Category Archives: Marriage Family Visa
The Role of Tax Returns in the Affidavit of Support: Demonstrating Income Eligibility
When sponsoring a family member for a green card, demonstrating financial stability is a critical part of the process. The Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) requires sponsors to prove that they meet the income requirements to prevent the intending immigrant from becoming a public charge. A sponsor’s tax returns play a pivotal role in… Read More »
What Is the Affidavit of Support? A Comprehensive Guide for Sponsors
When sponsoring a family member or certain immigrants for a green card, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) often need to complete Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, as part of the process. This document is not just a formality—it is a legally enforceable contract with significant financial responsibilities for the sponsor. Understanding the… Read More »
Conditional Status After Obtaining a Green Card Through Marriage
Obtaining a green card through marriage is an important step toward permanent residency in the United States, but it often comes with conditions for couples who have been married for less than two years at the time of approval. These conditions are meant to ensure that the marriage is bona fide and not entered… Read More »
Consequences of Marriage Fraud for Immigration Purposes
Marriage is one of the most common ways for non-U.S. citizens to obtain permanent residency (a green card) in the United States. While the vast majority of marriage-based green card applications are legitimate, there are instances where individuals attempt to exploit this pathway by engaging in marriage fraud solely for immigration benefits. U.S. Citizenship… Read More »
Are Surprise Home Inspections by USCIS a Concern for Marriage-Based Green Card Applicants?
One common concern among marriage-based green card applicants is whether government officers may conduct surprise home inspections to verify the authenticity of their marriage. The idea of unannounced visits can cause anxiety for couples, especially those navigating the already complex process of proving their bona fide relationship. A Houston marriage and family visa lawyer… Read More »
Proving Bona-Fide Marriage for Family-Based Immigration
For many immigrants, obtaining a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is an important pathway to securing permanent residency in the United States. However, due to the potential for fraudulent marriage claims, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State scrutinize marriage-based green card applications very… Read More »
Understanding The F2 Visa
The F2 visa is a visa that allows long-term permanent residents to bring certain family members into the United States. By doing so, those family members can begin living, and working, in the United States. Going over what the F2 visa is, and speaking with a lawyer, will make it easier for a long-term… Read More »
The 90 Day Fiancé Visa Rule
A wide variety of rules and regulations underlie the K-1 visa. Every single one of these rules and regulations affects one’s ability to bring their foreign fiancé into the United States and, then, to marry them. Going over the 90 day fiancé visa rule, and speaking with a marriage and family visa lawyer at… Read More »
The Questions Your Family Member May Be Asked At A Family Visa Interview
Right before a family member can receive the family visa they have been sponsored for, they must go to an interview conducted at a United States embassy/consulate. By going to this interview, the USCIS agent or consular officer can assess the family and their responses to the questions that they have been asked. This… Read More »
The Family Visa Your Family Member Needs
A U.S. citizen can bring their family members into the United States. This same basic fact applies to permanent residents who currently live/work in the United States, although it is a little more limited. Going over the family visa a U.S. citizen and/or permanent resident’s family member needs, while speaking with a lawyer, will… Read More »