Canadian Visitor to US Citizen in 4 Years! One of the most common scenarios we see practicing US immigration law on the northern border with Canada is for visitors that enter the United States and marry US citizens. We recently helped a client complete the journey of entering the United States as a visitor, marriage to a US Citizen, and eventually US citizenship. Read their US Immigration story here.
Case Summary – Canadian Visitor to US Citizen in 4 Years!
Our client entered the United States as a Canadian visitor in 2018. Canadian citizens are visa exempt and do not require a visa to enter the United States as visitors. This is similar to the visa waiver program (VWP) for citizens of other countries. After entry to the United States, she married her US-citizen spouse. We then guided them through the process of filing for a green card through marriage to a US citizen using USCIS Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and USCIS Form I-485 Adjustment of Status. Since their marriage was less than 2 years at the time the I-130 was approved, she received a temporary 2-year green card.
When you receive a temporary green card through marriage to a US citizen, the green card is what is referred to as a “conditional” green card and is only valid for 2-years. Before the conditional green card expires, you are required to file to remove the conditions on the green card through USCIS Form I-751 Removal of Conditions. We filed Form I-751 on their behalf and it was approved granting our client a permanent 10-year green card.
After receiving her permanent 10-year green card, our client met the minimum requirements to file for US Citizenship through her marriage to a US Citizen, 3 years. We subsequently filed USCIS Form N-400 Application for Naturalization on her behalf for US citizenship. Shortly thereafter she was scheduled for her naturalization interview. SHE PASSED and is now a US Citizen. It was our pleasure to be with her on her journey to obtaining her US citizenship. She is now a dual Canadian and US Citizen.
My husband and I were very fortunate to have had Christine and her team guide us through our immigration process. Christine had wonderful soft skills – always remaining professional, transparent, organized, and sympathetic. She did a wonderful job of framing the stages of our process when confusion or worries set in. To have a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer handling our paperwork, speaking to USCIS on our behalf, and answering questions/concerns along the way was invaluable. We are so grateful to have spent nearly 5 years, from our first inquiry to my Oath of Allegiance, being guided by Richard & Jurusik US Immigration Law. – Green Card through Marriage, Removal of Conditions, and Naturalization
US Citizenship & Naturalization
We Can Help!
The immigration lawyers at Richards and Jurusik Immigration Law have more than 30+ years of experience helping Canadian visitors obtain green cards through marriage and eventually, US citizenship. Contact us today for an assessment of your US Immigration matter.
