
  • Your previous court-issued divorce decrees or death certificates if you were previously married.
  • Your birth certificate with a certified translation if it is not in English.
  • Your proof of legal entry into the U.S. (i.e., your Arrival/Departure Record, visa stamps, etc).
  • Proof of your U.S. citizen spouse’s status (i.e., U.S. passport, birth certificate, etc).

What happens if I am accused of marriage fraud at this time?

Even though you may have an official marriage certificate, this may not be enough to establish that your marriage to your U.S. citizen spouse is genuine. Unfortunately, many individuals commit marriage fraud in an attempt to gain lawful immigration status in the U.S. And so, the USCIS truly cracks down on these cases.

To avoid being wrongfully accused of marriage fraud, you must try your best to establish that you and your spouse share a real life together. Further, it may not hurt to supply the additional pieces of evidence alongside your green card application:

  • Copies of your joint lease/mortgage agreements, utility bills, and other joint billing records.
  • Copies of your joint bank account statements, joint tax filings, and other joint financial documents.
  • Photos together starting from your wedding ceremony onward, with disclosed dates and descriptions.
  • Travel records of your joint vacations together (i.e., flight itineraries, hotel bookings, etc).
  • Documents of the children you share together (i.e., birth certificates, school records, etc).
  • Affidavits from family members who can attest to your genuine marriage and relationship.

If you still have lingering questions at this point in time, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of the competent Lancaster, PA family-based immigration lawyers. The team at Lupton Law LLC will certainly be the perfect fit for you.