First, let me congratulate you on two things, your new marriage and taking on the brave aspect of moving to a new country. There are a few things you should know when you are considering moving to America to join your spouse. It can be a scary, exciting, nerve racking, and romantic situation all wrapped into one, so the first thing you want to do is calm down, and thoroughly investigate what needs to be done prior to moving. Of course, some things should have been considered prior to the marriage. Hopefully that was done, however if not do not worry, this article should help you.

After joining in marriage, your American citizen partner will need to file a I-130 petition in order to allow the process of immigration to the United States to begin. There a few places that this can be filed, the petition should be filed once your spouse has returned to the at the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) that is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Occasionally, under specific circumstances, the petition can be filed at a US Consulate or Embassy in another country. Each place has their own rules and regulations regarding the approval of the petition, so it is important that you contact the local Embassy to inquire about their processes.

Please check details from the I-130 form:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/files/i-130.pdf

Remember:

Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.

There are a variety of fees the government charges for various aspects of moving to the to be with your spouse. Filing the form I-130 petition to classify the alien as a relative in order for them to be able to obtain a Visa is currently $190.00.

For more information, please visit these US government web-sites:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-130.htm