Spouses from China

For many foreign born individuals seeking to obtain residence in the U.S., marriage to a United States citizen or green card holder may open up the doors to this process. The regulations may vary depending on the country the individual is from. In this case, we are going to discuss the procedures required for marrying an individual from the country China.

 

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MARRIAGE AND IMMIGRATION STATUS

If you and your significant other have not tied the knot quite yet, you have the option of petitioning for him or her to be able to leave China and enter the U.S. as your fiancé so that you may have your ceremony in the U.S. You may also choose to get married in your fiancé’s country of origin. In both cases, your fiancé may then apply for a green card once you are married. This petitioning is only possible however if you are a United States citizen, not if you are a green card holder yourself. In order to do this, you must prove:
 

• The legal status of the petitioner (either citizen or lawful permanent resident)
• A legal marriage ceremony will occur in the future, or has already occurred
• The marriage is not a fraud (a deceptive attempt to obtain a green card)
• The foreign individual is not deemed “inadmissible” by the government

 

The fiancé visa is referred to as the K-1 visa. It lasts for a 90 day period for the purposes of holding the wedding ceremony. The fiancé will have to apply for this visa after his or her significant other files a visa petition with the I-129F form and submits it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before leaving China.
 

FROM CHINA TO THE U.S.

The process differs slightly for a couple who has already been married and is now applying for a green card for the foreign born individual. This requires filing an I-130 form with the USCIS. Individuals applying through a spouse who is a U.S. citizen may often proceed to the next part of the application process. Individuals applying through a spouse who is a lawful permanent resident however may have to wait for up to two years to enter into this next stage of processing. The next stage involves the foreign spouse submitting forms and holding an interview at a U.S consulate in China (typically Guangzhou), otherwise known as consular processing. The U.S. has various consulates in China, However only the consulate at Guangzhou handles both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications. It is important to file the correct forms at the consulate so that they can properly process your request and you can avoid legal trouble upon entry into the U.S.
 

VALIDATING THE MARRIAGE

Once you are married, you will need a legal marriage certificate that validates the ceremony in the country and/or state where it took place. The forms will differ depending on where you get married.

If you plan on holding your ceremony in China there are a few different rules you need to be aware of:
 

• At least one member of the couple must reside in China
• There is an age restriction for marriage: the China native must be at least 20 if female and 22 if male
• If you plan to marry a student, he or she will be expelled once the wedding commences
• Your foreign fiancé must be legally able to marry a foreigner (diplomats, security officials, and other government workers cannot)
• You must submit your current passport to the Marriageability Affidavit
• Your foreign fiancé must submit a Family Registration Book and a Chinese ID card

 

Once you ceremony is complete, you will need to register with the Chinese civil affairs office in your local area.

In the United States the laws will vary depending on which state you decide to hold your nuptials. It is important to view the marriage laws in your state so that you may be fully equipped to perform your ceremony, whether in Ethiopia or the United States.

 

HELPFUL INFORMATION: PROCEDURES IN CHINA AND THE U.S.

 

• Marriage Laws by State
• Green Cards Through Marriage
• Immigration waiting times

 

 

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