What To Expect At A Spouses Military Service

It'due south not uncommon to detect honey while deployed or stationed away. But one time yous've met and married your truthful love, how will you bring your new spouse to the U.s. in order to start a life together?

sample green card

The respond is a union green menu. A dark-green carte du jour would allow your not-American spouse to live and piece of work anywhere in the United States while providing a path toward U.Due south. citizenship after 3–5 years.

Before you lot start the application process, you'll need to know some basics. This guide will walk you lot through the steps and assistance y'all decide if you lot authorize. Read on to learn everything you demand to know about green cards for military spouses.

Dizzying reduces your risk of application rejection or denial by 25%

Timeline

Depending on whether or non you employ from within the U.s.a. or abroad, you can look to wait x–38 months, not including possible delays. The process generally takes longer for spouses of green menu holders — who must expect for a "visa number" before applying — than for spouses of U.S. citizens.

Cost

You'll pay $one,200–$1,760 in authorities fees, depending on where the spouse seeking a green menu lives. A required medical test will cost an additional $100–$500.

Eligibility

Congratulations on your wedlock! The first step toward a union green card is to make certain you lot qualify for one. Couples by and large must see a number of requirements, such as proving the authenticity of their spousal relationship, earning at least 100% of the poverty guidelines for your household size.

USCIS Military machine Spouse Green Card Requirements

For sponsoring spouses on active duty:

Exist a U.S. denizen or green carte du jour holder (permanent resident)
Earn at least 100% of the poverty guidelines for your household size
Take financial responsibility for your spouse
Non accept previously committed certain types of crimes

For spouses seeking a green card:

Prove your identity, nationality, and current U.South. immigration condition, if any
Not have previously committed certain types of crimes or clearing violations (or seek a waiver)

For both spouses:

Demonstrate wedlock actuality
Prove termination of previous wedlock(southward)
Submit supporting documentation (including military service records)

How to Apply

Earlier starting the paperwork, it's important to empathise which process to follow. The correct procedure — some couples can cull — depends on:

Whether the sponsoring military spouse is a U.S. denizen or green card holder
Whether the spouse seeking a green carte lives in or outside the Usa.

Your situation determines which forms to complete, how much y'all'll pay, and how long yous'll wait.

What's the right procedure?

When both spouses live in the United States: Yous'll file an "Aligning of Status." The spouse seeking a green card won't need to leave the United states of america. This is true for spouses of green card holders as long as they maintain a valid educatee or piece of work visa while waiting for approval. But spouses of U.S. citizens need not maintain a valid immigration status while waiting. They can too file all required forms at the same time, a process called "concurrent filing."

When the spouse seeking a green card lives abroad: You'll go through "Consular Processing." The spouse seeking a light-green menu must apply through a U.S. consulate or embassy.
When both spouses live abroad: You can consummate the first pace through an international U.Due south. Citizenship and Clearing Services (USCIS) role — if available in your current country — to speed up the process. This is only an option until all international USCIS offices close past Oct 2019. Alternatively, yous can file with a U.Southward. consulate or embassy.

how to apply for a military spouse light-green carte

Getting a military spouse green card is a four-step process:

Establish marriage validity.
Utilise for the dark-green carte (from within the United States or from abroad) and prove the sponsoring spouse'southward ability to financially support their spouse.
Attend an interview.
Wait for approval.

Interview

The U.Due south. government conducts an in-person interview to evaluate the authenticity of your marriage. If it's legitimate, you lot shouldn't worry.

Where's the interview?

If applying from within the United states of america: You'll get to a local USCIS function. Both spouses nourish unless the sponsoring military spouse is deployed, in which case their spouse (attending alone) should bring evidence of the overseas armed services assignment — a photocopy of the official orders or letter from the commanding officer — to the interview.
If applying from abroad: You'll go to a U.Southward. consulate. In about cases, simply the spouse seeking a green card will attend.

Next Steps

The physical greenish card arrives 2–3 weeks after final approving (if applying from within the United states of america) or after arriving in the Usa (if from abroad).

But non all dark-green cards are created equal:

If you've been married less than 2 years: You'll receive a "conditional" (CR1) green card that expires in 2 years. At that time, both spouses will need to employ to "remove conditions" and attend a second interview with USCIS to re-cosign the marriage.

If y'all've been married at least 2 years: You'll receive a "permanent" light-green carte du jour valid for 10 years. Renewing is usually a simple process and doesn't require proving the actuality of your marriage a second time.

In 3–5 years, you tin utilise for U.S. citizenship. You'll qualify for expedited or overseas naturalization if y'all see certain requirements and if the sponsoring spouse is stationed abroad.

Military Spouse FAQs

How much does it cost to use for a military spouse dark-green card?

The government filing fee for armed services spouses applying from within the United States is $1,760 and $1,200 for applicants filing from within the United States. That does not include the cost for the required medical exam, which can price anywhere from $100-$500.

How long does it have to go a military spouse green card?

It can take between ten and 38 months or more than to receive a green menu, depending on where you are applying from. The process is typically longer for spouses of green card holders, who must wait for a "visa number" to go bachelor earlier applying.

How practice I contact USCIS with questions?

Yous can contact the toll-free war machine help line at 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645, TTY 800-877-8339). Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm (CST), except on federal holidays. You lot can also email USCIS with questions to militaryinfo@uscis.dhs.gov.

I received an appointment notice for my aligning of condition interview, just my U.South. denizen spouse is currently stationed abroad. Can I attend the appointment without my spouse?

Yes, if your denizen spouse is currently deployed overseas, USCIS will behave the interview without them. You lot volition need to bring proof that your spouse is stationed away, such as a photocopy of the official orders or a letter from your spouse's commanding officer.

How practice I get citizenship through the military?

If you lot are foreign-born and a current or sometime fellow member of the U.Due south. military, then you lot may be eligible to apply for citizenship. For more than information, visit www.uscis.gov/military/armed forces.

Am I eligible for U.Southward. citizenship if I'm a war machine spouse?

If you are the the spouse of a service fellow member who is a U.S. citizen, and the citizen spouse volition be deployed overseas, you may be eligible to utilise for expedited naturalization. To apply, y'all will need to be 18 years or older and prove your spouse is a U.Southward. citizen who will exist stationed away for 1 year or more. For more than info, USCIS provides a full list of requirements.

Boundless — for people who want the expertise
of an immigration lawyer, non the cost tag.