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Love abroad: getting your fiancé to the U.S.

On Behalf of | Nov 19, 2021 | U.S. Immigration Law |

It’s a wonderful thing when you find love abroad. For Maryland residents who are looking for a way to get their fiancé to the U.S. so they can seal the deal, it’s a major asset to know how the process works so you know what to prepare for.

Under American immigration laws, U.S. citizens may acquire temporary visas for both their fiancé and any children of the fiancé. This then gives them the legal ability to get married in the United States.

Temporary visas are unique in that they’ve been designed with the specific goal of strengthening legitimate marriages, making it easier for these mixed families to form. A temporary visa is also known as a fiancé visa. Once a couple is married, it becomes possible to apply for a family-based green card.

Upon approval of a temporary visa, couples have to get married in no less than 90 days after the non-citizen has entered the United States. It’s important to be aware of all other related requirements and deadlines so you stay on the path to citizenship. In this difficult and time-consuming process, you don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize your partner’s visa, legal status, or your marriage.

Be ready to prove your relationship

Due to the longstanding trend of people attempting – and in many cases, succeeding – to take advantage of fiancé visas as a way of getting around immigration laws, there are numerous hoops that must be jumped through before you get get your fiancé’s citizenship.

There’s a long history of cases in which couples effectively used temporary visas purely as a means of bringing people into the United State in an illegitimate fashion. This issue of individuals gaming the system is exactly what’s necessitated the stringent procedural precautions that are in place.

Much of the process on the path to citizenship through a temporary visa involves proving the legitimacy of the relationship. To ensure that it’s not a sham marriage, the couple’s personal lives are often exhaustively inspected. Their personal ties to one another must be sufficiently proven before approval is given.

It’s helpful to have all your evidence prepared prior to applying for a green card. Common pieces of evidence that are used include past visits and correspondences, such as phone calls, texts, and emails.

Temporary visas or fiancé visas are there to help international couples take the next step in their relationship. By learning the steps in the process, you’ll make it easier for the both of you to reach your happily ever after.

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