Marriage to a citizen does not automatically guarantee citizenship in most regions. The process can be lengthy and may require an application, legal residence, exams, and proof of employment or skills. Marriage fraud is a crime and can result in jail time, fines, and deportation. If the requirements are met, the non-citizen spouse can be granted naturalized citizenship on grounds of marriage.
Some countries have laws that allow a person to obtain full citizenship if they marry a citizen. The process of obtaining citizenship by marriage is often lengthy and can be quite frustrating for some people. To find out specific information about allowing citizenship by marriage in a particular country, contact an immigration lawyer or immigration department in your destination region.
Getting married to a citizen does not automatically guarantee citizenship in most regions. For people who wish to retain their original citizenship, it may be possible to become a permanent lawful resident of their spouse’s country instead of becoming a full citizen. In countries where citizenship by marriage is allowed, the process usually begins with the submission of an application for citizenship to the relevant authorities. In the United States, this initial submission is usually the first step in a process that can take more than a year in some cases.
Some countries require a person applying for citizenship by marriage to go through a process similar to any immigrant attempting to obtain citizenship through naturalization. This may include requirements such as a period of legal residence, civic and language exams, no evidence of a criminal record, and proof of employment or skills. In some countries, the naturalization process can be somewhat simplified in cases of marriage to a citizen; in Ireland, for example, the residency requirement is reduced from five to three years for someone married to a citizen.
In some regions it is a crime to marry for the sole purpose of obtaining citizenship. This is considered a form of fraud and, if discovered, can result in jail time, fines and permanent deportation. In order to determine whether a marriage is a truly legal partnership, regions with marriage fraud laws usually require spouses to undergo a lengthy interview and review process to establish legitimacy. This process may include examining the marriage documentation, visiting the couple’s residence, interviewing family members, and speaking with both spouses. Passing a marriage fraud review can be very stressful for couples who feel their marriage is under attack or suspicion, but it is often a deciding factor in obtaining citizenship by marriage.
If a couple meets all the requirements and fulfills all the conditions, the non-citizen spouse can be granted naturalized citizenship on grounds of marriage. He or she may have to take an oath of citizenship that includes a waiver of previous loyalty, or may be allowed to hold dual citizenship, depending on the region. Once sworn in, the spouse is now considered a legal citizen and usually receives all rights and responsibilities related to the status.
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