Immigration Lawyer & Family Law Attorney

However, every case is different – and it depends on whether you’re married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder. It also depends on whether you currently live in the U.S. or abroad. If you live abroad, you’ll have to go through consular processing, which can take longer because the National Visa Center must process your petition before sending it on to the U.S.
Ify Ikeakanam Law Firm is a great service I ever received. Her and the teams were both immigration lawyer marriage green card working hard and professionally to seek family based immigration for better resettlement here in United States. I will recommend anyone who is seeking immigration services for advice. Once those documents are submitted and reviewed, both spouses participate in in-person interviews with a USCIS official. These occur in a USCIS office for people living in the U.S. or at the U.S. embassy if one or both spouses are living abroad. The intent of the interview is to ascertain that both spouses are in an eligible marriage.

Payment rules changed in 2026 for how to apply for marriage-based Green Card. The marriage Green Card process uses specific USCIS forms. Plus, wrong versions get rejected immediately in 2026. Our Houston immigration legal services help you gather the right documents. Plus, citizens can sponsor parents and siblings too. But Green Card holders can only sponsor spouses and kids.
To qualify for a marriage-based green card, you must be legally married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder. Your marriage must be in good faith, not intended solely for an immigration benefit. Obtaining a green card through marriage can be a long and complicated process, but it is possible with the right preparation and attention to detail. If you are considering applying for a green card through marriage, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney who can guide you through the process and help you avoid common pitfalls. It is important to understand both your rights and responsibilities as a green card holder.
That case supports the unremarkable proposition that repeated criminal conduct can justify discretionary denial. It does not support disfavoring adjustment by compliant lawful nonimmigrants. However, the process itself can be complex, and mistakes along the way can lead to delays, denials, or unexpected complications. In this environment, many applicants wonder whether they should hire a marriage immigration lawyer or handle the process themselves. The new USCIS guidance announced on May 22 could limit Adjustment of Status applications for some married couples applying for green cards from inside the United States. Another critical point is that the memo itself can still be challenged in court.

Failure to comply with any legal obligations can have serious consequences. If you have any questions or concerns, it is recommended to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer. Marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident can be a quick path to obtaining a green card. However, the process can be complicated and time-consuming. With legal representation, the process can be smoother and faster. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the green card processing time after marriage with legal representation.
Located in Pasadena, I serve couples throughout Los Angeles County, including Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, Arcadia, San Gabriel Valley, and surrounding areas. Whether you're newlyweds or have been together for years, I'm here to help you navigate the marriage green card process with care and expertise. The K-1 visa allows your partner to enter the US for marriage, then adjust status to permanent resident. The total cost of a marriage-based green card includes USCIS filing fees, medical examination costs, and attorney fees. The total USCIS filing fees are approximately $2,375 (or $3,005 if the I-131 application is included). If USCIS is not convinced your marriage is genuine based on the documents and interview, the petition may be denied.

If you are eligible for the adjustment of status filing, definitely speak with an immigration lawyer before filing (and it at all possible, work closely with an immigration lawyer for the entire filing). K-1 fiancé(e) visas are one of the clearest examples. A K-1 beneficiary enters the United States to marry the U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days and then pursue adjustment of status. INA §214(d), 8 U.S.C. §1184(d), governs the fiancé(e) petition framework. INA §245(d), 8 U.S.C. §1255(d), restricts adjustment for K entrants by requiring adjustment through the marriage to the original U.S. citizen petitioner. That system makes sense only because Congress contemplated in-country adjustment as the normal next step after K-1 entry and marriage.
The Department of State marriage-based visa guidelines explain what consular officers look for during interviews abroad. Form I-131 lets your spouse travel during processing. Plus, this prevents delays from leaving the country. Many Houston residents trust immigration attorneys to navigate the legal system. Eighth, prepare thoroughly for your marriage Green Card interview.
That rationale is weakest for applicants who are still maintaining lawful status. Chang v. United States, 327 F.3d 911 (9th Cir. 2003), provides a useful analogy, especially in the EB-5 context. In Chang, EB-5 investors had received I-526 approvals, moved to the United States as conditional residents, and then faced a later INS policy change at the I-829 stage. The Ninth Circuit held that INS could not apply the new 1998 EB-5 interpretations retroactively to investors whose I-526 petitions had already been approved. Under that reading, USCIS is announcing that adjustment should generally be denied unless extraordinary circumstances justify avoiding consular processing.

The timeframe for securing a marriage-based green card can differ, influenced by variables such as jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Our Marriage Green Card Lawyer will guide you in comprehending and maneuvering through the distinct timeline relevant to your case. SO grateful for Jen, Catherine and the whole team, who worked so hard and were so patient with us through this whole process of obtaining our green cards. They are truly experts and can be trusted without a doubt to help you with your immigration needs! Applicants with complicated situations, prior visa issues, or limited evidence may benefit from consulting an immigration attorney.
In the past, it may have been acceptable to provide USCIS with the minimum information necessary to obtain a filing date, with the expectation that more information could be provided at a later date. The total cost of a CR1 visa includes the USCIS filing fee of $535 and additional costs, such as medical exams and consular processing fees. During the process, the USCIS will be working to verify that your marriage is bona fide and legal by using the documents and evidence you submit.

Matter of Briones supports the proposition that adjustment of status has statutory limits and that §245(i) does not cure every inadmissibility problem. The case involved a person inadmissible under INA §212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I), which applies to certain individuals who unlawfully reenter after prior unlawful presence or removal. The cases generally stand for the narrower rule that adjustment is discretionary and that adverse facts can justify denial. That is different from saying lawful adjustment filings are disfavored simply because consular processing exists. USCIS may review eligibility, admissibility, consent, juvenile court orders, and any applicable discretion. But a generalized preference for consular processing should not drive SIJ adjudications.
That creates a significant retroactivity and reliance issue. Applicants who filed I-485 applications before the memo did so under the legal and policy framework in effect at the time of filing. The question, therefore, is not whether adjustment of status is discretionary. The question is whether USCIS may use that discretion to create a general presumption against adjustment for people who are otherwise lawfully present and eligible to file Form I-485. On that question, the memo is on much weaker ground.