Minneapolis Marriage Green Card Lawyer

Marriage Green Card Attorney in Minneapolis, MN

One of the easiest methods of obtaining lawful permanent residency in the U.S. is through a marriage green card. Every day, across the globe, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents fall in love with people from other countries. If you legally hold a green card in the U.S. or are a U.S. citizen, you have the right to petition the government for a green card for your spouse, and a Minneapolis marriage green card lawyer at Hong Immigration Law is here to help.

Start Your Future Today With Hong Immigration Law

In 2009, immigration attorney Sung Woo Hong came to the U.S. as an international student on an F-1 visa. In 2012, he achieved permanent residency, and in 2019, became a proud U.S. citizen. 

Hong has walked the same journey you now find yourself on and is ready to help you through the entire process. Obtaining a marriage-based green card can sometimes be difficult, but with the help of the right attorney, it is not impossible. 

Understanding a Marriage-Based Green Card in Minnesota

Just over 14% of the population of the U.S. is immigrants, according to 2023 data from the American Immigration Council. At Hong Immigration Law, we are proud to help you or a loved one obtain the immigration status necessary when it comes to international marriages. Navigating the marriage-based green card process can be difficult, but with the right attorney’s support, it can be easier to reunite with your spouse in the United States.

A marriage green card allows a foreign spouse to live and work in the country as a lawful permanent resident. It is important to keep in mind that it is illegal to get married simply for immigration benefits. In fact, in order to achieve a marriage-based green card, you or your spouse must meet certain eligibility requirements. These include:

• One spouse is a U.S. citizen or a lawful, permanent resident.
• The relationship between you and your spouse is real and has not been created strictly for the purpose of one party receiving immigration benefits.
• The marriage is legally valid wherever it was performed.
• Both spouses are free and legally able to marry and do not have any prior marriages that have been left unresolved.
• The resident spouse or U.S. citizen is able to meet all financial sponsorship requirements.
• The foreign national spouse is admissible into the U.S. under immigration law.

At Hong Immigration Law, we are here to review your situation and help determine if these eligibility requirements are met. In order for your marriage-based green card application to be successful, there are several documents you will need to provide. We can help gather these documents when it comes time to submit your application. 

Core forms of documentation required include:

• Proof of legal entry, such as an I-94 record, travel history, in AOS cases, or a visa stamp
• Form I-130 and any supporting evidence for the marriage
• Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support that shows that the sponsoring spouse meets the income requirements
• Form I-485, for any Adjustment of Status cases inside the United States
• The passport, birth certificate, and government-issued identification for the foreign-born spouse
• The marriage certificate that is legally valid where it was issued
• Medical exam, or Form I-693, which has been completed by a USCIS-approved surgeon
• Any prior immigration records or police certificates for consular cases
• Any expired or current passports for travel and identity verification. 

You will also need to supply relationship evidence to show that your marriage is, in fact, real and not simply for the purposes of seeking immigration benefits. This relationship evidence can include joint leases, shared bills, photos, the birth certificates of shared children, joint bank accounts, and affidavits provided by friends and family members.

When it comes to gathering required documents, the purpose is clear: to show a very comprehensive and clear record of the life you and your spouse share together.

Can it Be Hard to Get a Marriage-Based Green Card in Minneapolis?

For both family-based and employer-based green cards, the denial rate over the last several years has hovered around 10%. Therefore, it is crucial that you follow every step in the process and listen to the counsel of your attorney. You can face certain challenges if your application is not thoroughly prepared by a lawyer. 

Common challenges in marriage-based green card cases include:

• Proving a real marriage. It is crucial that you are able to prove this is a bona fide marriage and not one established purely for immigration benefits. This aspect of your case will be looked at with severe scrutiny by government officials.
• Factors that complicate the process. There are certain factors that can be present in marriage-based green card cases that can complicate the overall process. These factors include any prior marriages, any immigration violations in the past, and any kind of criminal history. 
• Special situations. There are certain situations that can lead you and your spouse to undergo more intense scrutiny by the government. These situations can include having a short courtship or dating history, having large cultural differences or language barriers, having a large age difference between you and your spouse, or being guilty of a previous visa overstay. 
• Interview pressure. The marriage interview that will be required during this process can feel both stressful and personal. Unfortunately, inconsistent answers or nervousness, while totally normal for some people to experience, could be seen as a red flag by the agent interviewing you. An experienced attorney can help you prepare and answer confidently and consistently.

Hire a Marriage Green Card Lawyer Today

To avoid potential delays or even denials for a marriage-based green card in Minneapolis, you need to hire a marriage green card lawyer who comes with experience handling a wide range of immigration cases. At Hong Immigration Law, we are here to serve you and your loved ones. 

Whether you are hoping to bring your spouse home to Camden or are ready to start a new life in Powderhorn Park, contact our office today and schedule your initial appointment with our Minneapolis marriage green card lawyer.