1. If you are filing for your spouse, he or she must complete and sign Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative is the first form you must file to start the marriage-based green card application process.I'm going to talk about information forms and documents needed to file form i-130 for your spouse. Under current law, when a U.S. citizen spouse dies, the surviving spouse can self-petition for permanent resident status. See INA § INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i). To remove the conditions on residence, you and your spouse must apply together using Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. What Documents are Needed for an I-130 Application? Learn about the Diversity Visa Lottery and other ways to apply for an immigrant visa. Boundless took a lot of stress and anxiety out of the green card application process. In practice, this means that the spouse seeking a green card must have a valid visa for up to 2.5 years after filing the marriage-based green card application.