Do you get citizenship if you marry a U.S. citizen?

Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically grant someone U.S. citizenship. However, marriage to a U.S. citizen can be a pathway to immigration benefits, such as obtaining a green card.

How long does it take to get citizenship after marrying a U.S. citizen?

You can apply for U.S. citizenship after 3 years if you are a permanent resident (Green Card holder) and have been married to and living with the same U.S. citizen spouse during that time. Otherwise, most Green Card holders must wait 5 years before applying for naturalization. Learn more.

What happens when you marry a U.S. citizen?

After you marry a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a green card. While USCIS is processing your application, you can apply for “advance parole,” which gives you permission to travel. Unless you have an emergency situation, USCIS will take two to three months to process your parole.

Is it easier to get citizenship if you marry an American?

One way to get citizenship in the United States is to marry a U.S. citizen. However, it's not as easy as filling out a couple of forms. It's not a fast process, and the outcome isn't guaranteed, and there are lots of requirements to fulfill along the way.

Can I get citizenship for free by marrying a U.S. citizen?

If you marry a U.S, citizen, you won't be eligible for U.S. citizenship right away. But you might become eligible for a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence), which can lead to U.S. citizenship.

How Soon Can You Apply for Citizenship if Married to a U.S. Citizen?

How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen after marriage?

$640. (Add the $85 biometric fee for a total of $725, where applicable. See exceptions below.) If you file your Form N-400 online, you may pay your fee online.

What happens if you marry a U.S. citizen and then divorce?

While your divorce may not affect your immigration status, it will affect the time you must wait before applying for your permanent resident status. Because you are no longer married, you will have to wait 5 years to apply, versus the 3 years if you were still married.

How long it takes to get a green card after marrying a U.S. citizen?

If the immigrant spouse lives in the U.S., the application process typically takes approximately 15–20 months. You're eligible for a green card if it is a valid marriage, you and your spouse are at least 18, and the U.S. citizen in the relationship meets the necessary income requirements.

Should I marry someone for citizenship?

Marrying solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship is a federal crime, and both the non-citizen and the citizen can face serious penalties for entering into such an arrangement.

What is the 4 year 1 day rule for U.S. citizenship?

The Four Year and One Day Rule

Essentially, if you broke your continuous residence, the four-year and one-day rule shortens the waiting period by one year. It offers an opportunity to become eligible for naturalization sooner, provided that you meet all the other requirements for citizenship.

What are the benefits of marrying a U.S. citizen?

Marrying a U.S. citizen allows you to file Form I-130 and I-485 together, a process known as concurrent filing, since there are no visa number limitations for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. I-485 processing time for family applications in 2023 can take between 12 and 37 months on average.

Can my wife stay in the U.S. while waiting for green card?

Can My Spouse Come to the United States to Live While the Visa Petition Is Pending? If you are a U.S. citizen, once you file Form I-130, your spouse is eligible to apply for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa. This will entitle him or her to come to the United States to live and work while the visa petition is pending.

What happens if you overstay your visa and get married?

Overstay of 180 Days or Less: Short-term overstays may impact future visa applications and re-entry to the U.S. If married to a U.S. citizen, you can adjust your status to a green card holder without leaving the U.S., provided your initial entry was legal.

Can I lose my citizenship if I divorce?

Getting divorced may affect your immigration status, depending on what type of marriage green card you have. Divorce won't affect the status of people who have permanent green cards, but it can delay their application for naturalization.

Can I lose my green card if I get divorced?

If you divorce and you have a permanent green card, there is typically no impact to the renewal process. When it comes time to renew your green card, you simply file Form I-90 (officially called “Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card”).

Can you be deported if your married to a U.S. citizen?

If You Marry an Illegal Immigrant, Can They Still Be Deported? Even if you're married to a U.S. citizen, deportation remains a possibility. Merely being married doesn't automatically grant you immunity from deportation or guarantee an immigration status.

What happens when you marry someone who is not a U.S. citizen?

Once you marry, your spouse can apply for permanent residence and remain in the United States while we process the application. If you choose this method, file a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at www. uscis.

Can a U.S. citizen marry two wives?

Polygamy was outlawed in federal territories by the Edmunds Act, and there are laws against the practice in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Because state laws exist, polygamy is not actively prosecuted at the federal level.

Does marital status affect citizenship?

How divorce may impact your quest for U.S. citizenship can depend on your spouse's immigration status, and any immigration benefits you received. If you received residency by marrying a U.S. citizen and you are now divorced, you may only receive a two-year conditional green card instead of a 10-year green card.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for a green card through marriage?

You do not have to hire an immigration lawyer to apply for a marriage-based green card. More than half of all marriage-based green card applications are filed by individuals who do not work with an attorney. You can definitely do it! In certain circumstances, having an immigration lawyer is essential.

How long does it take to get a green card if you are married in 2023?

Family-based green card applications (in other words, immediate relatives or spouses of a U.S. citizen) for applicants filing from within the United States average 11.5 months.

What is the 5 year remarry rule?

U.S. law is set up so that people who divorce and remarry after getting a green card through marriage are expected to wait at least five years after they got their green card before petitioning for a new spouse. (See 8 C.F.R. § 204.2.)

Can you lose citizenship by marriage?

The Act of March 3, 1931 (46 Statutes at Large 1511), eliminated prospectively loss of nationality by a U.S. citizen woman solely due to marriage to an alien husband.

What is the first step after marrying a U.S. citizen?

Step 1: Establish the marriage relationship (Form I-130)

The primary purpose of the I-130 form, along with supporting documents, is to establish whether your marriage is valid or bonafide. The spouse filing the I-130 is called the “petitioner” or “sponsor.” This spouse is a U.S. citizen or current green card holder.