A marriage-based green card allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder) to live and work permanently in the United States. Once approved, the immigrant spouse becomes a lawful permanent resident with the same rights and responsibilities as other green card holders and may later apply for U.S. citizenship after meeting residency requirements.
If you’re married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder, this guide explains everything you need to know about eligibility, costs, timelines, documents, and what to expect during the application process.
Call us now for a free case review of your marriage green card case: (213) 375-4084
What is a Marriage Based Green Card?
A marriage green card is an immigration benefit that helps unite couples where one spouse is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR).
The process proves that your marriage is real and not entered into solely for immigration benefits. Once approved, you receive either:
Conditional green card if your marriage is less than two years old. This is valid for 2 years. You’ll need to remove conditions later by filing Form I-751 jointly with your spouse.
Permanent green card if your marriage is more than two years old at the time of approval. This is valid for 10 years.
- The marriage green card processing time is an approximate average of 8 to 10 months as of October 2025.
- The marriage visa application costs approximately $3,005 for couples residing in the United States.
- The two main forms needed to apply for a marriage green card are the I-130 and the I-485. We detail other forms below.
Who Is Eligible for a Green Card Through Marriage?
You may be eligible and apply for a marriage green card if:
- If applying within the U.S., you generally must have entered the country legally with some caveats.
- You are legally married to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- Your marriage is bona fide. This means it is genuine and supported by evidence of shared life.
- Neither spouse is currently married to anyone else.
- The sponsoring spouse can financially support the foreign spouse by meeting minimum income requirements for Form I-864.
- The immigrant spouse is admissible to the United States with no serious criminal, health, or immigration violations.
Key 2025 USCIS Updates
USCIS has made several procedural and fee updates that affect marriage-based green card applicants:
- New form editions: Applicants must use the January 20, 2025 edition of Form I-485.
- Separate fees: Each form now requires an individual payment; combined checks are no longer accepted.
- Medical exam rules: Form I-693 no longer requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
- Updated filing fees: USCIS fees increased in April 2025, see below for the latest breakdown.
- Same-edition rule: All pages of a form package must be from the same revision version to avoid rejection.
Documents Required for a Marriage Green Card
When applying for a green card through marriage, the complete application package typically includes:
From the U.S. Sponsor
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence which may include a passport, birth certificate, and/or green card
- Proof of income including recent tax returns, W-2s, and pay stubs
- Completed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
- Divorce decrees or death certificates from prior marriages
- Passport-style photos
From the Foreign Spouse
- Birth certificate and passport copies
- Official marriage certificate, certified and translated if not in English
- Proof of legal entry into the U.S. which includes a I-94 record and visa stamp if in the U.S.
- Medical exam (Form I-693, sealed envelope)
- Divorce decrees or death certificates from prior marriages
- Police or court records, if applicable
- Evidence of a real marriage which may include joint bank accounts, insurance, lease, photos, travel records, text messages, affidavits from friends or family. Learn more about how to prove a bona fide marriage in our guide.
- Passport-style photos
See our full list of documents required for a marriage green card.
Have Questions? Give us a Call at (213) 375-4084
How to Get a Marriage Green Card
The green card through marriage has three major steps to follow. We outline each of them below. It is recommended that you contact our office at (213) 375-4084 for assistance.
Step 1: File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
The U.S. citizen or green card holder begins the process by filing Form I-130 with USCIS to establish the marital relationship.
You’ll include supporting documents proving your relationship and eligibility. Once approved, the case moves to the next step based on where the spouse lives.
Step 2: Apply for the Green Card
If the Spouse Is in the U.S.
You can file Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) at the same time as Form I-130 if married to a U.S. citizen.This is called “concurrent filing”. If married to a green card holder, you’ll need to wait for a visa number to become available.
If the Spouse Is Abroad
Once Form I-130 is approved, the case goes to the National Visa Center (NVC) for processing. The foreign spouse completes Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) and attends an interview at a U.S. consulate in their home country.
Step 3: Attend the Interview
Both spouses typically attend an in-person interview. The officer will verify your marriage’s authenticity, review documentation, and may ask questions about your relationship and shared life. Learn more about what to expect at the marriage green card interview.
If approved, you’ll either receive your green card by mail (for U.S. applicants) or enter the country as a lawful permanent resident (for consular applicants).
Marriage Green Card Processing Times (2025 Estimates)
Below are the current marriage green card processing times which may vary depending on your circumstances.
| Stage | Average Time |
| Form I-130 approval | 8-11 months |
| Adjustment of Status (I-485) | 7-10 months |
| Consular Processing | 10-12 months after I-130 approval |
| Conditional green card removal (I-751) | 12-18 months |
Processing times vary by field office, consulate, and individual case factors.
Marriage Green Card USCIS Filing Fees in 2025
The total USCIS filing fees for a marriage green card are approximately $1,700 to $3,005. Below we give a breakdown of each fee depending on where the foreign spouse lives.
If the Foreign Spouse Lives in the U.S. (Adjustment of Status)
| Form | Purpose | Fee |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $675 |
| I-485 | Application for Green Card (includes biometrics) | $1,440 |
| I-765 | Work Permit (optional) | $260 |
| I-131 | Travel Permit (Advance Parole, optional) | $630 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Green card production fee | $235 |
| Total: | $3,005 |
If the Foreign Spouse Lives Abroad (Consular Processing)
| Step | Description | Fee |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $675 |
| NVC Fees | Immigrant Visa + Affidavit of Support | $445 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Green card production | $235 |
| Total: | $1,355 |
Additional costs include medical exam ($200 to $500), document translations, passport photos, travel expenses, and attorney fees.
