A marriage green card lawyer assists couples in documenting bona fide marriage and preparing strong USCIS filings to minimize errors, delays or denials.
Whether your spouse lives in the United States or abroad, the marriage-based immigration process allows a spouse to seek lawful permanent resident status in the United States. However, the process involves multiple steps and requires careful documentation and strategic planning.
Marriage-based immigration cases often involve strict deadlines and detailed documentation requirements. As a result, working with an experienced marriage immigration attorney can help families avoid unnecessary delays. Haranlaw guides clients through each stage of the process nationwide.
Adjustment of Status through Marriage
If your spouse is already in the United States, Haranlaw can prepare and file Form I-130 and Form I-485, along with the applications for work authorization and travel authorization. Attorney Haran personally guides clients in gathering relationship evidence, carefully prepares each filing to reduce the risk of requests for evidence (RFE) and represents clients at the marriage-based interviews.
Consular processing (greencard from outside U.S.)
If your spouse is already in the United States, Haranlaw can prepare and file Form I-130 and Form I-485 together, along with applications for work authorization and advance parole. Attorney Haran would personally guide you in gathering the relationship evidence and carefully prepare your filing to avoid requests for evidence (RFE) and represent you for the marriage based interview.
Marriage-Based Cases After Entry on a Visa
Whether a family's situation involves overstay, change of status, or complex travel history, Haranlaw offers strategic and compliant representation and serves clients nationwide. In many cases, adjustment of status allows spouses to apply for permanent residence without leaving the United States.
Additionally, spouses of citizens, permanent residents, and non-immigrant visa holders may be eligible to join or accompany their U.S.-based spouse so they can live together. Importantly, U.S. immigration law recognizes same-sex marriages for immigration purposes, and same-sex spouses may lawfully seek immigration benefits.
Marriage Bonafides
A married couple may qualify for permanent residence only upon proving that the marriage is genuine and entered in good faith and not for the purposes of obtaining permanent residence.
U.S. immigration law requires applicants to prove that their marriage is genuine through credible, consistent and well-documented evidence.
Every marriage-based case is closely reviewed by USCIS. As part of it scrutiny, immigration officers regularly interview the married couple and assess authenticity of their relationship.
An insufficiently documented or poorly organized file may raise the concerns of fraud or misrepresentation and result in an adverse finding. Officers make this determination based on their assessment during this marriage interview. As a result, marriage-based green card applications must be carefully prepared and well-documented.
When concerns of fraud or misrepresentation arise, the U.S. immigration agency applies higher scrutiny meaning officers closely review the evidence of marriage, which may result in denial. USCIS often considers lack of evidence of marriage bona fides as indicator of fraud in marriage. While many denials are based on alleged marriage fraud or misrepresentation, depending upon the facts of the case, these denials may be challenged and reversal is possible.
Permanent residence status based on marriage within two years is approved for two years. A foreign national spouse and any child who immigrates while the parents are married for less than two years, get a conditional green card, and in the last ninety days of green card expiry, they must apply for removal of conditions. The foreign national can have a green card with ten-year validity period upon approval of Form I-751 removal of conditions. Read more...
Divorce, separation, death of the citizen's spouse and, to some extent abuse by such petitioner, present complex issues. While the surviving spouse can seek reinstatement of pending or approved petitions filed by her deceased spouse, in case of divorce or legal separation, it would be nice to coordinate the work between the family lawyers and immigration lawyers.