One way to obtain a green card is to marry a U.S. citizen. To help keep relationships together, the government sometimes grants permanent resident status after marriage. Couples may have to go through a green card marriage interview and other such steps.
But what happens if you get your green card and then your spouse files for divorce? Divorce is always a life-changing event, but are the ramifications even worse for you? Since your green card was tied to the marriage, does this mean you’re now at risk of deportation?
Was the marriage in good faith?
In many cases, divorce doesn’t affect your status. The government does want to see that you entered the marriage in good faith. However, officials understand that people get divorced even when they initially intended to stay married. For example, perhaps you found out your spouse had an affair, prompting you to end the relationship.
Things become more complicated if the divorce raises suspicions that the marriage was fraudulent from the start. For instance, it’s a red flag if you divorce very shortly after getting married and obtaining your green card. This can make it appear that you entered the marriage solely to get the green card, rather than being in an authentic romantic relationship.
Exploring your legal options
In most cases, you shouldn’t expect to be deported just because you’re getting divorced. Many people divorce and are allowed to remain in the United States. They don’t lose their permanent resident status and may even remarry in the future.
However, divorce can complicate your situation, especially if red flags make it seem like you committed green card marriage fraud. That’s why it’s so important to understand all the legal options available to you.