You must file a separate Form I-130 for each eligible relative unless they can be considered a derivative beneficiary. See the form instructions for more information. If you submit a petition for your spouse, you must also submit Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
Below are the key steps involved: Meet all of the requirements. Marriage to a U.S. citizen: The applicant must be legally married to a U.S. citizen spouse who is over the age of 18. File the Petition (Form I-130) ... USCIS Processing. National Visa Center (NVC) Processing. Medical Examination. Consular Interview.
Marriage to the U.S. citizen is the most common and fastest way of getting a green card for a foreign national. If a foreign national marries the U.S. citizen abroad, the foreign national becomes an immediate relative of the U.S. spouse regardless of the place where marriage took place.
The First Step Toward an Immigrant Visa: Filing the Petition The first step is to file a Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for your spouse (husband or wife) to immigrate to the United States.
Required Documentation Passport(s) valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States, unless longer validity is specifically requested by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country. Affidavit of Support (I-864, I-864A, I-864 EZ, or I-864W, as appropriate) from the petitioner/U.S. sponsor.
Form I-130 processing time is currently estimated at 14 months ing to the USCIS processing time website. This timeframe could change depending on several factors. Most of our clients get approval before this timeframe. National Visa Center (NVC) processing time could take anywhere from 3 weeks to several months.
Generally, after we approve the petition, your relative may apply for a Green Card. If your relative is already in the United States and an immigrant visa is available, they may be eligible to apply for their Green Card by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
However, a number of steps can be specified that will be repeated in almost every application, such as: 1 – Orientation and choice of strategy. 2 – Collect information and prepare visa application. 3 – Submit visa application. 3a – Answer additional questions. 4 – Pick up or receive visa.
The basic steps through the spouse visa process are as follows: File I-130 Petition Package with USCIS. Obtain USCIS approval (or denial) on petition. Submit Affidavit of Support (I-864) and other documentation to National Visa Center.