The documents required for a marriage green card application include the following: Marriage certificate Proof of sponsor’s US citizenship or lawful permanent residence
 · For a fast and smooth application process, you will need to provide the following documents: Your Marriage Certificate This is to prove further that civil marriage exists between you and your spouse. Proof That Your Previous Marriage Ended Legally
Submit Form I-130 and supporting documents; Submit your Green Card application (Form I-485 or Form DS-260) Attend your Green Card Interview and receive your Green Card; Step 1. Submit Form I-130. The first step in the process of applying for a Marriage Green Card by marriage is completing Form I-130 (the "petition for alien relative). The purpose of the I-130 petition is to …
Documents that all Marriage Green Card applicants will need Documents to submit with your Form I-130, “Petition for Alien Relative“ Proof of U.S. Citizenship If the sponsoring spouse is a U.S. citizen they must provide proof of your citizenship. Acceptable documents include: U.S. birth certificate Valid U.S. passport Naturalization Certificate
However, the following are the generally required documents for a marriage-based green card application: Passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of entry into the U.S. Keep in mind that, in some cases, a longer validity may be required. You will need to check with the embassy or consulate in your country to be sure.
Form I-485If the spouse seeking a green card physically lives in the United States, the next step is to file Form I-485 (officially called the “Adjustment of Status” application). The I-485 is filed with USCIS, and its primary purpose is to establish that the spouse is eligible for a green card.
Joint bank account statements showing the names of both spouses. Titles or deeds for jointly owned property (real estate or vehicles) Mortgage or loan documents showing joint responsibility for payments. Joint credit card statements showing the name of each spouse as either account holder or authorized user.
Required DocumentationA copy of your valid U.S. passport OR.A copy of your U.S. birth certificate OR.A copy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad OR.A copy of your naturalization certificate OR.A copy of your certificate of citizenship.
Photo Identification and Passport You and your spouse will each need to present photo identification. Your passport is best. If you don't have a passport, use a separate form of photo identification for the interview. The U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse usually presents a driver's license.
You could give us:joint mortgage or lease documents.joint loan documents for major assets like homes, cars or major appliances.joint bank account statements.household bills in both names.
about 10-13 monthsIf you are married to a U.S. Citizen and are living inside the U.S., you will be submitting an adjustment of status application when you apply for you Marriage Green Card. The adjustment of status Marriage Green Card application process typically takes about 10-13 months.
between 11 months to 14.5 monthsOn average, to get a green card through marriage, you will need between 11 months to 14.5 months.
Sample USCIS Interview Document ListJoint Income tax returns.Joint Bank statements. ... Joint credit card statements.Joint leases/mortgages.Joint loan documents (i.e. car, furniture, installment)Joint financial/investment statements.More items...
Obtain your marriage certificate online or by visiting the vital records government agency in the state where the wedding ceremony took place. Ordering your marriage certificate online is the easiest way to order marriage records. Find the closest vital records office, visit OnlineVitals.com.
To check the status of your request, click the “Check Status” tab in the header and input your 10-digit reference number. Delivery time takes three to four working days within Metro Manila. If the recipient's address is outside Metro Manila, it will take three to eight working days to deliver the document.
You can request an authenticated copy of a civil registry document from any PSA Serbilis Centers. You can file your request in person or you can also apply online through their website.
A commitment ceremony is a marriage ceremony in which two people commit their lives to each other, but it isn't legally binding. Commitment ceremonies can even look the same as legally binding weddings, but at no point does the couple go off to sign paperwork and make the marriage legal by government standards.
The documents required for a marriage green card vary by situation but generally include the following: Birth certificate. Marriage certificate. Financial documents. Proof of sponsor’s U.S. citizenship or permanent residence. Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status, if applicable.
To complete the green card application form, or Form I-485 (officially called the “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status”), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
Public Charge Test (I-944) To complete the public charge test, or Form I-944 (officially called the “Declaration of Self-Sufficiency”), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
With Boundless, you get a professionally assembled green card application package — including the travel permit application — arranged in the precise format the government prefers. Get started now!
To complete the financial support form, or Form I-864 (officially called the “Affidavit of Support”), the sponsoring spouse (and any co-sponsors) must provide the following documents.
To complete the family sponsorship form, or Form I-130 (officially called the “Petition for Alien Relative”), you must provide the following documents.
Are you looking to apply for a marriage green card? Boundless can get you the fastest, best help putting together all required forms and documents and submitting them to the government. Get started today!
So you married a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Green Cardholder? Congratulations! Now that you and your fiance have gotten married, it is time to start your new life together. Before you can make the U.S. your permanent residence, you will probably need to apply for a Marriage Green Card. This guide explains what a marriage Green Card is and how to get one.
To be eligible for a Green Card through marriage, you must show USCIS four things:
Once you have determined that you are eligible for a Marriage Green Card, applying is a 3-step process:
How long the process takes depends on whether you're already living in the United States and whether you're married to a U.S. citizen or a Green Cardholder. It can take a while, so many people start preparing their forms with their fiance up to 90 days before they get married.
In 2020, the total cost for a Marriage Green Card is $1,760 if you are applying while living in the United States, and or $1,200 if you are applying from abroad. These totals include the required U.S. government filing and biometrics fees, which are nonrefundable. They also include the average cost of the required medical examination.
