How does marriage affect my immigration status?

Marriage can have a significant effect on your immigration status if at least one of the two spouses is a non-U.S. citizen. In California, the marriage must be legally recognized in order for it to affect your immigration status. When a U.S. citizen marries a non-citizen, the non-citizen spouse is typically eligible to apply for a "green card" (also known as lawful permanent residence). This allows the foreign-born spouse to stay in the U.S. permanently and become eligible for a number of benefits, such as the right to work, access to certain social services and the ability to apply for U.S. citizenship. At the same time, if a non-citizen marries a U.S. citizen and then applies for some form of immigration relief, such as asylum or cancellation of removal, it can allow them to gain lawful status in the U.S. This is due to the fact that the U.S. government gives special consideration to those with close family ties to U.S. citizens. As you can see, there are a number of ways that marriage can affect your immigration status. It is important to discuss any immigration matters with an experienced immigration attorney before you get married in order to ensure that your marriage will not cause any negative consequences in regards to your immigration status.

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How does marriage affect my immigration status?

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