Things To Be Aware Of When Marrying Someone Younger From Another Country
Marrying someone considerably younger than you can lead to questions from the U.S. Department of Immigration, but this is not something that should scare you. As long as you have an immigration attorney that can help you understand how to handle these questions, and you and your spouse meet the requirements for U.S. immigration law, you should be able to make it through the process relatively unscathed.
There are a few things that you should be aware of when marrying someone younger than you from another country. For example:
The idea of a "reasonable" age gap varies – There is no specific age difference that will trigger questioning from the immigration department. However, if you are looking at a 20-year or bigger difference, you may have to answer some extra questions. It is really all up to the agent that is assigned to your case. If you are 40 and she is 20, there may be questions. If you are 70 and she is 20, there will definitely be questions. If you are 45 and she is 35, there probably won't be.
Your marriage just needs to be legitimate – As a U.S. citizen, you are allowed to marry pretty much anyone you like (same-sex marriages will depend on your state). It is one of the many rights you have as a citizen. However, the immigration officer is also tasked with weeding out illegitimate or questionable marriages, so your age gap could be a red flag in that regard. But a considerable age difference is not enough alone to throw a wrench in your plans. As long as your marriage is legitimate, and you can prove it as such, you should be fine.
You need to prove legitimacy for most immigration marriages – The U.S. is not an easy country to immigrate to, something you are probably already aware of. Part of what makes it difficult is that pass a range of requirements to even be considered. Marrying a U.S. citizen is certainly one of the easiest paths, but it still requires that you fill out a great deal of paperwork and go through an interview.
If you have a considerable age gap, you can expect extra questions – Whether you are marrying someone the same age or someone 40 years apart, you will still need to go through the interview. A large age gap will lead to more questions, and perhaps more paperwork depending on the demands of the agent. This is why it is best to consult with a lawyer like Law Office of Jeffrey Dragon, so you know you have everything in order throughout the process.