Irvine Marriage Green Card Attorney
Let Us Help You Obtain a Green Card Through Marriage in Orange County
If you and your spouse plan on living your life in the United States, but one of you is a foreign national, you would need to apply for a marriage visa. If your spouse is a permanent resident or a United States citizen, your spouse will need to file an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative on your behalf. This petition will typically include evidence of a bona fide marriage relating to your relationship. It will also include but is not limited to other important documents such as your marriage certificate and evidence of your spouse’s status as a permanent resident or U.S. citizen.
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Contact our green card lawyers online or call (949) 478-4963. We serve clients throughout Orange County. Our services are available in English, Farsi, Mandarin, and Spanish.
How to Get a Marriage-Based Visa: Petition or Adjustment of Status
To obtain a green card through marriage, you can go about it in one of two ways. Your spouse may petition for you or you may apply for adjustment of status even if you are out of status.
If your spouse is a permanent resident, your spouse will file a petition for you, with evidence relating to your relationship--including but not limited to important documents such as your marriage certificate. Once your priority date becomes current based on the visa bulletin, you can apply for adjustment of status if you are in the U.S. or a green card via consular processing if you are out of the country. If you are in the U.S., you must be lawfully present, meaning, your visa must be in-status, and not expired (unless you qualify for the 245(i) exception). If you do live abroad, your green card will be issued by your local US embassy or consulate.
If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you may apply for adjustment of status even if you are out of status. If you have previously been lawfully admitted to the country, you will be eligible for adjustment of status. To become finalized as a U.S. citizen, you must remain married and wait three years after obtaining your green card. If you and your partner divorce, you must wait five years. There are certain visas, however, that do not qualify for adjustment of status, such as a C-1/D visa (crewman), or a J visa with a home residency requirement.
Immigration is now harder in the current political climate, so green card interviews will be conducted with great detail. These are to be taken seriously, as they can severely impact your status as a future citizen. It is essential you remain honest no matter the circumstances, as you will be asked a number of extremely personal questions regarding your marriage.
How to Get a Green Card through Family
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may petition for certain family members to help them obtain their green card.
You may petition for:
- Your spouse
- Your unmarried children (under 21)
- Your unmarried son or daughter of any age
The process is similar to obtaining a marriage-based visa. Below is the application process:
- File Form I-130.
- Provide proof that you are a permanent resident or citizen.
- Submit evidence of your relationship, such as a birth certificate (see instructions on the I-130)
- Submit proof of any legal name changes of you or your family member, if applicable.
In addition, if you or a member of your family is in the U.S. military, special conditions may apply. Reach out to a green card attorney in Orange County for guidance.
Seeking to obtain a green card through marriage? Call Yekrangi & Associates at (949) 478-4963 today.
Which Is Better - Consulate Processing or Adjustment of Status?
There are a variety of factors to consider. Generally, adjustment of status within the United States gives you the privilege of obtaining a permanent residency while you are in the United States. The process takes approximately nine months and allows you and your spouse to remain together until your USCIS adjustment of status interview.
Other factors, such as personal factors, including employment and obligations abroad, may make consular processing more appropriate. In other circumstances, you may have no choice but to obtain your permanent residency through consular processing. Discuss this with your immigration attorney.
What If I Entered the United States "Without Inspection (EWI)"?
Entering the United States "without inspection", commonly referred to as "EWI", generally means that you cannot adjust your status in the United States. However, some important exceptions to apply, and these should be investigated by your immigration attorney.
Factors to consider are:
- 1) How old you were when you entered the United States;
- 2) whether you were "waived" into the country;
- 3) whether a family member filed an immigration petition for you prior to April of 2001 (making you eligible for the 245(i) exception), or whether an immediate relative is, or was, in the military. This issue can be incredibly complex and should be discussed with an experienced immigration lawyer.
Finally, if you find the none of the exceptions apply to you for adjustment of status in the United States based on the manner in which you entered the United States, you should consider filing a 601-A waiver. Countless immigrants who entered the United States without inspection are granted 601-A waivers.
How to Renew an Expired Green Card Based On Marriage
USCIS recommends renewing your green card 6 months before it is set to expire. If you are a permanent resident with an expired or expiring green card, follow these steps:
- Submit Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (you can file online or submit through the mail)
- Provide all necessary documentation
- Pay any necessary application fees
If your green card expires after two years, then you are a conditional resident and must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Marriage-Based Green Card?
Processing times vary based on factors such as the applicant’s location and the workload of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If the petitioning spouse is a U.S. citizen, the process typically takes 12 to 18 months. If the petitioner is a green card holder, it may take longer due to visa availability. Delays can occur due to background checks, missing documents, or USCIS processing backlogs.
What is the Difference Between a Conditional and a Permanent Green Card?
If the couple has been married for less than two years at the time of green card approval, the foreign spouse receives a conditional green card valid for two years. To remove the conditions and obtain a permanent 10-year green card, the couple must jointly file Form I-751 within 90 days before the expiration date, providing evidence that the marriage is still genuine. If the marriage ends before conditions are removed, the applicant may still apply with a waiver, proving the marriage was entered in good faith.
Can a Spouse Work While Waiting for a Marriage-Based Green Card?
If the foreign spouse applies for a green card while in the U.S., they can file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) along with Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status). If approved, they receive a work permit (Employment Authorization Document or EAD) allowing them to work legally while waiting for the green card. However, spouses applying from outside the U.S. must wait until they enter the country as a permanent resident before working.
Contact Our Green Card Lawyers in Orange County. Call (949) 478-4963.
If you or a loved one want to obtain a marriage visa, you will need the help of a skilled and knowledgeable Orange County immigration lawyer. Every fact matters in immigration cases, even facts you think you are not important. An immigration attorney will help pinpoint these facts and guide you in the right direction for the smoothest transition to permanent residency.
Our team at Yekrangi & Associates is dedicated to helping keep families together because we have a unique immigration perspective. Attorney Yekrangi’s personal passion behind helping immigrants is an asset to all clients he serves. Don’t take on this situation on your own--let us help you acquire the results you deserve.
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"They were very professional and helpful during my journey of becoming an American."I am so graceful and highly recommend Mr. Yekrangi to anyone who needs a legal advice.- Jose L.
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