How to Get a Green Card Through Marriage (US Citizen Spouse)
The US citizen spouse files Form I-130Petition for Alien Relative — The form a US citizen or green card holder files to sponsor a spouse, child, parent, or sibling.Click for official info ↗ (petition). The immigrant spouse files I-485Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status — The main green card application filed from inside the US.Click for official info ↗ (green cardPermanent Resident Card — The ID card proving lawful permanent resident status — live and work in the US permanently.Click for official info ↗ application). The immigrant spouse goes to a biometrics appointment. Both spouses go to an interview. Then the immigrant spouse gets a green card. The card is conditional or permanent.
At a glance
- Cost:
- $2,115 base; up to $3,005 with work + travel permits
- Total time:
- Varies widely by office — check USCIS processing times
- Steps:
- 9 steps
- Where to apply:
- uscis.gov
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official US sources(October 2026).
0 of 9 steps
- Before You Go 1 week
Confirm eligibility
Your marriage must be legal. The US citizen must meet the income rules. This is usually 125% of the poverty guidelines. You show this on Form I-864 when you file. The immigrant must have entered the US in a lawful way. This is true in most cases.
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- Before You Go 2–4 weeks
Collect proof of a genuine marriage
USCIS checks for fraud. Get bank statements in both names. Get a lease or mortgage in both names. Get papers that name each other for insurance. Get photos of you together over time. Get letters from friends/family.
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- Before You Go 1–2 weeks
Translate foreign-language documents (if any)
Some of your documents may not be in English. For example, birth certificates and marriage or police records from your home country. Each one must come with a full English translation. It must also come with a translator's certification ("I certify that I am competent to translate from [language] to English..."). Do not translate documents yourself if you are the petitioner or the beneficiary. USCIS questions translations by anyone with a stake in the case, even if they speak both languages well. Use an independent translator instead. A certified translation service ($20–$40 per page) is safer for legal documents. Never change or shorten the text. Every stamp and seal must be translated. Use the language dropdown at the top of this page to read this guide in Hindi, Nepali, Português (Brasil), or Español.
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- Fill / Prepare 2–3 weeks
Prepare Forms I-130 and I-485
The citizen spouse files I-130 (petition) with Form I-130A (Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary). The immigrant fills out I-485 and I-693 (medical exam). The sponsor fills out and signs I-864 (affidavit of support). File them together in one package. USCIS can then process them at the same time.
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- Submit & Pay 1 day
File with USCIS and pay fees
Mail the full package with your payment. Pay for I-130: $675 paper / $625 online. Pay for I-485: $1,440 in fees. USCIS sends receipt notices (I-797). The time this takes varies. The work permit (I-765Application for Employment Authorization — The form used to request a work permit (EAD).Click for official info ↗) and the travel permit (I-131) now cost extra fees. The fees are $260 and $630 when you file them with I-485, bringing the total for all of it to $3,005 with both extra permits.
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- Wait 5–8 weeks after filing
Attend biometrics appointment
USCIS mails an appointment notice for fingerprints and photo at an Application Support Center. Bring the notice and photo ID.
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- Wait Varies by office
Wait for the interview notice
Processing times vary a lot. They depend on your service center and field office. Check the USCIS processing-times tool for your office. Check your case status online. Use your receipt number.
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- Go 1–2 hours
Attend the marriage interview
Both spouses attend together. The officer asks questions about your relationship, home, and daily life. Bring originals of everything you filed plus updated evidence.
Click to mark as done
- Receive 2–4 weeks
Receive the green card
If USCIS approves your case, your green card arrives by mail within weeks. Were you married for under 2 years at approval? Then you get a 2-year conditional card. You must file I-751 later to remove the conditions.
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Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Filing with weak proof of a genuine marriage. USCISUS Citizenship and Immigration Services — The federal agency that processes green cards, work permits, naturalization, and most immigration benefits. Part of the Department of Homeland Security.Click for official info ↗ checks for fraud. Get bank statements in both names, a lease or mortgage in both names, papers that name each other for insurance, photos of you together over time, and letters from friends and family.
Translating your own documents. Do not translate documents yourself if you are the petitioner or the beneficiary. USCIS questions translations by anyone with a stake in the case, even if they speak both languages well. Use an independent translator, and translate every stamp and seal in full.
Leaving the US without advance parole. You can travel only with an approved advance parole document, Form I-131. If you leave without it, USCIS will treat your application as abandoned.
Filing the forms in separate packages. File I-130 with I-130A, I-485 with I-693, and I-864Affidavit of Support — The form a sponsor signs promising to financially support an immigrant relative so they do not become a "public charge." Required for most family green cards.Click for official info ↗ together in one package. USCIS can then process them at the same time.
Assuming a conditional card is permanent. Were you married for under 2 years at approval? Then you get a 2 year conditional card. You must file I-751 later to remove the conditions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work while the application is pending?
Yes. You must have filed Form I-765 with your package. The work permit (EADEmployment Authorization Document — The "work permit" card (Form I-766) that shows you are allowed to work in the US while waiting for a green card.Click for official info ↗) lets you work for any employer. Processing times vary. Check the USCIS processing-times tool.
Can I travel outside the US while waiting?
You can travel only with an approved advance parole document (Form I-131). If you leave without it, USCIS will treat your application as abandoned.
What if we divorce before the interview?
USCIS can no longer approve the I-130 petition based on the marriage. Some immigrants can apply on their own under VAWA. This is an option if there was abuse. In other cases, the process ends.
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