Are You Engaged to a U.S. Citizen? Frequently Asked Questions

Congratulations on your recent engagement.  You probably have a lot of planning to do   …and a lot of questions that need to be answered.  If you are marrying a U.S. citizen, here are the answers to some common marriage visa questions.  If your question is not answered below, get it answered by contacting  a marriage [...]

What Steps are In the Adjustment of Status Process?

Many foreign nationals who are married to U.S. citizens (and who are living in the United States) are eligible to adjust status and gain permanent residency in the United States.  However, not too many of these individuals know the process for completing the process.  They do not know the steps to the marriage visa and [...]

Does Marrying a U.S. Citizen Automatically Give You Citizenship?

True or False?

Does a foreign national automatically gain citizenship by marrying a U.S. citizen?

FALSE.  Many potential clients approach family immigration lawyers thinking that as soon as a couple gets married, all of the foreign national’s immigration problems will disappear.  Unfortunately, this is not the truth.  A foreign national who marries a U.S. citizen [...]

Immigration Marriage Fraud May Lead To Jail Time

The U.S. sentenced a Mexican soup opera star to 30 days of jail for entering into a sham marriage and committing Immigration Marriage Fraud.  Marriage fraud has real consequences and individuals who are thinking about it should know that both the U.S. citizen and the foreign national face up to five years in prison (and/or [...]

Immigration Benefits Available For Same Sex Couple Diplomats

Beginning last month, the Department of State has announced that its diplomats can obtain immigration status for foreign national spouses who are of the same sex.  This marks the first time that the United States immigration system has acknowledged same sex couples.  Whether further changes will be made is yet to be seen.

Seeking Marriage Visa? Immigration Agency May Be Watching Your Social Network Data

If you and your lover are seeking a marriage visa or a fiancee visa, make sure you act appropriately on all social networking sites.   The immigration agency may be watching your profile and posts, and may misinterpret an innocent statement made by you or one of your friends to mean that you and your lover [...]

USCIS Not Sure 17 Year Marriage Is Legitimate

The New York Times recently ran an article about a couple that has been married for over seventeen years, but who have been unable to demonstrate to USCIS that their marriage is legitimate and wasn’t solely for immigration purposes. Think about that for a second – if someone married another for immigration purposes only, why [...]

New York City Stokes Interview for Marriage Immigration

This past weekend, the New York Times ran an article about the Stokes Unit at the New York City USCIS Field Office.   The Stokes Unit is the Immigration unit that reviews marriage visa cases to ensure that a marriage is entered into for the right reasons and that a marriage is not entered into solely [...]