Tucker, GA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

A U.S. citizen with two felony convictions still may become legally married, and may sponsor his wife in a marriage-based immigration adjustment of status application. There are many other issues relating to immigration eligibility, and it would be wise to consult with an immigration attorney, perhaps even before becoming married - after learning all of the relevant information about the two people and their relationship, the attorney would be able to advise about immigration-related eligibility, and would be able to provide legal representation during the application process. Failure to properly prepare and document an immigration application can lead to substantial delays or even more harsh consequences. Some immigration law firms, including mine, offer legal services on a "flat fee" basis so that a client will know the total expense from the very beginning, and a few immigration law firms, including mine, offer an initial consultation free of charge.

The couple should consult with the specific church in the U.S. to find out its requirements for a church wedding, but for immigration legal requirements, not that generally if a marriage is recognized as lawful in the place where it takes place, the USCIS will regard it as valid for U.S. immigration application purposes.

I assume that your husband is outside the United States since you asked what do you need to get him here. If he came into the United States only once illegally and left the US in less than 180 days, you would file an I-130 relative petition for him, and he would interview at the American Consulate in his home country for an immigrant visa. If he left the US 180 days or one year after coming here illegally, he would be barred from returning for three and 10 years respectively. In that case, he would be refused and would have to file a waiver of inadmissibility on form I-601 based on extreme hardship to you if the waiver application is not approved. If he was deported or removed during the time that he was in the US, he would have to file an I-212 application for advance permission to enter the US after deportation or removal. This would also be done after refusal by the American Consulate. If he came into the US illegally more than once on or after April 1, 1997, he would be under the permanent bar under which he would not be able to file for any waivers or permission to come back to the US for 10 years following his leaving the US. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.