Marriage-Based Green Cards in Charleston, SC

Introduction: Why Focus on Charleston?

Are you ready to build a life together here in Charleston, but worried about the paperwork to make it official? At Occam Immigration, we know firsthand how stressful the marriage-based green card process is.

As the founder and managing attorney, I’m David Vyborny↗, and my own marriage-based green card was processed right here at the Charleston USCIS Field Office. From filing the initial petition to attending the final interview, I’ve walked this path personally. Because of this experience, I understand the common worries couples face and can guide you through each step with confidence and local know-how.

It’s not just about filling out forms—it’s about keeping your family together and avoiding the fear of forced separation.

What Is a Marriage-Based Green Card?

A marriage-based green card lets you live and work in the United States as a lawful permanent resident if you are married to a U.S. citizen or a green card holder. This process can include:

1. I-130 Petition: Establishes your marriage as real and valid.
2. Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing: Depending on whether you’re currently in the U.S. or abroad, you’ll either apply for your green card application here or go through a U.S. consulate in another country.
3. Interview & Final Decision: Most local couples doing an Adjustment of Status will go through an interview at the local USCIS Field Office on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley. Interviews at U.S. consulates abroad are only attended by the visa applicant, not the spouse.

Should You Apply in Charleston?

If you live in the “Holy City” area and are applying for a green card through adjustment of status, you don’t have a choice of where you will be interviewed – your case goes through the USCIS office that handles your zip code, which is Charleston. Here are a few things to know:

• Parking is limited: There are only 50 parking spots, and during naturalization oath ceremonies, the lot can be full. Make sure you arrive for your interview early.
• Airport-like security: You will be entering a federal building and going through airport-like security. Your belongings will go through an X-ray machine, and you will walk through a metal detector. Have your interview notice and ID ready for the security officer to review, wear shoes that are easy to remove, and keep your belongings together in a bag or purse.
• The officer’s day is busy: The Immigration Services Officer (ISO) who interviews you will have 6 to 10 interviews lined up that day. The smoother you make their job by providing lots of evidence and answering their questions directly, the easier it will be for them to make a fast decision.

Check out our Charleston Immigration Resources page↗ for more local info, including information about the Charleston USCIS Field Office and helpful blog articles with local insight.

Your Fast-Track-to-Filing Advantage

The processing times in Charleston change often depending on workloads, staffing levels, and shifting immigration priorities. Every day you wait can feel like an eternity. While we can’t control the time it takes USCIS to process your application, we can get your case into their hands quickly with our Fast-Track-to-Filing Program:

1. Strategy & Information Session: We’ll get all of the information we need to prepare your forms and create a clear checklist of everything you need to collect, from your marriage certificate to financial statements. We’ll also send you our companion Workbook full of tools to keep you organized and informed.
2. Application Building: Regularly-scheduled check-in appointments keep your case on track and give you our dedicated focus.
3. Final Review & Filing: Once we finalize your documents, we’ll go over your application package with you in detail, making sure there are no errors, and then file the complete package.
4. Ongoing Support: While your application is pending, we keep working with you to build a winning case and have you prepared for your interview. If the Charleston USCIS Field Office requests more information, we respond fast to keep your case on track.

Step-by-Step: Marriage-Based Green Card in Charleston

While every case is different, here’s a general roadmap for couples filing from Charleston:

1. Consultation & Eligibility Check
   • We confirm that you meet the main requirements, such as having a legally valid marriage and proof of a genuine relationship.
2. Filing the I-130 Petition
   • We build a winning strategy to prove your marriage is real, based on the evidence that works for your circumstances.
3. Adjustment of Status (If in the U.S.)
   • This step involves filing the I-485 application, biometrics (fingerprinting), and eventually an interview at the Charleston USCIS Field Office.
   • If eligible, we’ll file this together with the I-130 Petition in most cases.
4. Consular Processing (If Abroad)
   • If your spouse lives outside the U.S., after the I-130 Petition is approved, we’ll go through the National Visa Center to complete the immigrant visa requirements; then they will attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
5. Interview Preparation
   • Being well prepared is everything. We review likely questions and guide you through what to expect on interview day. I still remember my own marriage-based green card interview day—I walked in prepared and left feeling relieved. Our goal is to help you feel the same way.
6. Approval & Green Card Issuance
   • If the officer approves your application, you’ll receive your green card in the mail or an immigrant visa in your passport, if going through consular processing (your green card will arrive after you enter the U.S.). If you’ve been married less than two years, you’ll get a conditional 2-year green card, which you will convert to a 10-year green card after petitioning to remove conditions.

Local Tips from My Own Experience

Since I personally filed for my marriage-based green card through adjustment of status in Charleston, here are a few extra insights:

• Arrive Early: We all know how traffic can be unpredictable, especially if you’re coming from Mount Pleasant, Summerville, or Ladson. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled interview time to make sure you get parking. The 50-car lot fills up quickly during naturalization oath ceremonies, which take place throughout the week at various times.
• Bring More Evidence: Even if you submitted a bunch of documents, bring updated proofs of address, joint accounts, or recent photos. Officers appreciate thorough, organized files.
• Stay Calm: The Charleston USCIS officers are individuals with their own personalities. They have a job to do – to confirm your marriage is genuine and not fraudulent. If you’ve prepared well, there’s no need to panic.
• Ask Questions: If you’re unsure about any part of the process, don’t hesitate to ask the officer for clarification. They’re used to helping couples navigate these forms.

Read more tips and insights in my blog post about appearing at the Charleston USCIS Field Office↗.

Next Steps: Let’s Get Your Application Filed

Don’t let paperwork or fear of the unknown keep you apart. If you’d like a step-by-step plan and someone who’s been through the Charleston process personally, contact Occam Immigration today.

• Call: (843) 804-4844
• Email: hello@occamimmigration.com
• Request an Appointment: Free Consultation→

Need More Info?

• Check out our main Immigration Lawyer Charleston, SC page for a broad overview of our Charleston-based services.
• Citizenship & Naturalization in Charleston, SC
• Family-Based Immigration in Charleston, SC
• Charleston-area Immigration Resources

At Occam Immigration, we believe in “Be together now.” A marriage-based green card is about more than legal status—it’s about living your lives without worrying you’ll be pulled apart. Let’s make that happen together, here in Charleston.