1. The Requirements for "Following-To-Join" -- Married to Your Spouse before You Became a Permanent Resident

U.S. permanent resident who married before the date of obtaining the U.S. permanent residency can possibly confer “following-to-join” benefits to his or her family members (husband, wife, and child). Essentially, through this process, spouses and children will be able to receive U.S. Green Cards quickly. The following-to-join is for alien spouse and children to receive derivative benefits based on a primary permanent residency’s immigration application approval.

Certain requirements must be met in order for a spouse or child to qualify under “following-to-join”. First, the legal permanent resident must have adjusted status or obtained Green Card through a preference category (family or employment based) or diversity lottery. Some examples include but are not limited to NIW, EB-1, EB-2, etc. In addition, an immigrant visa number must also be current in order for a family member to receive “following-to-join”. 

Second, the Green Card holder married before becoming a permanent resident, and the relationship between the permanent resident and spouse/child is intact at the time of filing. Children of the permanent resident must be unmarried and under the age of 21. Furthermore, the child/step-child must be from an existing marriage before the permanent resident obtained permanent residency. 

If you were married to your spouse before you became a permanent resident, your spouse may be eligible to receive following-to-join benefits. This means that you would not have to submit a separate Form I-130 for your spouse, and your spouse would not have to wait any extra time for an immigrant visa to become available. You should file the Form I-824 at the USCIS office that took the most recent action on your case. If the Form I-824 is approved, the USCIS will notify a U.S. consulate that you are a lawful permanent resident, so that your spouse/children can apply for immigrant visas. You must then ask your spouse to report to the local U.S. consulate to complete the processing.

2. How to Work in United States Legally

U.S. employers must check to make sure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are allowed to work in the United States. If you are not a citizen or a lawful permanent resident, you may need to apply for a work permit, formally called an "Employment Authorization Document" (EAD), to prove you can work in the United States. 

• If your spouse is outside the United States, the spouse does not need to apply for a work permit once he or she has been admitted as an immigrant. The alien spouse will receive a passport stamp upon arrival in the United States. This stamp will prove that he or she is allowed to work until a Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) is created.

• If your spouse is in the U.S. and has applied to adjust to permanent resident status (by filing USCIS Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), he or she is eligible to apply for a Work Permit (EAD) while the case is pending. Your spouse should use USCIS Form I-765 to apply for a work permit.

3. Upgrade the Family Second Preference (F2A) Petition after You Become U.S. Citizen

If you were a U.S. permanent resident when you filed the Form I-130 for your spouse and children, you can upgrade your application after you become U.S. citizen. If you are now a U.S. citizen, you must file separate immigrant visa petitions for each of your children. If you upgrade a family second preference (F2A) petition for your spouse and you did not file separate petitions for your children when you were a permanent resident, you must do so now. 

A U.S. citizen's child does not receive derivative status in an immediate relative petition. This is different from the family second preference (F2A) petition where a child is included in his/her parent's F2A petition. 

Children born abroad after you became a U.S. citizen may qualify for U.S. citizenship. They should apply for U.S. passports. The U.S. Consular officer will determine whether your child is a U.S. citizen and can have a passport. If the U.S. Consular officer determines your child is not U.S. citizen, the child must apply for an immigrant visa if he/she wants to live in the U.S.

4. A Suspect Marriage and Investigation of USCIS

The USCIS has the discretion to suspect and then accordingly to investigate a marriage that may bring immigration benefits to the aliens. If the USCIS has reasons to suspect that the marriage is a "sham marriage", the USCIS officers have the authority to investigate. Usually, the USCIS officers may visit the suspect couple at their residence, or visit their neighbors to investigate whether they reside together, share a household, or own property jointly, etc. 

Also, the USCIS officers may arrange interviews with the couple at their residence or at USCIS offices. In the interview, the USCIS officers may ask private questions regarding all aspects of their marital relationship, such as the brand of the other spouse's underwear or the favorite food, except those which are too offensively intrusive.