Q: If an asylum-seeker marries a United States citizen, are they required to change their asylum filing status or not?
Does the asylum-seeker have to report that they got legally married in any way to the United States government? Do they have to apply for a green-card by marriage or asylum by marriage or can they just continue to do it the normal way? Question asked because an asylum-seeker will marry a US citizen (insha’Allah), but does not want to change their asylum status or use that marriage to change their asylum application in any way (it’s a cultural thing).
A: Once the asylum applicant is scheduled for an interview, they will have to update the officer on their changed marital status and should bring the marriage certificate to the interview. They can continue to proceed with the asylum application that they submitted and are not required to seek status based on their marriage, but they should provide the updated information, as the application form asks about marital status. Culture notwithstanding, they may wish to consult with an attorney to confirm that pursuing the asylum application is their best option.
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