If you have obtained a green card through marriage to an American citizen, you have a conditional green card and you are probably wondering how you can get those conditions removed.
In order to get a permanent green card, you and your spouse must remain married for two years. While you are married you will accumulate a record of your marriage with various saved receipts, pictures and bank records. At the end of two years, you will file a I-751 form jointly to have the initial conditions removed. If you want to stay in the country, you must apply for a permanent green card, a conditional green card cannot be renewed. If you do not get a permanent card after your conditional card has expired, you will have to leave the country.
Notice of Action
Two to three weeks after you apply for a permanent card, you will get a Notice of Action or I-797 form. The notice is to let you know that your application has been received. It will have a 13-digit code on it that will enable you to track the progress of your application. In some cases, there may be a request for additional information in your notice. It will also let you know that you need to make a Biometrics appointment.
What Happens at the Biometrics Appointment?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires you to have a biometrics appointment each time that you apply for one of its services. Biometrics is defined as a person’s physical traits, and they are recorded as a means of identification. They will take a picture of you and fingerprint you for a criminal background check. If you are from a developing country, or if you do not have a birth certificate, they may ask you for a DNA sample. Children under 14 are exempt from a biometrics appointment. You should bring your state issued ID and your conditional green card to the appointment.
Your Interview
When you have obtained a marriage-based green card you must have an interview with an immigration officer after the initial two-year period. The immigration office does this to avoid cases of marriage fraud.
The marriage interview will include questions about how you met, your wedding and your married life together. They may ask such questions as, “Who introduced you?,” “how did you propose” and “When did you realize you were in love?”
They will also ask detailed questions about your home and sleeping habits. Be prepared for questions about the style and size of your bedroom furniture, bathroom habits, and your respective diets.
If you pass all of your background checks and your marriage is deemed to be a real one, it should take about six months to get a permanent green card.
Finding an Attorney
When you are going through the process of obtaining a green card you need a lawyer. If you are in a conservative state like Arizona, you need an experienced legal team like the one at The Law Offices of Lemuel A. Carlos, immigration lawyer in Scottsdale.
You have worked hard to become a resident, and citizenship is just around the corner. Proper planning and good representation can help you realize the American dream.
*Authoritative Sources:
https://www.uscis.gov/greencard
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/us/immigrant-citizenship-naturalization.html
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