4 Things You Should Know About Marrying A Foreigner

12 June 2018 by Jonathan Phillips

If two people are visiting the United States and decide to get married only to return to their native land, this is not a problem. But what if you, an American citizen, want to marry a foreign national? The process can be complicated. The following are a few things you should know.

1. Marriage will not give legal residency if your fiance is here illegally

If you are old enough, you may remember a time when an American citizen could marry a person who was here illegally, and they could become a legal resident through marriage. The law has changed, and today, if a person is here illegally and you wish to marry him or her, they will have to leave the United States and reenter the country legally.

2. You may be able to obtain a fiance visa

If you are not married yet, your spouse can obtain a fiance visa, also called a K1 visa. This visa is given at a United States consulate in the country that your spouse is a citizen of. There is a process that includes an interview before the visa is issued. Once your fiance enters the country with a K1 visa, there is a certain amount of time in which you must get married. After you marry, your fiance can apply for a green card and become a legal resident.

3. You may be able to obtain a marriage visa

If you have already married a foreign national in their country of origin, it is possible to obtain a marriage visa, often called a CR visa, to bring your spouse into the United States. This type of visa is designed to specifically aid an American Citizen in bringing his or her spouse to the country for permanent residency.

4. There are income requirements that you will need to meet

The United States government will require a certain level of income from a United States citizen. These requirements change over time, and they will also vary if there are children involved. Your income will also need to be judged as stable. An immigration attorney can provide you with the current requirements.

When you decide to marry a foreigner, it is imperative that you do it correctly. This means consulting with an immigration attorney so that you will get the best legal advice regarding your specific situation. Immigration laws are always changing, and if you neglect to hire a lawyer, it is possible you may end up with a marriage that conflicts with the law. Never marry a foreign national or bring your foreign spouse to the United States until you have consulted with an immigration law firm.

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