Divorces are complicated under the best of circumstances, but when one or both of the spouses has temporary immigration status in the United States, the case can have serious consequences for the entire family. Whether a U.S. citizen marries a foreign national, or a family comes to the United States from abroad on temporary visas, every member of the family is impacted when the spousal relationship dissolves.
Every year, thousands of foreigners enter the U.S. legally on temporary visas valid for a few months or several years. U.S. immigration law favors keeping families together and thus allows spouses and minor children to accompany a principal visa holder to the U.S. Under the same principle, the law also allows the foreign national spouses of U.S. citizens to become U.S. permanent residents. To do so, the U.S. citizen spouse must sponsor their foreign national spouse for a “green card.” In these instances, a divorce or separation naturally may impact the dependent spouse’s immigration status. When a marriage ends, careful analysis of the immigration issues is necessary, particularly if there are children involved who may become separated from one of their parents if the parent loses his right to remain in the U.S. after a divorce.
Families on Temporary Visas
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
