Skip to main content

We see many clients at our Orlando immigration law office who plan to obtain permanent residency in the U.S. or a Green Card via marriage. However, the United States requires that certain conditions must be met in order for the marriage to be deemed valid and legal for immigration purposes. Specifically, there are 3 requirements that must be met:

  1. The marriage must be valid in the country in which it was performed. If a marriage is valid in the country in which it was performed, it is valid in the United States; there is no need to get re-married in the U.S. Same, and opposite-sex marriages are legal for U.S. immigration purposes.

 

  1. It must be a single marriage. We see trouble most often when a second marriage is performed before a divorce is finalized. Before you re-marry, be sure to check the final judgment date of the divorce and make sure the new marriage takes place after that date. Otherwise, you will be seen as having a dual-marriage, which is not allowed under U.S. immigration law.

 

  1. The marriage must be a good faith marriage. Applicants must prove to U.S. immigration officials that their marriage is a bona fide good faith marriage that is based on love. They must be able to prove an ongoing marital relationship and co-mingling of financial assets, among other proofs.

Immigration Help Is Available

The requirement that is the most challenging to navigate is #3: proving it is a good faith marriage. One of the services that our Orlando immigration law firm offers is helping clients prepare for their immigration interview with immigration officials. We help clients identify, collect, and organize the required documentation, provide them with a list of sample questions that may be asked in the immigration interview, and even arrange mock interviews to help applicants become comfortable with the process.

If you would like help obtaining U.S. residency through marriage, contact The Law Offices of Gail Seeram to arrange a free consultation. We have been practicing immigration law for over 20 years and have been named the Best Lawyer for immigration law in Orlando since 2016.

Contact us at Gail@GailLaw.com, start a chat session at https://myorlandoimmigrationlawyer.com, or call or text 407-292-7730.