The Right to Speed Family Members of Immigrants to Veterans Disable
It'south non uncommon to find love while deployed or stationed abroad. Just once you've met and married your true love, how volition you bring your new spouse to the United states in order to commencement a life together?
The answer is a wedlock greenish bill of fare. A dark-green carte would permit your non-American spouse to alive and work anywhere in the The states while providing a path toward U.Southward. citizenship afterward iii–5 years.
Before yous start the awarding process, you lot'll need to know some nuts. This guide will walk you lot through the steps and help yous determine if you qualify. Read on to learn everything you need to know about green cards for military spouses.
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Step 1: Check your eligibility
Congratulations on your spousal relationship! The starting time pace toward a wedlock green card is to brand sure y'all qualify for one. Couples generally must meet a number of requirements, such equally proving the authenticity of their union, earning at to the lowest degree 100% of the poverty guidelines for your household size.
USCIS Armed forces Spouse Green Carte du jour Requirements
For sponsoring spouses on active duty:
- Be a U.S. denizen or green bill of fare holder (permanent resident)
- Earn at to the lowest degree 100% of the poverty guidelines for your household size
- Take financial responsibility for your spouse
- Not have previously committed certain types of crimes
For spouses seeking a green card:
- Evidence your identity, nationality, and current U.S. immigration status, if any
- Not take previously committed certain types of crimes or immigration violations (or seek a waiver)
For both spouses:
- Demonstrate marriage actuality
- Prove termination of previous marriage(s)
- Submit supporting documentation (including military service records)
Step 2: Apply for your light-green bill of fare
Before starting the paperwork, it's important to understand which process to follow. The right process — some couples can choose — depends on:
- Whether the sponsoring armed forces spouse is a U.S. citizen or green card holder
- Whether the spouse seeking a green card lives in or outside the United States.
Your situation determines which forms to consummate, how much you'll pay, and how long yous'll expect.
What'south the right process?
- When both spouses live in the United States: You'll file an "Aligning of Condition." The spouse seeking a light-green bill of fare won't need to get out the United States. This is true for spouses of green bill of fare holders every bit long as they maintain a valid educatee or work visa while waiting for approval. But spouses of U.South. citizens need non maintain a valid immigration condition while waiting. They can too file all required forms at the same time, a process chosen "concurrent filing."
- When the spouse seeking a green card lives away: You lot'll go through "Consular Processing." The spouse seeking a green carte du jour must utilize through a U.Southward. consulate or diplomatic mission.
- When both spouses alive away: You can complete the first step through an international U.Southward. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office — if bachelor in your current country — to speed up the process. This is only an option until all international USCIS offices close by October 2019. Alternatively, you can file with a U.S. consulate or embassy.
How do yous become a dark-green card for a military spouse?
Getting a military machine spouse dark-green carte is a four-step procedure:
- Establish marriage validity.
- Apply for the greenish card (from within the United States or from abroad) and bear witness the sponsoring spouse'due south ability to financially support their spouse.
- Attend an interview.
- Wait for blessing.
How long is the procedure?
Depending on the process y'all'll follow, you lot can look to look 10–38 months, non including possible delays. The procedure generally takes longer for spouses of green card holders — who must wait for a "visa number" earlier applying — than for spouses of U.South. citizens.
How much does the armed services spouse dark-green card cost?
You'll pay $1,200–$1,760 in government fees, depending on where the spouse seeking a light-green bill of fare lives. A required medical exam volition cost an additional $100–$500.
Step 3: Attend your interview
The U.S. government conducts an in-person interview to evaluate the authenticity of your marriage. If it's legitimate, you shouldn't worry.
Where'southward the interview?
- If applying from inside the U.s.: Y'all'll become to a local USCIS office. Both spouses attend unless the sponsoring military machine spouse is deployed, in which case their spouse (attending alone) should bring bear witness of the overseas armed services consignment — a photocopy of the official orders or letter from the commanding officeholder — to the interview.
- If applying from abroad: Yous'll go to a U.S. consulate. In virtually cases, but the spouse seeking a green menu will attend.
Step 4: Wait for approval
The physical green card arrives 2–3 weeks after final approval (if applying from inside the United States) or after arriving in the United States (if from abroad).
But not all dark-green cards are created equal:
- If you've been married less than two years: You'll receive a "conditional" (CR1) green carte du jour that expires in 2 years. At that fourth dimension, both spouses will need to apply to "remove conditions" and attend a second interview with USCIS to re-authenticate the matrimony.
- If you've been married at least 2 years: You'll receive a "permanent" green card valid for ten years. Renewing is usually a simple procedure and doesn't crave proving the authenticity of your marriage a second time.
What'southward adjacent?
Congratulations on your green card! In 3–5 years, you tin use for U.South. citizenship. You'll qualify for expedited or overseas naturalization if you come across certain requirements and if the sponsoring spouse is stationed away.
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Source: https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/marriage-green-card-military-spouse/