A waiting list develops because the number of green cards for spouses of U.S. permanent residents is limited. Before a green card becomes “immediately available” to you, the government must finish work on the case of everyone from your country who wants to get a green card through their permanent resident spouse and who applied before you did.
Can a permanent resident spouse become an US citizen?
However, you do have a possible path to U.S. residence, and your spouse can and should take steps to start the immigration process for you as soon as possible, if that’s your goal (and if you eventually want U.S. citizenship). As the spouse of a permanent resident, you are what’s referred to as a “preference relative.”
What does it mean to be permanent resident of United States?
As the name suggests, permanent resident status is generally constant. It’s granted to people who intend to live in the United States for the foreseeable future. Permanent residents, also known as green card holders, have the privilege of living and working in the United States permanently.
What to do when a relative becomes a permanent resident?
If your relative is already in the United States legally, he or she may apply to adjust status to become a permanent resident after a visa number becomes available using Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
What was the number of marriages in the United States in 2009?
Marriage laws have changed considerably in the United States over time, including the removal of bans on interracial marriage and same-sex marriage. In 2009, there were 2,077,000 marriages, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median age for the first marriage has increased in recent years.
How long does it take for a spouse to become a permanent resident?
The government needs to be sure of those things before it will allow you to apply for permanent residence. Your spouse files the petition using USCIS Form I-130. (See Filing an Immigration Petition (I-130) for a Foreign Spouse .) It will normally take USCIS anywhere from a month to six months to approve the petition.
Can a spouse of a permanent resident get a green card?
One of the rules is that the U.S. must have a permanent resident “space” for you, available immediately. (USCIS calls this an available “visa” or “visa number,” but it means green card, too.) Unfortunately, as the spouse of a permanent resident, there probably won’t be room for you immediately when you get your I-130 approval.
