The Fundamentals
If you should be a U.S. Resident hitched to an international national that is residing abroad, this guide is for both of you—we’ll go detail by detail through the entire process of getting the wedding green card. This kind of green card application procedure can be commonly called “Consular Processing. ”
All explained in plain language if your circumstances are different, take a look at our other Start-to-Finish guides, as well as our general overview of the marriage green card process.
Approximated time: 11-17 months to have card that is greenmore information on timing)
Maybe perhaps maybe Not certain that you be eligible for a marriage-based green card? You foriegn bride should check your eligibility through Boundless without supplying any individual or information that is financial. Whenever you’re willing to use, Boundless can show you through every milestone associated with the marriage-based green card procedure, beginning with your kind I-130 most of the option to the conclusion line. Today learn more, or get started.
Maybe perhaps perhaps Not certain that you be eligible for a a marriage-based card that is green? Start with checking your eligibility.
Step 1: Sponsorship
The first faltering step in the marriage-based green card procedure is filing Form I-130 (technically called the “ Petition for Alien Relative”) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that is area of the U.S. Department of Homeland safety. The principal reason for this type is always to establish the presence of a marriage that is valid.
The spouse filing this I-130 kind is named the “sponsor” or “petitioner. ” Here is the spouse that is the U.S. That is current citizen. The spouse who’s seeking a green card is called the “beneficiary. ”
National forms and charges
This step requires $535 in federal government charges, two types, and documents that are supporting
You will see government that is additional, types, and supporting papers for the following actions in this procedure, described below.
Once your I-130 filing package is complete, you’ll mail it off to the right USCIS target. Then you’ll get an formal receipt notice within the mail from USCIS, often inside a fortnight. If USCIS requires additional information or papers to complete processing your materials, they will give you a “Request for Evidence” (RFE) within 2–3 months.
As soon as USCIS has every thing they want, they typically come to a decision in your sponsorship demand within 7-10 months.
When it comes to flat price of $950, Boundless can help you finish your complete marriage-based card that is greenspousal visa) application — including all necessary kinds and supporting papers, separate lawyer review, and help — through the minute the application is filed before you get your green card. Find out more, or look at your eligibility without supplying any individual or information that is financial.
Step Two: Green Card Application
Next, because the partner looking for a green card is residing abroad, USCIS transfers the actual situation into the nationwide Visa Center (NVC), that is run by the U.S. State dept. The NVC’s work would be to gather the required types and documents and decide if the partner is prepared for a job interview at a U.S. Embassy or consulate abroad (called “consular processing”).
After getting the way it is from USCIS, the NVC assigns an original situation quantity this is certainly then utilized to spot the truth from that time onward. The NVC starts processing your case immediately after receiving it from USCIS, and after 3-5 months, forwards the case to a U.S. Embassy or consulate in the applicant spouse’s country of residence for spouses of U.S. Citizens.
DS-261 and charges
As soon as you get your instance quantity through the NVC, the next phase is to file the DS-261 kind. This is certainly a not at all hard kind that|form that is relatively simple informs their state Department simple tips to keep in touch with you, no charge to register it. It will take as much as three months when it comes to NVC to process the DS-261.
Next, you’ll need certainly to spend a complete of $445 online, addressing both their state Department’s application processing charge ($325) additionally the monetary help kind charge ($120). As much as a week for the nvc to process your repayment.
Filing the Visa Application
As soon as your repayment was prepared, you are able to file the DS-260 (immigrant visa application). You’ll need your situation number, beneficiary ID quantity, and invoice quantity through the initial notice that is welcome the NVC delivered you. When you’ve submitted the DS-260 on line, you need to printing the confirmation web page to help you take it to your visa meeting during the U.S. Consulate.
Once you submit your DS-260, the NVC will be sending away a notice (again via mail or e-mail) confirming receipt of your DS-260, frequently for a passing fancy time.
You will then want to submit your supporting papers into the NVC also, that will consist of your financial sponsorship type (technically named an “Affidavit of Support“). Dependent on which consulate is processing, you may either upload, e-mail, or mail all the documents that are supporting the NVC. Always check right here to determine which associated with distribution choices connect with you.
In the event that NVC requires more info or papers to accomplish your NVC package, they will give you a list of lacking papers, typically within 1–2 months.
Once more, after the NVC has every thing they require, they will typically decide within 3-5 months.
With Boundless, you can get the satisfaction that is included with having a completely independent immigration attorney whom answers your private concerns and reviews your entire green card application — for no fee that is additional. Ready to begin? Find out more about what you obtain with Boundless, or always check your eligibility now.
Step Three: Pre-Interview Demands
When the NVC has finished its processing of one’s NVC package, the file will be utilized in the U.S. Consulate that processes green card applications within the applicant home country that is spouse’s. But you may still find a requirements that are few the meeting can take place!
Health Examination
Before going to the green card meeting, the partner searching for an eco-friendly card will need to have a medical assessment done by a situation Department-approved doctor. The U.S. Consulate processing the application will give you a summary of these medical practioners together with your meeting notice. This exam varies commonly by country, but $200 isn’t unusual.
As soon as the exam is complete, the medical practitioner will provide you with a sealed envelope containing your exam outcomes and vaccination record, that you has to take with you to your meeting.
Passport Distribution
Ahead of the meeting, the partner looking for an eco-friendly card must subscribe on line with an target to that your passport is came back after an authorized visa stamp is put within the passport. Guidelines to register for passport distribution are published on each consulate’s internet site.
Fingerprinting appointment
The partner looking for a green card must additionally, nations, subscribe to a fingerprinting appointment at a visa application help center (it’s usually a location different through the consulate). This visit is actually for the national federal government to simply take fingerprints associated with partner, to enable you to conduct back ground and safety checks. These guidelines will also be published for each consulate’s site.
The fingerprinting visit low-stress be regarded as more of a procedural action. The partner looking for a card that is green never be asked questions regarding the wedding or around green card eligibility as of this appointment. They shall merely be fingerprinted.
Boundless remains to you before the green card finish line, assisting you to keep an eye on meeting planning, follow-on kinds, and each other essential milestone along your immigration journey. Discover more, or check always your eligibility free of charge.
: Interview and Approval
The Green Card Interview
The meeting could be the last major part of the green card application procedure, function as the many stressful and part that is intimidating. Partners can assist relieve this anxiety by once you understand what to anticipate and piecing together an arranged file to decide to try the meeting.
A partner residing abroad will go to a job interview at a U.S. Embassy or consulate in their house country, after getting a consultation notice aided by the time that is exact date, and location. The sponsoring partner doesn’t go to this meeting.
Take a look at these resources for additional information:
Boundless not merely gives you we can also help you get ready for your green card interview and respond to government questions for you to complete your marriage-based green card application, but. Find out more, or always check your eligibility for the marriage-based card that is green any responsibility.
