The Basic Principles

If you should be a U.S. Resident hitched to a internationwide national who’s residing abroad, this guide is for both of you—we’ll get detail by detail through the entire process of having your marriage 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.

Predicted time: 11-17 months to have green card (more information on timing)

Perhaps maybe perhaps Not certain that you be eligible for a marriage-based card that is green? You should check your eligibility through Boundless without supplying any individual or information that is financial. Whenever you’re willing to use, Boundless can make suggestions through every milestone associated with marriage-based green card procedure, starting with your kind I-130 most of the option to the final line. Discover more, or begin today.

Perhaps maybe Not certain that you be eligible for a marriage-based green card? Begin by checking your eligibility.

Step One: Sponsorship

The first rung on the ladder in the marriage-based green card process is filing Form I-130 (technically called the “ Petition for Alien Relative”) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that is the main U.S. Department of Homeland safety. The principal intent behind this type is always to establish the presence of a marriage that is valid.

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

National kinds and costs

This task calls for $535 in federal government costs, two types, and supporting papers:

You will have extra federal government charges, 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 your right USCIS target. Then you’ll get a receipt that is official within the mail from USCIS, frequently inside a fortnight brides international. If USCIS requires extra information or papers to complete processing your materials, they will deliver you a “Request for Evidence” (RFE) within 2–3 months.

When 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 finish your whole marriage-based green card (spousal visa) application — including all necessary kinds and supporting papers, separate lawyer review, and help — through the minute the job is filed before you get your green card. Discover more, or look at your eligibility without supplying any individual or economic information.

Step Two: Green Card Application

Next, because the partner searching for a card that is green residing abroad, USCIS transfers the scenario to your nationwide Visa Center (NVC), which can be run because of the U.S. State dept. The NVC’s work is always to gather the required types and documents and decide whether or not the partner is prepared for a job interview 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 situation soon after getting it from USCIS, and after 3-5 months, forwards the situation up to a U.S. Embassy or consulate when you look at the applicant spouse’s country of residence.

DS-261 and charges

As soon as you get your situation 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 just how to keep in touch with you, and there’s no cost to register it. It will take around three days when it comes to NVC to process the DS-261.

Next, you’ll need certainly to spend an overall total of $445 online, addressing both hawaii Department’s application processing charge ($325) plus the economic help kind charge ($120). Normally it takes as much as a week for the nvc to process your re repayment.

Filing the Visa Application

As soon as your repayment was prepared, it is possible to file the DS-260 (immigrant visa application). You’ll need your instance number, beneficiary ID quantity, and invoice quantity through the original welcome realize that the NVC sent you. As soon as you’ve submitted the DS-260 on line, print the confirmation web page in order to carry it to your visa interview during the U.S. Consulate.

Once you distribute your DS-260, the NVC down a notice (again via mail or e-mail) confirming receipt of your DS-260, frequently on a single time.

You may then need certainly to submit your supporting papers into the NVC as well, that may add your economic sponsorship type (technically known as an “Affidavit of Support“). Dependent on which consulate is processing the applying, either upload, e-mail, or mail every one of the supporting documents to the NVC. Check always right here to determine which associated with distribution choices affect you.

If the NVC requires extra information or papers to perform your NVC package, they shall deliver you a list of missing papers, typically within 1–2 months.

Once again, after the NVC has every thing they require, they shall typically come to a decision within 3-5 months.

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: Pre-Interview Demands

When 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 home country that is spouse’s. But you may still find a requirements that are few the meeting can occur!

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 these health practitioners together with your meeting notice. This exam differs commonly by nation, but $200 is certainly not unusual.

As soon as the exam is complete, the medical practitioner will present a sealed envelope containing your exam outcomes and vaccination record, that you has to take with you to your 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. Guidelines to register for passport distribution are published on each consulate’s site.

Fingerprinting visit

The spouse looking for a green card must additionally, in many nations, subscribe to a fingerprinting appointment at a visa application help center (it’s usually a location distinctive through the consulate). The goal of this visit is actually for the federal government to simply take fingerprints of this partner, to be able to conduct history and safety checks. These directions may also be published for each consulate’s site.

The fingerprinting visit is usually low-stress be regarded as a lot more of a procedural action. The spouse looking for a card that is green never be expected questions regarding the wedding or just around green card eligibility as of this appointment. They shall just be fingerprinted.

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: Interview and Approval

The Green Card Interview

The meeting could be the last major help the green card application procedure, end up being the many stressful and part that is intimidating. Partners can assist relieve this anxiety by once you understand and assembling an arranged file to try the interview.

A partner residing abroad will go to an meeting at a U.S. Embassy or consulate in their property country, after getting a consultation notice with all the time that is exact date, and location. The sponsoring partner will not go to this meeting.

Have a look at these resources for lots more information:

Boundless not just makes it simple for you really to complete your marriage-based green card application, but we are able to additionally help you to get prepared for the green card meeting and respond to federal federal government concerns. Get the full story, or always check your eligibility for the marriage-based card that is green any responsibility.