US Immigration & Visa Guides: Green Cards, Citizenship, and Petitions
United States immigration law is administered primarily by USCIS, the Department of State, and Customs and Border Protection.
Navigating US lawful permanent residence, family-based petitions, and naturalization involves rigorous documentation standards where small oversights cause months of delay. Spousal adjustment of status requires filing Form I-130 alongside Form I-485 and proving financial sponsorship via Form I-864. After maintaining permanent resident status for three to five years, green card holders can apply for US citizenship using Form N-400 and pass the civics and English examinations. Our guides provide clear, sequential instructions on gathering vital records, scheduling biometrics, preparing for agency interviews, and tracking processing wait times.
All Immigration Guides (US)
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The US citizen spouse files Form I-130 (petition). The immigrant spouse files I-485 (green card 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.
9 steps · Varies widely by office — check USCIS processing times · $2,115 base; up to $3,005 with work + travel permits2025-Latest
You must hold a green card for 3–5 years first. Then you file Form N-400, and you pass the English test and the civics test at your interview. Then you take the Oath of Allegiance. Then you become a US citizen.
9 steps · Varies by field office — check USCIS processing times · $710 online / $760 paper (N-400 fee); $380 reduced fee / fee waiver available2025-Latest
The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery gives out up to 55,000 green cards each year. It is for people from countries with low rates of immigration to the US. Entry costs $1. It takes only 30 minutes. For DV-2027, registration has not opened: the court-ordered 1 November 2026 opening was stayed by the Ninth Circuit on 29 October 2026, so there is currently no registration date. Check dvprogram.state.gov for any announcement.
7 steps · 30 min entry · $1 registration fee2026-Latest
Green cards expire every 10 years. Renew with Form I-90 up to 6 months before your card expires. File online and go to your biometrics appointment. Use the I-797 receipt as proof of your status while you wait. The same form replaces a lost, stolen, or damaged card, corrects a USCIS error, or updates your name.
6 steps · 6–12 months · $415 online / $465 paper (biometrics included)2026-Latest
The naturalization interview has three parts. First, you answer up to 20 civics questions. You must get 12 right. This count is for N-400s filed on or after 20 October 2025 or later. Second, you read one sentence in English. Third, you write one sentence in English. It is a memory game. This guide shows you exactly how to prepare.
9 steps · 2–6 months of study · Free to study (interview is part of the N-400 fee: $710 online / $760 paper)2025-Latest
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and essential rules for immigration in United States.
How long does a marriage-based green card take to process?
Processing times generally range between 12 and 24 months. Spouses of US citizens living inside the US file 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 ↗ and I-485Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status — The main green card application filed from inside the US.Click for official info ↗ concurrently via Adjustment of Status. Spouses living abroad process through consular processing with the National Visa Center.
Can I legally work in the US while waiting for my green card?
Yes. When submitting Form I-485 for adjustment of status, you can concurrently file Form I-765Application for Employment Authorization — The form used to request a work permit (EAD).Click for official info ↗ for an Employment Authorization Document (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 ↗). Once approved, you receive a work permit card valid during case processing.
When does a green card holder become eligible for US citizenship?
Most permanent residents become eligible to file Form N-400Application for Naturalization — The form green card holders file to become US citizens.Click for official info ↗ after 5 years of continuous residence. If you obtained your green cardPermanent Resident Card — The ID card proving lawful permanent resident status — live and work in the US permanently.Click for official info ↗ through marriage and remain married to and living with your US citizen spouse, you may apply after 3 years.
What happens if I submit an outdated USCIS form edition?
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 ↗ strictly rejects expired or outdated form editions. Always download forms directly from uscis.gov immediately before filing, and check the edition date printed at the bottom of the form.
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