The Basic Principles
If you should be a U.S. Resident hitched to an international national that is residing abroad, this guide is for each of you—we’ll go detail by detail through the entire process of getting the wedding card that is green. This particular green card application procedure normally 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.
Calculated time: 11-17 months to have card that is greenmore information on timing)
Maybe maybe Not sure if you be eligible for a a marriage-based card that is green? You can examine your eligibility through Boundless without supplying any individual or information that is financial. You through every milestone of the marriage-based green card process, starting with your Form I-130 all the way to the finish line when you’re ready to apply, Boundless can guide. Today learn more, or get started.
Maybe maybe Not certain that you be eligible for a a marriage-based green card? Start with checking your eligibility.
Step One: Sponsorship
The step that is first 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), which will be area of the U.S. Department of Homeland protection. The principal function of this type would be to establish the presence of a marriage that is valid.
The spouse filing this I-130 kind is named the“petitioner or“sponsor”. ” Here is the spouse that is the present U.S. Resident. The spouse who’s seeking a green card is called the “beneficiary. ”
National kinds and charges
This step calls for $535 in federal government costs, two kinds, 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.
As soon as your I-130 filing package is complete, you’ll mail it off to the right USCIS target. Then you’ll get an official receipt notice when you look at the mail from USCIS, frequently inside a fortnight. If USCIS requires extra information or documents in order to complete processing your materials, they shall give you a “Request for Evidence” (RFE) within 2–3 months.
As soon as USCIS has every thing they require, they typically come to a decision on your sponsorship demand within 7-10 months.
When it comes to flat price of $950, Boundless makes it possible to complete your complete marriage-based card that is greenspousal visa) application — including all necessary types and supporting papers, independent lawyer review, and help — through the minute the job is filed and soon you get your green card. Find out more, or look at your eligibility without supplying any individual or economic information.
Step Two: Green Card Application
Next, because the partner looking for a green card is living abroad, USCIS transfers the situation to your 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 an meeting at a U.S. Embassy or consulate abroad (called “consular processing”).
The NVC assigns a unique case number that is then used to identify the case from that point onward after receiving the case from USCIS. For partners of U.S. Residents, the NVC begins processing your instance right after getting it from USCIS, and after 3-5 months, forwards the actual situation up to a U.S. Embassy or consulate when you look at the applicant spouse’s country of residence.
DS-261 and costs
As soon as you get your case quantity through the NVC, the next thing is to register the form that is DS-261. This can be a not at all hard kind that|form that is relatively simple informs their state Department how exactly to talk to you, no charge to file it. Around three months for the NVC to process the DS-261.
Next, you’ll need to spend an overall total of $445 online, addressing both their state Department’s application processing charge ($325) in addition to monetary help kind charge ($120). Around a week for the nvc to process your payment.
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 welcome observe that the NVC delivered you. As soon as you’ve submitted the DS-260 on line, you need to printing the verification web page in order to carry it to your visa interview during the U.S. Consulate.
After you distribute your DS-260, the NVC a notice out (again via mail or e-mail) confirming receipt of your DS-260, frequently for a passing fancy time.
You may then want to submit your supporting papers to the NVC also, that will add your sponsorship that is financial form named an “Affidavit of Support“). Dependent on which consulate is processing the application form, either upload, e-mail, or mail all the supporting documents to the NVC. Check always right here to determine which for the distribution choices connect with you.
If the NVC requires extra information or papers to accomplish your NVC package, they will give you a list of lacking papers, typically within 1–2 months.
Once more, when the NVC has every thing, they shall typically decide within 3-5 months.
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Step Three: Pre-Interview Needs
After the NVC has finished its processing of the NVC package, the file will be utilized in the U.S. Consulate that processes green card applications when you look at the applicant home country that is spouse’s. But you may still find a requirements that are few the meeting sometimes happens!
Healthcare Examination
Before going to the green card meeting, the partner searching for an eco-friendly card should have a medical assessment done by circumstances Department-approved doctor. The U.S. Consulate processing the application shall deliver you these health practitioners with your interview notice. The price of this exam differs commonly by nation, but $200 just isn’t unusual.
After the exam is complete, a doctor will offer you a sealed envelope containing your exam results and vaccination record, that you has to take to you towards the meeting.
Passport Distribution
The spouse seeking a green card must sign up online with an address to which the passport can be returned after an approved visa stamp is placed in the passport before the interview. Directions to join up for passport delivery are published for each consulate’s site.
Fingerprinting appointment
The partner looking for a green card must additionally, in many nations, join a fingerprinting appointment at a visa application support center ( this is a location distinct through the consulate). The objective of this visit is actually for the national government to just take fingerprints for the partner, to be able to conduct back ground and protection checks. These guidelines may also be published for each consulate’s site.
The fingerprinting appointment is normally low-stress and that can be looked at as more of a procedural action. The partner looking for a card that is green never be expected questions regarding the wedding or just around green card eligibility only at that visit. They will just be fingerprinted.
Boundless remains to you before the green card finishing line, assisting you to constantly look out for interview planning, follow-on types, and each other crucial milestone along your immigration journey. Get the full story, or look at your eligibility free of charge.
: Interview and Approval
The Green Card Interview
The meeting may be the last major step up the green card application procedure, function as many stressful and daunting component. Couples will help relieve this anxiety by knowing and piecing together an arranged file to try the interview.
A partner living abroad will go to a job interview at a U.S. Embassy or consulate in their house country, after getting a consultation notice using the exact time, date, and location. The sponsoring partner doesn’t go to this meeting.
Take a look at these resources for lots more information:
Boundless not just makes it simple for you really to finish your marriage-based green card application, but we are able to additionally help you to get prepared for the green card meeting and react to federal government questions. Find out more, or look at your eligibility for the marriage-based green card without any responsibility.
