Marriage-Based Green Cards
I help spouses of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents prepare marriage-based immigration cases. We review the appropriate filing process, immigration history, financial sponsorship, and evidence that the marriage is genuine.
The first step is to determine whether adjustment of status in the United States or consular processing abroad is available in your circumstances. A marriage or an approved petition does not by itself resolve status or admissibility issues.
Explore family immigration services or read how to prepare for a marriage-based interview. For an overseas case, see the State Department’s spouse visa process.
Who This Is For
This service may be useful if you are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder, planning to file for a spouse, preparing for adjustment of status in the United States, or working through consular processing from outside the United States.
Common Issues
Marriage green card cases can become stressful when the couple has limited joint documents, different addresses, prior marriages, immigration history issues, a prior visa refusal, or uncertainty about whether to file inside or outside the United States.
The goal is not to bury USCIS in random photos and paperwork. The goal is to present a clear, organized case that tells the story of the marriage.
How I Help
I can help review your situation, explain the filing path, prepare a document strategy, identify weak points, and guide you through the evidence and filing process.
I also help couples understand what to expect after filing, including biometrics, requests for evidence, interview preparation, and next steps.
The petitioning spouse generally must submit Form I-864, even when a joint sponsor is used, unless an exemption applies. A qualifying joint sponsor can address an income shortfall but does not replace the petitioning spouse’s separate U.S. domicile requirement. Income and domicile must each be assessed. The support obligation can continue after immigration, and divorce alone does not terminate it.
Before You File
A rushed filing can create problems that are harder to fix later. Missing documents, inconsistent answers, weak evidence, or choosing the wrong process can lead to delay, confusion, or unnecessary risk.
If there is anything complicated in your history, it is better to address it before the case is filed.
Spouses of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives, so some status-violation and unauthorized-employment adjustment bars do not apply. Spouses of lawful permanent residents are preference beneficiaries without those immediate-relative exceptions. Admission or parole is generally required; entry without inspection, fraud or misrepresentation, an unresolved J-1 two-year residence requirement (INA §212(e)), criminal or other inadmissibility, and other eligibility defects can still prevent adjustment. Departing for consular processing raises separate unlawful-presence and other reentry risks that must be assessed before travel.
If you are preparing a marriage-based green card case, a consultation can help you understand the process, identify potential problems, and decide on the best next step.