Marriage Green Card

A marriage-based green card lets a U.S. citizen or green card holder’s spouse live and work anywhere in the United States. A green card holder will have “permanent resident” status until they decide — if they wish — to apply for U.S. citizenship after three years of marriage.

How to Get a Marriage Green Card

Getting a green card through marriage is a 3-step process:

1. The U.S. citizen spouse establishes the marriage relationship by filing Form I-130
2. 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
3. Attend the marriage-based green card interview and await approval

After approval:

• If the couple has been married for less than two years, the foreign spouse will receive a conditional green card
• After two years, the couple must apply to remove the conditions on the green card and receive a 10-year green card
• After an additional year, the foreign spouse can apply for U.S. citizenship