We have helped many of our clients to immigrate USA and apply for a USA Green Card through marriage, either from inside the USA or outside of the USA. The process of applying for a USA Green Card through marriage is complicated and often confusing.
Who are our clients? Our clients are mainly Canadian and American, located across the border from each other. Our main office is located in a city neighbouring Washington state, USA. Our clients drop by our office sometimes from Blaine, Bellingham, or Seattle, Washington state, when they visit their spouse or fiancée in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
A marriage green card – Spousal Sponsorship petition allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen or a USA green card holder to live and work in the USA. A green cardholder will have permanent resident, PR; status until they apply for U.S. citizenship after meeting the eligibility requirements.
Marriage-based Green Card from outside of the USA:
First (1 ) Step- I-130 petition: The Sponsor, a USA citizen or a USA green card holder, will complete the I-130 petition. The Sponsor provides personal information, such as employment history, addresses, etc. The Beneficiary completes the I-130-A application and provides detailed personal information such as employment history, addresses in the USA and any other countries, etc. The Beneficiary does not need to sign the I-130A form.
As part of their petition, they should provide: Evidence of visits such as tickets, various places they have travelled and visited together, pictures of their wedding, marriage ceremony, and social gatherings with friends and families, etc. Evidence of communication with each other, such as texts and call logs.
Evidence of financial support:
If the sponsor has financially supported the Beneficiary or has sent gifts.
We suggest saving all receipts for financial support and gifts.
Proof of relationship letters:
The letters should be from someone who knows the Beneficiary or the Sponsor or both. We suggest that friends and family members of the Sponsor or Beneficiary include in their letters of support the following:
- Relationship with either of them,
- A description of how the relationship started and how they became aware of the relationship,
- A statement that if the couple’s relationship is real, genuine, and continues based on personal knowledge, and
- The friends’ or families’ contact information, complete address, and date of birth.
We also include a copy of their friends’ or families’ identification, witness their friends’ signatures and notarize it if they are located in BC.
The immigration officers are searching for any indication that the marriage was entered into to obtain immigration status. The letters indicate that the relationship is genuine and that the couple has been building a life together and has not entered for the purpose of Immigrating to the USA.
If your green card was issued through marriage and you were married for less than 2 years at the time of approval, you received conditional permanent residency. This status is valid for 2 years and must be converted to permanent status by filing Form I-751 during the 90-day window before expiration.
What is the application fee for I-130?
USCIS application fee: USD $625 if filed online
Lega fee: CAD $6000, not including tax
Contact our Vancouver, USA immigration lawyer at YA Law Corporation. Our office is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver, and we are here to help with all your immigration needs