The Fundamentals

If you’re a U.S. Resident married to an internationwide national who’s residing abroad, this guide is actually for both of you—we’ll get detail by detail through the entire process of having your wedding card that is green. This kind of green card application procedure can also be commonly called Processing that is“Consular.

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.

Believed time: 11-17 months to get card that is greenmore information on timing)

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Step One: Sponsorship

The first faltering step in 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), that is area of the U.S. Department of Homeland safety. The main reason for this type is always to establish the presence of a legitimate wedding.

The spouse filing this I-130 kind is named the“petitioner or“sponsor”. ” This is the partner who’s the present U.S. Resident. The spouse who’s seeking a card that is green called the “beneficiary. ”

National kinds and charges

This task calls for $535 in federal federal federal government charges, two types, and documents that are supporting

You will have 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 to the right USCIS target. Then you’ll get a receipt that is official within the mail from USCIS, often within fourteen days. If USCIS needs more info or papers 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 in your sponsorship demand within 7-10 months.

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Step Two: Green Card Application

Next, because the partner searching for a card that is green residing abroad, USCIS transfers the actual situation to the 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 perhaps the partner is prepared for an meeting at a U.S. Embassy or consulate abroad (called “consular processing”).

The sweetbrides NVC assigns a unique case number that is then used to identify the case from that point onward after receiving the case from USCIS. The NVC starts processing your case immediately after receiving it from USCIS, and after 3-5 months, forwards the case to a U.S. Embassy or consulate in the applicant spouse’s country of residence for spouses of U.S. Citizens.

DS-261 and costs

When you get your instance quantity through the NVC, the next thing is to register the form that is DS-261. It is a not at all hard type that|form that is relatively simple informs their state Department how exactly to talk to you, no cost to register it. Normally it takes around three days when it comes to NVC to process the DS-261.

Next, you’ll have to spend a complete of $445 online, addressing both their state Department’s application processing cost ($325) as well as the monetary help kind cost ($120). It will take around a for the nvc to process your payment week.

Filing the Visa Application

Once your repayment is prepared, you are able to file the DS-260 (immigrant visa application). You’ll need your instance number, beneficiary ID number, and invoice number through the initial welcome observe that the NVC delivered you. Once you’ve submitted the DS-260 on line, you have to print the verification web page in order to take it to your visa meeting during the U.S. Consulate.

When you distribute your DS-260, the NVC will be sending a notice out (again via mail or e-mail) confirming receipt of your DS-260, frequently for a passing fancy day.

You may then need certainly to submit your supporting papers to the NVC too, that may consist of your monetary sponsorship kind (technically known as an “Affidavit of Support“). According to which consulate is processing the program, either upload, e-mail, or mail all the documents that are supporting the NVC. Always check right here to determine which for the distribution choices connect with you.

In the event that NVC needs additional information or papers your NVC package, they will give you a list of lacking papers, typically within 1–2 months.

Once more, when the NVC has everything, they shall typically come to a decision within 3-5 months.

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Step Three: Pre-Interview Demands

After the NVC has finished its processing NVC package, the file will be used in the U.S. Consulate that processes green card applications within the applicant spouse’s home nation. But you can still find a requirements that are few the meeting can happen!

Health Examination

The spouse seeking a green card must have a medical examination performed by a State Department-approved doctor before attending the green card interview. The U.S. Consulate processing the application shall deliver you a listing of these medical practioners with your meeting notice. The expense of this exam differs commonly by nation, but $200 is certainly not unusual.

When the exam is complete, a doctor shall provide you with a sealed envelope containing your exam outcomes and vaccination record, that you has to take with you towards the meeting.

Passport Distribution

Prior to the meeting, the partner looking for a green card must subscribe on the web with an address to that your passport could be returned after an authorized visa stamp is put into the passport. Directions for passport distribution are published for each consulate’s site.

Fingerprinting visit

The partner seeking a green card must additionally, nations, subscribe to a fingerprinting appointment at a visa application help center (it’s usually a location distinctive from the consulate). The goal of this visit is for the national federal government to just take fingerprints associated with partner, to enable you to conduct history and safety checks. These directions will also be posted for each consulate’s internet site.

The fingerprinting visit low-stress and may be regarded as a lot more of a procedural action. The partner seeking a card that is green never be expected the wedding or around green card eligibility only at that visit. They will merely be fingerprinted.

Boundless remains with you before the green card finishing line, assisting you to keep an eye on meeting planning, follow-on types, and every other essential milestone along your immigration journey. Discover more, or look at your eligibility free of charge.

: Interview and Approval

The Green Card Interview

The meeting is the last major step up the green card application process, and it will function as the many stressful and part that is intimidating. Partners might assist relieve this anxiety by once you understand what to anticipate and piecing together a organized file to decide to try the meeting.

A partner residing abroad will go to an meeting at a U.S. Embassy or consulate in nation, after getting a consultation notice aided by the time that is exact date, and location. The sponsoring partner will not attend this meeting.

Have a look at these resources for lots more details:

Boundless allows you we can also help you get ready for your green card interview and respond to government questions for you to complete your marriage-based green card application, but. Find out more, or check always your eligibility for the marriage-based green card without any responsibility.

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