If a foriegner comes to the states and marries and american citizen do they have automatic citizenship?

Question

Hey. Thx to everyoone that replied! I had never used this before and it was great for you to answer! THANKS!

Answer 1

No. The American citizen has to file what is called a 'petition' for their spouses citizenship. These petitions take up to 2 years but the spouse can apply for a temporary social security number that allows them to work.

Btw, not all petitions are granted. The American citizen filing it has to show financial stability and no criminal record. IE, like he/she can't be living on welfare.

Answer 2

No. You will not automatically become a citizen.

If you marry a US citizen, you can apply for a change of status (Spouse of a US Citizen). Once that application has been approved, you become a resident alien under that status. For two years, your status is conditional. In other words, if you get a divorce or seperate within that two year period, your papers will be canceled and you may be deported. If you request an immigration hearing, you may be able to just revert back to the status you had before you changed it.

Right around the two year mark of your marriage, you will need to file to change status again, removing the conditional part. But even if this is approved, you are still not a citizen of the US. You are a Lawfully Admitted Permanent Resident, and you may get a divorce without being deported. You can still be deported if you commit certain crimes, violate your Conditions of Entry, or if it is discovered that your marriage was a fraud.

Normally, you must live in the United States for at least five years before you can apply to naturalize as a US citizen, but for spouses of US citizens, the residency requirement is 3 years. There are other requirements you must fulfill also.

Answer 3

Yes, marrying an American citizen is the great equalizer. They can't deport you once you marry a citizen, of course, if it's a sham marriage they will know that it's a fake an deport you. Why do you want to benefit from the USA illegally? Why can't you just come here legally? You could try the diversity DV lottery program at the end of the year. IF you are living in the US illegally, once you live, they will have a record of your departure from your international airline ticket info. and the BCIS will keep track of your info. so next time you try to enter USA, you'll be barred from entering for 10 years.

Answer 4

No, you have to be a Legal Resident of the U.S. for 5 years or married to a Citizen for 3 years to be Eligible for Citizenship unless you end up in the Military or Congress approves a bill granting you Citizenship and it's signed by the President.

Answer 5

No, Mandy S., they don't. The foreigner still has to apply for citizenship, and there's no guarantee it will be granted.
The only guarantee is that if they have a child, and that child is born in the US, the child will have American citizenship.
Sounds like you need the services of a good immigration lawyer. It's MUCH easier to get things started before the non-American partner arrives in the country.
Good luck!

Answer 6

No. Marriage to a US citizen entitles them to apply for a green card (permanant residence) for a provisional 2 years. You must apply for a permanent green card 90 days prior to your second anniversary. After 5 years of permanent residency, you may apply for citizenship.

Note: The process differs based on how you entered the country and where the marriage takes place. If you will enter the country to get married, you need a K-1(Fiance) Visa. You may enter for 90 days and must get married in that time. After the marriage you must apply for change of status to spouse visa and the process continues as described above.

If you are in the US on any other legal visa (but not Visa waiver) you may get married and change your status. If you are on a visa waiver you may not change your status. You will have to leave the country and apply for a spouse visa. This is also true if you marry out of the US.

The spouse visa can take as long as 4-6months, but never expires so is worth pursuing immediately even if you have no plans to enter the United States.

Answer 7

Yes ! And when they get to be 62 yrs old, even though they never work they receive $500.00 per month.The JOHNSON administration pulled this off when he was in office. Seance then Social Security has bar rowed these social program es over a trillion dollars.We worked for it and they send it.Vote out these idiots.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

they won't have automatic citizenship, the person who is the American would have to file for the spouse they just married for them to become a citizen and there is a waiting period.