Marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident can provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence. However, the process requires careful preparation to demonstrate that the marriage is genuine.
The U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS. This establishes the qualifying family relationship. For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses), there is no wait for a visa number to become available.