Becoming a US Citizen, process?

Question

I am American and my husband is French. We were married in France and currently reside there, but are looking at going back to America sometime "soon". I have tried searching for information relevant to our situation, but everything I found about green cards and such referred to different scenarios from ours. I do know we would have to live in America for 3 straight years and what I could find about getting a green card confirmed that. 

But to enter the US would he need a Visa obtained in France, or America? We would settle in Northern New York State (close to Canada) and I am also wondering where he would have to go, if at all, for annual meetings...

Any information is welcome, thank you!

Ed · Accepted Answer

The immigrant visa must be obtained in France.  Official details here: http://france.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html

If he enters with the immigrant visa there are no interim requirements if you have been married for more than two years when he obtains the visa.  If you have been married under two years, his resident status will be conditional and he must apply to remove that status before the two year expiration.
He can apply for naturalization after three years.

pianojangee · Answer

First he must obtain immigrant visa sponsored by you by filing I-130 Petition. Once the petition is approved, National Visa Center will forward everything so that your husband can apply CR1/IR1 Spouse Immigrant visa. 
In the mean time, you must establish US domicile and prove enough income to financially support your husband. If you cannot meet the income requirement, you must have a co-sponsor. 
Once your husband applies immigrant visa at US Embassy/Consulate in France, he has to get medical exam done and will get interview date. Once his visa is approved, he will enter US and will get I-551 Temporary Green card stamp on his passport and the actual card will arrive in your address in US in mail. The whole process would take from 1 to 1.5 year. 

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2991.html
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=10093e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=10093e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

There used to be Direct Consular Filing that you can do all the process in US Embassy/Consulate if you, US citizen spouse, lived in foreign country for 6 months as Resident status. However, they are stopping this process on Aug. 15th in the countries that doesn't have USCIS international office. Unfortunately for you, France doesn't have USCIS office. 
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=2b2a3e70369ff210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

He will be eligible to file Naturalization to become US Citizen on his 3rd year green card approval date and still married to you. 
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=a0ffa3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=a0ffa3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

Anonymous · Answer

you file a I-130 for him .. you will probably have to return to the US and regain domicile ..get a job and earn enough for the affidavit of support he would arrive about a year later ,,he would get his green card on arrival

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

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Becoming a US Citizen, process?

3 Answers