We recently discussed how you can use marriage as a means to get a green card. You do need to demonstrate that your marriage is legitimate. You may have to go through a green card marriage interview, present documentation to a USCIS agent and much more. But when the government believes you do have a valid marriage, they may provide a green card so that you can stay in the United States with your new spouse, who is a U.S. citizen.
But after you go through this entire process, what if your spouse asks you for a divorce? Does this mean that the government is suddenly going to deport you because you no longer have any reason to obtain a green card? How worried do you need to be about your immigration status?
It does not trigger an automatic deportation
The key thing to remember is that you’re not automatically going to be deported just because you got divorced. Many couples get married and divorced every year, and that doesn’t mean that their relationships were not legitimate. If it appears that your marriage was valid the entire time, but simply ended in divorce for some reason—especially if that reason is out of your hands—it may not have any effect on your green card.
The biggest issue is if you get divorced while you’re still in the process of applying for the green card. If you haven’t obtained it yet, then the divorce—especially if it happens very quickly after the wedding—may call the validity of your marriage into question. Even this doesn’t guarantee that you would be deported, but it may mean that it’s time to look into your legal options.
Immigration can get very complex, especially when combined with marital relationships. It may help to have an experienced law firm on your side.