A marriage green card can offer couples the opportunity to reside permanently in the U.S. Unfortunately, this system was abused in the past through sham marriages (marriages solely for immigration purposes.
Now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) thoroughly checks the legitimacy of all marriages during green card applications. What steps can you take to prove that your marriage is legitimate?
It starts with paperwork
Gathering the right paperwork is the starting point of showing that your marriage is legitimate. You should provide USCIS with your marriage certificate, your birth certificate and your spouse’s as well as passports. If you have been married in the past, then you should also provide divorce or annulment documents or a death certificate (if your former spouse passed away).
Proof of joint finances
A marriage is all about joint commitments, and finances play a key role in this. It will help to show any joint financial commitments that you and your spouse have. For example, if you have a joint bank account, this information can be passed on. You should also provide information on joint mortgages, insurance policies and credit cards.
Proof that you live together or spend time together
If you live together then this will certainly help your application. You can show USCIS joint tenancy agreements and property bills. You may also be able to provide joint utility bills that show you are both contributing to household bills.
If you don’t live together, then your application may still be approved. However, it is important to show that you spend a significant amount of time together. You can explain why you currently do not live together and provide photographs of your spending time together over the years.
Other factors that can help prove your marriage is legitimate include:
- Your child’s birth certificate or adoption records
- Joint travel records
- Written correspondence with one another
To maximize the chances of success in your immigration application, it will be beneficial to seek legal guidance.