Marriage between a United States citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and an alien
On a university campus it is not unusual for people from different countries to meet and marry. From a visa and immigration status perspective, these marriages take one of three forms:
- Marriage between a United States citizen (USC) and foreign national who holds temporary status in the U.S.
- Marriage between a United States Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) or "green card" holder and a foreign national who holds temporary status in the U.S.
- Marriage between two foreign nationals who hold temporary status in the U.S.
This FAQ focuses primarily on marriage between a USC and a foreign national. Some of the information will be useful to others considering marriage in the U.S. This FAQ is not designed to replace legal services from an experienced immigration lawyer. Duke cannot advise you on personal immigration issues like marriage. We can only give you this basic discussion that will help you find government resources and talk more effectively with your attorney.