How does marriage affect my immigration status?

In Texas, marriage can affect immigration status in various ways. For example, one benefit is that if a United States citizen or permanent resident has a foreign-born spouse, they can petition for a green card on behalf of their partner. This is known as an immigrant visa petition. The petition must be filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and if approved, the foreign-born spouse can become a lawful permanent resident in the United States. In addition, marriage can also affect the immigration status of a non-citizen who is already in the country. If the non-citizen is married to a U.S. citizen or resident, the non-citizen can apply for a marriage-based immigrant visa. This visa allows the non-citizen to stay in the U.S. legally and keep their existing immigration status. If the non-citizen is legally married to a citizen or resident with a valid visa, they can also apply for a family-based immigrant visa. In some cases, marriage can also provide protection from deportation. If the non-citizen is married to a U.S. citizen and the U.S. citizen files an I-130 petition on their behalf, the non-citizen may be eligible for a deportation waiver if they can prove their marriage is bona fide. Overall, marriage can affect a person’s immigration status in both positive and negative ways. If a non-citizen is considering marriage to a citizen or resident, they should first seek advice from a qualified immigration lawyer to ensure they are aware of all the potential benefits and consequences.

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