I Am Planning to Get Married. What Can I Do Before Marriage to Help My Green Card Visa Process?
Generally before you become married, you are not able to file any marriage-based petitions except for the K-1 fiancé visa petition. However, we advise most of our clients to start as soon as possible to obtain documents that are likely to be needed from a foreign country. Some of these documents are typically difficult and time consuming to procure, especially foreign birth certificates or registrations.
For those aliens whose births were not registered, or whose birth registration is lost, special procedures are necessary to obtain the affidavits and substitute documentation from the foreign local government that may satisfy the requirement. In addition, all documents in a foreign language must be provided along with certified translations. Those planning to submit marriage based visa petitions may make the process faster if they obtain foreign documents with certified translations ahead of time. Such will typically include birth certificates or registrations, divorce decrees, adoption records, school records, marriage certificates and such.
H-1B Frequently Asked Questions
What is an H-1B?
What is a specialty occupation?
How can I demonstrate to the USCIS that the position is a specialty occupation?
What if I do not have a bachelor's degree, may I still apply for the H-1B visa?
May I still apply for an H-1B visa even though my education was not completed in the U.S.?
Is there an annual limit on the number of H-1B aliens?
Does the annual limit apply to me if I hold a Master's degree?
Who is exempt from the H-1B cap and what kinds of jobs are exempt for the annual H-1B visa cap?
Given that the FY06 cap has been reached, when can I submit an H-1B petition for the upcoming year?
How does one apply for an H-1B visa?
How long can an alien be in H-1B status?
Who can an H-1B alien work for?
What if the alien’s circumstances change?
Must an H-1B alien be working at all times?
Can an H-1B alien travel outside the U.S.?
Can an H-1B alien intend to immigrate permanently to the U.S.?
When and how can I change employers after my H-1B visa petition is approved, or after filing my I-140/Green Card petition?
Click here for additional information from the Department of Labor concerning H-1B visas.
What is a specialty occupation?
A specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge along with at least a bachelors degree or its equivalent. For example, architecture, computers, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business specialties, accounting, law, theology, and the arts are specialty occupations.