The U.S. citizen spouse establishes the marriage relationship by filing Form I-130. Apply for the green card through adjustment of status (Form I-485) if you're living in the U.S. or Form DS-260 if you're a foreign national living abroad. Attend the marriage-based green card interview and await approval.
A marriage must be valid in the place where it was conducted, not in the place where the spouses currently reside. The sponsor must pledge to support their spouse. The petitioner will need to file an affidavit of support pledging to provide for their spouse. You must be aged 18 or more in order to sign the affidavit.
Marriage to the U.S. citizen is the most common and fastest way of getting a green card for a foreign national. If a foreign national marries the U.S. citizen abroad, the foreign national becomes an immediate relative of the U.S. spouse regardless of the place where marriage took place.
- The processing time for U.S. citizens filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 13-54.5 months. - The processing time for legal permanent residents filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 32-67.5 months.
The length of time it takes to get a green card varies depending on several factors, including the type of application you are submitting and current USCIS processing times. A marriage green card or spousal visa, for example, can take anywhere from 9.8–35 months.
What Documents Do We Need for a Marriage Green Card? Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) Green Card Application Form (I-485) Online Green Card Application Form (DS-260) Financial Support Form (I-864) Work Permit Application Form (I-765) Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) Special Considerations. Related Information.
While it's possible to apply for a marriage-based green card without a lawyer, the stakes are high, and the process can be challenging. Hiring a lawyer who specializes in immigration law can greatly increase your chances of success and reduce the stress and uncertainty of the process.
The wait time is currently about one and a half years, but this can vary by a few months, depending on the home country of the spouse seeking a green card. Once the I-485 filing package is submitted, USCIS will typically process it within – months (although it could be longer depending on your local field office).
If USCIS approves your petition, you will receive a conditional green card if you've been married for less than two years. If you've been married for more than two years, you'll receive a permanent green card, which is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
Spouse Visa Summary The CR1 visa processing time is an approximate average of 12 months as of December 2024. The IR1 visa processing time is an approximate average of 17 months as of December 2024. The spouse visa application costs $1,220. The main form needed to apply for a CR1 and IR1 visa is the I-130.