US Clarifies Marriage Guidelines for Green Card and Visa Applications

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified its stance on qualifying marriages for Green Card and visa applications. According to their guidelines, civil marriages are considered valid, but a marriage certificate alone is not enough to guarantee approval.

Other types of marriages recognized by USCIS include religious marriages, common-law marriages, and gay marriages, provided they are legally valid in the country where conducted.

The agency reviews every case individually and places emphasis on whether the marriage is bona fide, meaning genuine, and not primarily for immigration benefits. Officers may scrutinize shared finances, cohabitation history, and communication records as part of this assessment.