Marriage Green Card :
Learn About Marriage Visa Requirements
-Part Three-

To obtain a marriage green card, you must first either apply for a K1 fiancee visa or a K3 marriage visa. If you marry a US citizen, you will be able to apply for your marriage green card as soon as you finish the application process.

If you marry a U.S. permanent resident, however, your spouse can file the petition right away but the category you go into is different, and is known as a 2A. While you can still get a green card, you will have to wait, possibly even several years, before the green card will become available to you.

This is Part Three of Learning about Marriage Visa Requirements. To go to Part One, Click here.

Third Requirement -- Marriage Not Entered Into For Immigration Purposes

If a marriage was entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit, or strictly to obtain a marriage green card, that marriage is considered by the US government as a fraudulent marriage. For this reason, a person who is the beneficiary of an immigration status under a K3 visa is given a conditional permanent residence for two years after the application if the marriage is less than two years old.

It is important to understand that it is permissible to consider immigration as part of the reason for marrying; however, it cannot be the only reason. This is why it is essential that couples ensure they are able to put together evidence showing the marriage is bona fide (legitimate).

To have a better understanding of how these requirements fit your particular situation, Contact an attorney.

Learn about the first two requirements for obtaining a K3 visa: marriage valid at the time it was performed and in existence throughout the immigration process:

Return to Part 1 -Marriage Green Card -Marriage Valid at the Time it Was Performed

Go on to Part 2- K3 Visa - In Existence Throughout the Immigration Process