FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I am engaged to a foreign national. Should we get married abroad and apply for a green card or apply for a fiancé(e) visa for him/her to travel to the United States for us to get married here?

It depends. Each person's situation is different and we do not suggest one method over the other in all cases. Call us at (206) 447-1560 or fill out our Online Immigration Law Questionnaire to discuss your circumstances and get a better idea of the best option for you.



I have a fiancé(e) abroad. Should they come here on a tourist visa so we can get married?

NO! If your fiancé(e) travels to the United States on a tourist visa and then you submit a Green Card application, it is extremely likely that the entry on the travel visa will be deemed fraudulent by Immigration Officials and the Green Card application will be denied. You and your fiancé(e) should either get married abroad and submit a marriage visa application, or apply for a fiancé(e) visa. See Question 1 for more information.



My parent entered the United States unlawfully. Can I sponsor them for a Green Card?

Sadly, no. US citizens can sponsor their parents for Green Cards while the parent is abroad and is not barred from entering or while they are in the United States with a valid visa. To forgive an unlawful entry into the United States, a separate forgiveness application is needed in addition to the immediate family member sponsorship application. US citizen children are not permitted to file forgiveness applications for their parent. If your parent has a US citizen spouse, a forgiveness application may be permitted.



My spouse entered the United States unlawfully. Can I sponsor them for a green card?

Maybe. To sponsor your spouse for a Green Card, you will have to file a separate forgiveness application based on the extreme hardship that you, the US citizen, would experience in the event of deportation or relocation to your spouse's home country. Extreme hardship can often be proven when the US citizen has a medical condition for which they need the assistance of their foreign national spouse or would receive inadequate health care abroad. It can also be proven in other circumstances. To discuss the possibility of a forgiveness application, call us at (206) 447-1560 or fill out our Online Immigration Law Questionnaire.



What do I do if I do not see my question listed here?

Call us at (206) 447-1560 or fill out our Online Immigration Law Questionnaire at the bottom of the page.