Can I marry someone from another country?

In a Nutshell

Green card holders and U.S. citizens are at liberty to marry non-U.S. citizens. Their foreign spouses can get a marriage green card and live with them in the United States. The application process looks different depending on where you and your future spouse live and your respective immigration statuses.

What do I need to marry someone from another country?

You will need to file Form I-130 and then Form DS-160 (also called the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application), followed by a medical exam and an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

What happens if you marry someone from another country?

Obtain resident status for your new spouse.

Once you're married, you can apply to change the foreign spouse's status to permanent resident status, which is commonly referred to as having a “green card.” A green card gives someone the ability to live and work in the United States permanently.

What happens if you marry someone from another country in the US?

Once you marry, your spouse can apply for permanent residence and remain in the United States while we process the application. If you choose this method, file a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at www. uscis.

What is the fastest way to marry a foreigner?

A k-1 visa is usually the fastest way to marry a foreigner. The process may take between 5 and 10 months. In this case, you can visit your partner's home country and process the application.

How A US Citizen Can Sponsor A Spouse Abroad

How long does it take for a U.S. citizen to marry a foreigner?

The current total wait time for a marriage-based green card averages about 18 months. This will vary depending on whether you are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder and where you currently live (additional backlogs may be applicable depending on your location).

How long does it take to get married to a foreigner if a U.S. citizen?

The K visa enables you to enter the United States to get married. The U.S. citizen fiancé or fiancée must file a petition with USCIS. Processing takes approximately four to six months, and includes an interview with the fiancé or fiancée who is abroad.

Does marrying a U.S. citizen make you a U.S. citizen?

First, let's get one important thing straight: Marriage to a U.S. citizen makes someone eligible for U.S. lawful permanent residence (a "green card"), not for U.S. citizenship.

Will someone become a U.S. citizen if I marry them?

The spouse of a U.S. citizen who resides in the United States may be eligible for naturalization on the basis of his or her marriage.

Does the US honor foreign marriages?

In general, marriages which are legally performed and valid abroad are also legally valid in the United States. Inquiries regarding the validity of a marriage abroad should be directed to the attorney general of the state in the United States where the parties to the marriage live.

Can an illegal immigrant get married to a U.S. citizen?

Yes, an illegal immigrant can get married to a U.S. citizen. Marriage between a U.S. citizen and an illegal immigrant is considered a “mixed-status” marriage, and it is possible for the couple to get married in the United States, even if the immigrant is in the country illegally.

How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen through marriage?

The government filing fees for applying for a marriage-based green card is $1760 for a spouse living in the United States or $1200 for a spouse living outside the United States. Note, this does not include the cost of the medical examination, which varies from roughly $200 to $500.

What are the rules to marry a foreigner in the US?

To get married in the U.S., you simply need the proper identification to apply for a marriage license in the county in which you are to be married. In most cases, you'll need to provide a valid passport. You may also need to prove that you are old enough to be legally married and that you are not already married.

Can I bring my boyfriend to be US without getting married?

There is nothing in the regulations that say individuals who are in the US as visitors cannot get married. In fact, you are even allowed to come to the US as a visitor with the sole intention of getting married.

How long does it take to get a marriage visa in the US?

Following the approval of I-130, the timeline for obtaining a CR1 or IR1 visa is approximately 4 to 6 months. If you're not married to a U.S. citizen, you may have to wait a while before a visa becomes available.

Do you automatically get a green card when you marry a U.S. citizen?

Requirements for the Beneficiary (Applicant Requirements) The beneficiary, or person who is applying to receive a green card, is generally automatically eligible to receive a green card once they are lawfully married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

What happens if you overstay your visa and get married?

Even in cases where you have overstayed your visa by 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or more, you are still able to file for a green card through marriage to a US citizen while remaining inside the United States. Your overstay will be forgiven.

What are the 5 requirements to become a U.S. citizen by marriage?

How long before an immigrant can legally work in US after marrying a citizen?

After submitting your marriage-based green card application, you'll receive your work permit — usually within around 150 days, though USCIS processing times are getting longer due to a backlog of applications.

Can you get in trouble for marrying an immigrant?

Immigration officials are extremely wary of this behavior, however, viewing it as an end-run around the immigration system. Marrying solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship is a federal crime, and both the non-citizen and the citizen can face serious penalties for entering into such an arrangement.

What marriages are not recognized in us?

Bigamous and Polygamous Marriages

A marriage is only recognized when it is consummated by two individuals. A 1962 case decided by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration Affairs deemed polygamous unions to violate federal laws irrespective of religious beliefs.

Can my wife stay in the US while waiting for green card?

It's possible to visit your spouse in the United States while your marriage-based green card application is pending. In order to do so, you would need to apply for a tourist visa. But before pursuing this option, it's important to understand the challenges and risks involved.

Can I marry someone online from another country?

Yes, you can! You can get married online to someone in almost any country. However, if your future spouse is a citizen of a different country, you'll need to check the legalities.

Can I sponsor my girlfriend to USA?

The fiancé(e) K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen. The K-1 visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival. You can learn more about fiancé(e) visas on usvisas.state.gov.