We are pleased to announce that our client was recently approved for a marriage-based green card by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marking an important milestone on our client’s immigration journey.
A marriage-based green card allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to live and work in the United States permanently. Family-based cases begin with Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and are completed either through adjustment of status inside the United States or through consular processing at a consulate abroad. Which route applies depends on where the spouse is living and how they last entered the country.
Marriage-based filings receive close scrutiny, because USCIS must be satisfied that the marriage is genuine rather than entered into for immigration purposes.
For individuals who receive permanent residence through a marriage that is less than two years old at the time of approval, USCIS issues a conditional green card valid for two years.
Before the conditional card expires, the resident and their spouse must jointly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, during the 90-day period preceding expiration. The purpose of that second filing is to give USCIS a further opportunity to confirm that the marriage was entered into in good faith.
Once USCIS approves the I-751 petition, the conditional status is removed, and the individual receives a 10-year permanent resident card, allowing them to continue building their future in the United States with greater security and stability.
Every marriage-based green card case turns on its own facts and its own evidence, and the conditional residence period is easy to overlook once the first approval arrives. If you are preparing a family-based filing, or approaching the end of a two-year conditional period, you can schedule a consultation with our team.
