Metro West Boston Immigration Attorney: Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
United States immigration law favors keeping married couples together. When a noncitizen legitimately marries a U.S. citizen, these spouses are given priority in terms of obtaining their green card.
The paperwork and legal steps required for marriage to a U.S. citizen can be challenging for couples. Even a small mistake can lead to delay or denial of an applicant. It is much easier to work with a well-qualified immigration lawyer who can serve as a trusted advocate, guiding you through the process.
At Cashman & Lovely, located in Metro West Boston, your attorney will put together all documentation necessary for a successful marriage application, organizing that information properly and guiding you through the proper steps.
- Documentation: You will need to document that you are really living together as husband and wife. This may include producing written evidence that your lives are intertwined — like mutual health insurance, car insurance, joint bank accounts and bills. You may also be required to provide pictures of you as a couple — on your wedding day, for example.
- Requirements: There are certain requirements that the immigrant spouse must meet. USCIS (formerly known as INS) inquires into past criminal records, previous contacts with immigration, or previous deportation. These can all be reasons for denial of a green card. At Cashman & Lovely, we offer candid advice about the probable outcome of your green card application.
Fiancée Visas — When You Are Planning to Marry
The fiancée visa, also known as K-1 visa, is designed for those who want to come to the U.S. in order to get married for a particular individual. Those coming to the U.S. as fiancées are given 90 days to get married. Following marriage, a person may apply for permanent residence while in the United States or may return to his or her home country and apply for an immigrant visa.
The process of obtaining a fiancée visa is initiated by a U.S. citizen who files a petition on behalf of his or her fiancée with USCIS. One of the conditions of having a petition approved is that the parties personally met during the two-year period before filing the petition. After the petition is approved, the case will be forwarded to the consulate for processing of the fiancée visa.
Although the fiancée visa appears to offer a speedier process for obtaining permanent residence in the U.S., it also imposes various limitations on the amount of time one may remain in the U.S. as well as options to change to another nonimmigrant status or acquire permanent residence in the U.S.
Contact Cashman & Lovely
Over the years, lawyers at Cashman & Lovely have helped prepare and document a number of fiancée visas for couples. We have also assisted in a wide range of legal matters related to the immigration of U.S. citizen spouses to the United States.
To contact us regarding your legal needs, call 617-340-3467 to schedule a free consultation with attorney Dan Cashman.
