How does a colombian become a us citizen

Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Grow Your Legal Practice. Meet the Editors. Marrying a Citizen of Colombia? Procedural and other considerations when marrying someone from Colombia who wishes to immigrate to the United States. Overview of Obtaining a Green Card Based on Marriage The application process for a green card based on marriage involves multiple steps, such as submitting forms and documents and attending an interview with U.

The underlying purpose is to prove: the status of the U. See Inadmissibility: When the U. Can Keep You Out for details.

At Which U. Entering Into a Legally Valid Marriage No matter where you marry, you will need to obtain a certificate that convinces the U. Regardless of the type of wedding, you are likely to be asked for, at a minimum: Certified copies of your and your intended spouse's birth certificates. If yours was issued in the U. Proof that each of you is eligible to marry — in particular, that neither is already married to someone else.

It will be tougher for the U. You will have to discuss with the Colombian notary what substitute documents will be acceptable. Expect to have to provide proof of the termination of any past marriages, such as death or divorce decrees. You may also be asked for notarized letters from friends or family, swearing that you are not married. If prepared in the U. Talk to a Lawyer Need a lawyer? Getting a Green Card — Your Form I Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form.

This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custody papers from the authoritative court in your home country.

You will need these papers translated into English for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship. If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa DV , all of the above instructions apply to you.

Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview; enroll in the required required courier service ; and gather the required documents. In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:.

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status.

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application.

You can review the eligibility requirements on our Diversity Visa Process webpage. As of January , you must complete your medical exam with one of the embassy-approved physicians located in Colombia. NVC will schedule your interview date and time. There is NO need to register your appointment in the online system. You may receive an automated email requesting you register your appointment online; please disregard those emails.

Please email IVBogota state. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories a visa became available within the month you have been scheduled by NVC. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview. If your visa is approved, the embassy will try to return your passport and sealed immigrant packet to you within 24 to 48 hours after your interview.

You may wish to schedule your return flights accordingly. There is no guarantee we will be able to return your passport quickly. If you must depart Bogota before your passport can be returned, you will need to send your passport back to the embassy via DHL.

You also will be required to send a self-addressed, pre-paid DHL envelope for use of the U. Embassy in returning your passport and documents. You must obtain this envelope at a Bogota DHL office prior to your departure. The embassy will provide written instructions during your interview. If the consular officer is unable to approve your visa at the time of the interview, you will be given instructions on how to return your passport and any additional documents to the embassy via DHL.

You also will be required to send a selfaddressed, pre-paid DHL envelope for use of the U. Diversity visa instructions After Your Interview Frequently asked questions Where to get civil documents. You are about to leave travel. Department of State. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel. Cancel GO. Skip to main content.

This category includes the spouses same-sex or opposite-sex of U. Unlike immediate relatives, beneficiaries who fall into the " family preference " category are subject to annual quotas on visas, including both an overall limit and a per-country allotment. Because more people apply every year than there are visas available, this often leads to long waits, particularly from countries with high populations and levels of interest in immigrating to the United States.

In some instances, the waiting period might be relatively short; in others, the wait spans decades. The process starts with the U. This form is issued by U. One of the important questions on Form I asks you to name the office where the beneficiary will either adjust status available only if the person is lawfully in the U. Assuming your relative is overseas, he or she should choose the closest U. Such information is usually available on the consulate's website. The I petition must be filed with copies of documents to establish that the petitioner is a U.

Petitioners for a spouse must also include documents showing that the marriage is bona fide real , not a sham to get a green card. Some attorneys recommend that the petitioner also execute and submit the Affidavit of Support , Form I and supporting documents with the I, rather than waiting until it is later requested.

Be sure to keep a copy of everything you submit, including forms, supporting documents, and checks or money orders unless you pay by credit card. USCIS will, after receiving the I petition and verifying that its complete, issue a receipt notice to the petitioner and the attorney, if any. The letter also provides information on where the case has been forwarded to. For beneficiaries outside the U. This office will hold onto the preference relatives' file until their waiting period is over and a visa has become available; in technical terms, their "priority dates" are current.

They have no right to enter the U. The filing date of the petition becomes the would-be immigrant's " priority date ". Special immigrants include:. The U. The government sets a different limit on refugee admissions people who apply from overseas each year.

There is no limit on the number of people who can, from within the U. Refugees and asylees can apply for a green card one year after receiving their status. In rare instances, people who have lived in the United States continuously for more than ten years, have good moral character, can show that their spouse or children are U. This is not something you can start an application for. You must already be in immigration court, fighting against efforts to remove you.

It is a complicated process that's best handled by an immigration attorney. Also realize that, no matter what LPR category you might fall into, you can be denied a green card if you are found " inadmissible " to the United States. The grounds of inadmissibility found in the U. The above information is just a brief overview of who might be eligible for a U.

If you believe you might qualify, you'd do best to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer for a full personal analysis and an explanation of the details of the application process which can be lengthy, complicated, and easy to do wrong. Walking into a U. And if you're in the U. Browse All Immigration Topics ». The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.

The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Lawyer Directory.

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