If you are engaged or recently married, congratulations! This is an exciting time in the lives of any new couple. But if your new spouse is not a United States citizen, you may have some concerns about what will happen legally once you return from your honeymoon.

Many couples in your situation are eager to get a green card (also known as lawful permanent resident status) for the new non-citizen spouse, which can lead to benefits such as the right to work in the country.

The Legal Process

To obtain a green card, the couple will begin by filing the official forms (often the I-130 form and I-485 form) along with providing photographs and documentation. They must then pay the required fees to various government agencies, report for fingerprinting and biometrics, and submit to questioning at an interview with an immigration agent before being approved. A few details may vary based on your location, but in our experience with thousands of cases in the Cleveland, Columbus and Detroit areas, the total process is usually completed in a few months. Importantly, if you have been married for less than two years, the green card will be granted conditionally and you must take additional steps at a specific time in the future to remove these conditions, or else your spouse can be at risk of removal or deportation.

Potential Complications

For a simple “textbook” marriage green card case, the newlyweds may be comfortable completing these steps on their own. Others feel overwhelmed or intimidated navigating a bureaucratic immigration process where mistakes can have serious legal consequences. This is especially true if your situation is not “textbook.” For example, issues that our clients often face that can make the process more complicated or risky include: