Common Mistakes When Applying for a Marriage Green Card
Applying for a marriage green card is becoming more difficult. The U.S. government still offers green cards, but immigration officers have begun to take a more critical look at petitions. Anyone seeking a green card must carefully prepare their application so that information is consistent with supporting documents, including previous applications. And applicants should prepare for the interview with an immigration officer to prove their marriage is genuine. Call The Law Office of Jason M. Sullivan, PLLC, for assistance. Our comprehensive immigration services include strategic planning to avoid some of the most common mistakes.
Providing Inconsistent Information
Marriage based green cards are rife with fraud. Immigration officers are constantly looking for signs that the relationship is fake and that people are entering into marriages solely to obtain an immigration benefit. An officer can compare information in your:
- I-130
- I-485
- Any previous immigration applications
- Visa applications
- Supporting documents
- Social media accounts
We encourage anyone seeking a marriage-based immigration benefit to work with an established law firm. We can review your entire file and ensure that information is accurate.
If you provide inconsistent information, then you face an uphill challenge establishing your credibility. In addition to being denied, the government might open a fraud investigation to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
Failing to Disclose Previous Marriages
If you were previously married, you need to prove you either received a divorce or your spouse died. Some applicants assume a previous marriage is irrelevant to the current immigration petition. That is a serious mistake. Failure to disclose a previous marriage, as well as not obtaining information to prove you divorced, could result in a denial.
Some applicants in the U.S. struggle to obtain public records of a divorce in their home country, where reliable records might be hard to obtain. Our firm can help.
Failing to Prove Sufficient Financial Resources
The U.S. petitioner typically needs to show they have the financial resources to support their spouse. Too many applicants rely on outdated or incomplete financial information. They might even provide inaccurate information, such as the size of your household. Let a lawyer crunch the numbers to see that you have adequate financial reserves.
Overlooking Status Violations or Criminal History
Some applicants believe that previous criminal history or status violations are irrelevant in the marriage context. That’s not true. You could have your green card denied for overstaying a visa, working illegally, or committing a crime.
Work with a lawyer to go over your entire history, including previous stays in the U.S. Previous violations also impact credibility, so no violation is too minor not to address with your lawyer.
At our firm, we excel at strategic immigration planning. A component is anticipating problems on the horizon and developing a narrative to address them.
Contact Us Today to Speak with an Immigration Attorney
A comprehensive file review takes time. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to begin planning for your green card petition with a Portsmouth, New Hampshire or Miami, Florida fiancé and marriage visa lawyer.