After Your Marriage-Based Green Card is Approved
Once approved, you’ll receive your green card based on your eligibility:
- Conditional Green Card: Valid for 2 years, if the marriage is less than 2 years at approval.
- Permanent Green Card: Valid for 10 years.
Conditional green card holders must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions, within 90 days before the card expires.
Applying for U.S. Citizenship after a Marriage Green Card
If you’re married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for citizenship after three years of having a green card instead of the usual five years. To qualify, you must:
- Have been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least 3 years.
- Have been living with your U.S. citizen spouse during those 3 years.
- Have lived continuously in the United States during that time.
- Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 18 months out of those 3 years.
- Demonstrate good moral character with no serious criminal offenses or immigration violations.
- Be able to read, write, and speak basic English and pass a civics test on U.S. history and government.
If you’re married to a lawful permanent resident (not a U.S. citizen), you must wait 5 years from the date you received your green card before applying for citizenship. Learn more about applying for citizenship with a marriage green card.
Hire a Marriage Green Card Attorney
You and your spouse are starting your new life together in the US and have enough to worry about! Our experienced marriage green card attorney will assess your case and make sure everything is done and filed correctly. No unnecessary risks, no headaches, just an approval notice. Have the peace of mind of knowing your application is done correctly and your future here is secure as a green card holder.
Linda Lee is the Managing Attorney of the Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles. She has been practicing immigration law for the past 28 years.
She has successfully represented and received approvals on more than 4,000 immigration cases, including marriage cases, fiancé visas, and naturalization.
Call us today at (213) 375-4084 to discuss your marriage green card case.
Marriage Green Card Success Stories
Read the reviews below from some of our clients to learn just how dedicated we are to achieving your immigration goals. We specialize in family immigration with marriage green cards as our main focus. We will be dedicated to getting you the outcome you want in your case! Read all of our reviews on our testimonials page.
We initially hired Winston/Linda and team ten years ago to handle my wife's initial green card application. The whole process went smoothly, as the team addressed all of our concerns in thorough/timely manner. I felt that the application prep was in good hands at every point in the process. The application was filed timely, and she received her green card in about 3 months.
Lawrence L.
I am so grateful to Linda and her team for their amazing work! They helped me get my green card in less than two months, and everything went smoothly. Linda and her team were quick, knew exactly what to do, and were also very kind and supportive. I felt taken care of the whole time. If you need a lawyer who works fast and cares, Linda and her team are the best choice!
M V
Yet ANOTHER 5 star review for these folks! We started the process for my wife's green card two years ago and were lucky to be in a very favorable position for the application but that didn't mean that it didn't take time and jumping through strange and sudden hoops. Linda, Winston, Pedro, Arturo and the whole team at ILOLA were always expert and highly expedient at keeping our concerns at bay. Email responses came almost instantly and at one point my wife said their quick replies probably kept her from getting an ulcer! They were professional and friendly and always made us feel like we were seen - we never felt like our case was ever off their radar. We would genuinely and whole-hearted recommend this team and feel lucky that they happened to be the first immigration lawyers that we called.
Luke Warner
Linda is a fantastic immigration lawyer and I cannot recommend her practice enough. When you work with Linda and her team you will receive: clear communication, fast responses, deep knowledge of rules and regulations, decades of experience with successfull cases, attention to detail and professionalism. Linda helped me get my permanent residence in a little over 3 months. She built my case and we filed for an extraordinary ability I-140 petition on May 2024. When that was approved with no RFE's she helped me file for adjustment of status I-485 on June 2024. Thanks to her skills and dedication I just received my green card on August 2024! Hiring Linda as my representation has been one of the best decision I've ever made!
Carlos Laguna
Linda and her team were truly amazing in handling my immigration case! From their prompt responses to all my questions to the seamless filing of paperwork, they made the entire process feel like a breeze. The support and guidance I received at every step were invaluable, and I can't express how grateful I am. What's even more incredible is that I received my green card in less than two months – a testament to their efficiency and expertise.
I genuinely couldn't be happier with the outcome, and if you find yourself in need of immigration assistance, I wholeheartedly recommend Linda's outstanding team. 🌟
Yasmin Zekaria
Winston, Linda, Juan, Arturo and the team are very good at what they do. They worked on my green card process and I couldn't be any more happier with their amazing service. They are professional and very hands on. Every time I had a question or concern they responded immediately. The whole process went smoothly. They took care of me every step of the way and not once did I had any issues with the forms that needed to be filled out. They made it so easy for me. I will forever be thankful for their hard work in making this happen.
I highly recommend ILOLA to anyone who is need of immigration services. You will be in good hands.
Oscar Cervantes
Linda Lee and her team were incredibly helpful, responsive and transparent every step of the way. From our first initial call to receiving approval of benefits, they were great. They left no stone unturned while collecting details for our case ensuring we had no issues further along the process. If you’re looking for an efficient and friendly team to help you through your green card application process, my wife and I would highly recommend them. Thank you Linda & co! 5*****
Joe Campbell
I really want to recommend immigration law office of Los Angeles, You were super patient and empathetic with me. Thank you to your entire team and the great work you do together. My green card process only lasted 90 days, thank you to God and to you for your help. I can only thank you very much for your empathy with your clients. If I ever needed help with any case again, I would contact you again. Your work was impeccable. I highly recommend it. Linda, Pedro, Winston, and Arturo, what a great team you make. Thank you for everything.
Angi C.
Have Questions? Give us a Call at (213) 375-4084
