NO! People ask this a lot, and think the answer is yes. Marrying a U.S. citizen does not automatically change anything about your status. To make changes, the first step is to get a green card – the common name for a Permanent Residence card. Then, after 3 years of marriage, you can usually apply for citizenship. The U.S. allows dual citizenship but not all countries do, so it’s very important to find out your country’s rules before applying.
Your spouse can start the green card process by filing an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The government assumes your marriage is bogus so you need to prove it’s a real marriage.
- If you’re in the US, you might be able to legally remain in the country while you go through the process.You file an I-485 application to “adjust status” along with applications for work and travel permits.
- If you’re outside the US, your spouse still files the I-130 petition to get things going. IF it’s approved, the file then goes to the State Department’s National Visa Center, and eventually to the embassy that will interview you. You and your spouse will have to submit further forms and documents before you can interview.
