1. ¿Cuáles son las opciones de tarjeta verde para una viuda o un viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

A widow or widower of a U.S. citizen may be eligible for a marriage-based green card. To be eligible, the widow or widower must have been married to the U.S. citizen for at least two years before the death of their spouse. If the marriage was less than two years at the time of death, then the foreign national must have been the parent of a child who was a U.S. citizen at the time of death in order to qualify. Widows or widowers may also be eligible for an immediate relative green card, which does not have any specific time period that must be met prior to death of the U.S. citizen.

2. ¿Existe un límite de tiempo para solicitar una tarjeta verde para una viuda o un viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes, the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen must file for a green card within two years of the death of the citizen spouse.

3. ¿Necesito haber estado casado con el ciudadano estadounidense cuando falleció para poder solicitar una tarjeta verde?

No, you do not need to have been married to the U.S. citizen when they passed away in order to apply for a green card. However, you must demonstrate that your marriage was valid and bona fide before the death of the U.S. citizen spouse.

4. ¿Qué documentos de respaldo debo incluir en mi solicitud de tarjeta de residencia para una viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

In order to apply for a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen, you must include the following supporting documents:

– Proof of your marriage to your U.S. citizen spouse, such as a marriage certificate.
– Proof that your U.S. citizen spouse has died, such as a death certificate.
– Evidence that you have not remarried since the death of your U.S. citizen spouse, such as an affidavit from a witness or other documents showing that you are still single.
– Evidence that your marriage to your U.S. citizen spouse was in good faith and not to gain entry to the United States, such as affidavits from friends and family members attesting to the validity of the marriage.
– Supporting documents for any other green card eligibility, such as evidence of financial support, employment authorization, or other forms of legal status in the United States.

5. ¿Qué formulario debo presentar para solicitar una tarjeta verde como viudo o viuda de un ciudadano estadounidense?

You would need to file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.

6. ¿Existe una tarifa de solicitud para la solicitud de tarjeta verde para viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes, there is an application fee for the green card application for widow or widower of a U.S. citizen. The application fee is $535.

7. ¿Se requiere una entrevista para la solicitud de tarjeta verde para viudo o viuda de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes, an interview is required for the green card application for a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen.

8. ¿Puedo viajar fuera de los EE. UU. mientras se procesa mi solicitud de tarjeta de residencia para viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes, you may travel outside the U.S. while your green card application is being processed as a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen, but you must have a valid Reentry Permit or Returning Resident Visa to be able to return to the US. Additionally, long absences may be grounds for USCIS to deny your application.

9. ¿Se acelerará mi solicitud de tarjeta de residencia si soy viuda o viuda de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes. Widows or widowers of U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for U.S. permanent residency under a special expedited application process. Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria and must submit evidence that they were married to a U.S. citizen for at least two years before their spouse passed away.

10. ¿Qué otros beneficios recibiré si me aprueban la tarjeta verde como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

If you are approved for a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen, you will receive various benefits, including:

• The ability to remain permanently in the U.S.
• The ability to work legally in the U.S.
• The ability to apply for U.S. citizenship after three years
• Eligibility for certain Social Security benefits
• Eligibility for certain Medicare benefits
• Eligibility to sponsor relatives for green cards (certain restrictions apply)
• and more!

11. ¿Existe un requisito de idioma inglés para calificar para la tarjeta verde como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

No, there is no English language requirement to qualify for a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen.

12. ¿Puedo trabajar en los EE. UU. mientras se procesa mi solicitud de tarjeta de residencia como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes. You may be eligible to work in the U.S while your green card application is being processed if you are the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen. You must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with your Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, in order to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The EAD will allow you to work legally in the U.S. while your application is being processed.

13. ¿Podré patrocinar a otros después de que se me apruebe mi tarjeta de residencia como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes, you may be able to sponsor other relatives for U.S. permanent residence after you become a lawful permanent resident. You may sponsor your parents, spouse, and unmarried children. Additional relatives may be sponsored depending on your specific circumstances and any applicable immigration laws.

14. ¿Cuánto tiempo lleva procesar mi solicitud de tarjeta verde como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

The length of time it takes to process an application for a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen varies depending on the individual case. Generally, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year to receive a green card.

15. ¿Existe alguna restricción sobre mi elegibilidad para recibir una tarjeta de residencia como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes, there are certain restrictions on eligibility. You must have been married to the U.S. citizen for at least two years prior to your spouse’s death and must be able to prove that the marriage was valid and not entered into just to gain a green card. You must also demonstrate that you have not remarried since your spouse’s death, and you must be able to demonstrate that you have not abandoned or removed yourself from the United States. Additionally, you must be admissible to the United States under immigration law, which means that the Department of Homeland Security must determine that you do not pose a security risk or engage in any activities that would render you ineligible for a green card.

16. ¿Se me exigirá que me someta a un examen médico al solicitar mi tarjeta de residencia como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

No, you will not be required to have a medical examination when applying for a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen.

17. ¿Cuál es el proceso si se niega mi solicitud de tarjeta verde como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

If your application for a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen is denied, you may be able to appeal the decision by filing a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the court or agency that denied your application. If your appeal is unsuccessful, you may also have the option of filing an administrative complaint with the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice. Additionally, you may consult with an immigration attorney to see if any other remedies are available to you.

18. ¿Pueden los miembros de mi familia venir conmigo y ser elegibles para el estatus de residente permanente derivado si se me concede una tarjeta verde como viuda o viudo de un ciudadano estadounidense?

Yes. If you are granted a green card as the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen, your unmarried children under 21 years of age and unmarried sons and daughters of any age may accompany or follow to join you in the United States. These family members can also receive derivative permanent resident status.

19. ¿Cómo afectará la obtención del estatus de residente permanente a través del programa de viudo o viuda de ciudadano estadounidense a mi estatus migratorio actual en los Estados Unidos?

If you are currently in the United States with a valid visa or other form of authorized legal status, obtaining permanent resident status through the widow or widower of U.S. Citizen program will not affect your current immigration status in the US. However, once you become a permanent resident, your immigration status will change to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR). As an LPR, you will have the right to live and work in the US permanently. Additionally, you may be eligible for certain benefits that are not available to nonimmigrants, such as access to healthcare, housing assistance, and other government programs.

20. ¿Qué sucede después de que se apruebe mi residencia permanente como viudo o viuda de ciudadano estadounidense?

Once your permanent residence is approved as the widow or widower of a US Citizen, the USCIS will issue you a Green Card. The Green Card is proof of your permanent residence status in the United States, and you will be able to live and work in the United States indefinitely.