Does marrying a U.S. citizen automatically give you a green card? This is one of the most common immigration myths. Many people believe that if they marry a U.S. citizen, they automatically receive a green card. Others believe that if they live in the United States for ten years, they automatically qualify for legal status. The truth is that immigration law does not work that way. Getting married to a U.S. citizen or living in the United States for a certain number of years does not automaticall