Because of the increasing number of people marrying U.S. residents to get immigration benefits, marriages are supervised by the US Immigration and Nationality Service (USCIS) and/or the Department of State to ensure that they are genuine and do not grant marriage-based permanent residence without prior verification.

Under the right circumstances and with expert advise, marriage-based permanent residence is the most frequent and fastest application to get a green card in the United States.

If a U.S. citizen is engaged to marry a foreign national, he or she may petition for a K1 fiancé visa so that he or she can travel to the United States and marry within 90 days after entering. After the marriage, an application for permanent residence by marriage is initiated to obtain a change in the alien’s status.

U.S. immigration law allows a foreign national to apply for permanent residence by marriage based on a petition initiated by his or her spouse who is a U.S. lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen.