The United States is one of the most popular countries to live in, and an average of one million people receive green cards each year. If you’re thinking of migrating to the United States, you would probably know how important it is to secure a green card if you ever want to secure U.S. permanent residency and turn your American dream into a reality.
A marriage green card, officially known as a green card for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, is one of the most common types of green cards that you can apply for. The United States allows anyone married to a U.S. citizen or a green card holder to apply for and obtain a marriage green card, which will allow them to live and work in the United States as a permanent resident.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage Green Card?
If you are already residing in the United States with your spouse who is a U.S. citizen, the process of getting your marriage green card will typically take between 10 to 13 months. This is inclusive of the time it takes for your application to be submitted and reviewed, your green card interview and the time it takes for your green card to arrive in the mail.
However, there are certain factors that may delay the processing of your green card or lengthen the time it takes for your application to be approved. For example, if you are not residing in the United States at the time of your green card application – or if you are applying as the spouse of another green card holder – you might have to wait up to three years or more to get your marriage green card.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Get a Marriage Green Card?
If you’re keen on applying for a green card through marriage, you might be wondering if you will need a lawyer to help you with the process. The short answer is that you do not need a lawyer and can apply for a marriage green card on your own. In fact, more than half of all marriage green card applicants do not engage lawyers, choosing instead to apply for their green card on their own.
However, while engaging a lawyer is not a requirement, there can still be numerous benefits to doing so.
How a Lawyer Can Help You Get Your Green Card
Here are some of the benefits of engaging a lawyer to help you with your green card application:
Saving You Time and Effort
Hiring a lawyer can potentially help you save significant amounts of time when applying for your marriage green card. While it is entirely possible to obtain the requisite forms and submit your application on your own, this can be a lengthy and time-consuming process, especially when it comes to figuring out which of the many available forms you need to submit.
Making a mistake in your application or missing out a form might also set your application back by months or even years.
Fortunately, with the help of a lawyer, you can avoid making such mistakes. An experienced lawyer well-versed in immigration law will be familiar with the application process and can help you prepare all the necessary forms and documents, ensuring that they are error-free. Not only can engaging a lawyer help you save time and effort, it can also help you take the stress out of applying for your marriage green card as well.
Helping You Navigate the Legal System
If your situation falls neatly into one of the predefined categories set out by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, then it may be more tedious than tricky to apply for a marriage green card. But if your circumstances are unique or rare, it may be much harder to navigate the complexities of immigration law.
Seeking the help of a lawyer can be highly beneficial in such cases, as they will be able to help you navigate the intricacies of the legal system. A skilled lawyer can help you find the most optimal route to obtaining your green card, guiding you along each step of the process and expediting your application.
Helping You Prepare for Your Interview
The interview process for getting a marriage green card can be daunting and anxiety inducing, even if you meet all the requirements.
Lawyers who have worked on prior marriage green card applications will be familiar with the process and best suited to give you advice on how to prepare for your interview, helping you avoid any mistakes that may delay or deny your application.