You do not have to hire an immigration lawyer to apply for a Marriage Green Card. More than half of all marriage Green Card applications are filed by individuals who do not work with an attorney. You can definitely do it!
If you applied for your Green Card while you were living in the United States, then Yes! But you will need to apply for employment authorization when you file your Form I-485. You can do this by submitting a Form-I765 Application for Employment Authorization when you apply to adjust status.
If either spouse had a previous marriage, they must provide any of the following that apply: a divorce decree, a death certificate of the other spouse, a certificate of annulment.
Applicants with medical conditions that will affect their ability to work, attend school, or provide care for themselves must include: A letter from a doctor regarding the applicant’s condition, prognosis, and ability to work or study. A letter from other medical specialists regarding the applicant’s condition.
A letter from a medical professional verifying that the recipient is pregnant, and stating the duration of the pregnancy. Children of U.S. citizens who are exempt from public benefit receipt consideration. Evidence that the recipient is the child of U.S. citizens and eligible for citizenship.
A letter from your health insurance company showing that you have enrolled, or have a future enrollment date, for an insurance policy. Make sure that this letter includes the terms, type of coverage, individuals covered, and the policy start date.
A full copy of a health insurance policy, detailing the type of coverage and individuals covered. A letter from an insurance company confirming your enrollment and detailing the type of coverage. A copy of IRS Form 1095-B or 1095-C confirming your health coverage.
You may submit this form together with Form I-485 or later, such as by mail when USCIS requests it or in person at your Green Card interview.
At minimum, the sponsoring spouse needs to submit a copy of their most recent U.S. tax return. It could also be helpful to include:
Wear professional and/or conservative clothing. First impressions matter in a wide range of circumstances, including your green card marriage interview. Dress in professional or conservative attire, as you would for a job interview. Be prepared to answer all types of questions.
Consular processing fees for a marriage-based green card include a visa application processing fee of $325 and a medical examination fee, which varies. Other costs may include photocopying and translation charges.
If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available visa numbers, then a backlog will build. Unfortunately, there is usually a backlog for each marriage-based green card category.
Previous marriage (s) must have been legally terminated: Neither the petitioner nor the beneficiary can have another active marriage. If any or both of you have previously married, you must provide proof showing that the previous marriage has been terminated by legal means. The required evidence for this includes a divorce or death certificate.
You must be legally married: A marriage can only be considered legal if the government in the country where the marriage took place officially recognizes it. Therefore, you will need to prove this by presenting your marriage records officially issued by the government.
However, the following are the generally required documents for a marriage-based green card application: Passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of entry into the U.S. Keep in mind that, in some cases, a longer validity may be required.
The first step in a marriage-based green card process is for the petitioning spouse (citizen or permanent resident) to file an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative with the USCIS. After the I-130 approval, the next steps will depend on whether the beneficiary is staying in the U.S. or is living abroad.
I f you are applying for a marriage-based green card, and doing so while living in the U.S., through the process called “adjustment of status,” you can expect to be invited for a personal interview at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) local district office.
The documents you show are essential factors in this decision. Rental agreement and mortgages, utility bills, joint bank and credit card statements, membership in clubs, and many other documents you provide can help you prove that your marriage is bona fide.
The green card marriage interview will be conducted at the USCIS Field Office address on your interview notice (Form I-797C). You, the U.S. citizen and your spouse will pass through a metal detector when you enter the building. Leave things like your cell phone in your car. If your Form I-485 is based on a marriage to a U.S. citizen, both of you will need to attend the interview.
After all, the primary purpose of the interview is for USCIS to verify that your marriage was entered into in good faith and not solely for immigration purposes. This article contains helpful information about what to bring to your green card marriage interview.
Be prepared to provide the immigration officer with copies of any originals you bring to the interview. Otherwise, they will keep the originals.
Both spouses must attend the interview. You should both bring valid government issued identification ( e.g., driver’s licenses) to enter the building. You need to bring the original version of Form I-797C interview notice. Also, bring a complete copy of the I-130/I-485 application and any request for evidence responses.
The exact questions depend upon case specific details. For sample questions, review our article USCIS Green Card Marriage Interview Questions. Generally, you will be asked details about your time dating, the marriage, and your family and friends. You should know specific dates about your courtship as well as the date of your wedding anniversary. Again, for more specific questions, see our article referenced above.
So, be accurate and honest with all your answers! The general procedure for the green card marriage interview, or I-485 interview, is to review the adjustment of status application with you and verify its contents. The immigration officer may interview each of you separately or together.
The green card marriage interview is generally informal, but you should still be prepared to prove your case!
The form’s purpose: To establish a valid relationship between a U.S. citizen, or permanent resident and a foreign family member, to help them gain a green card. It is the 1st step towards reserving your relative’s immigrant visa.
A person with refugee or asylum status who wishes to travel outside the United States needs this document to return to the U.S.
It allows an immigrant in the U.S. to request for an employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). It also lets green card applicants legally work before becoming lawful permanent residents.
Religious marriage certificate if the couple had a church wedding. Evidence of joint ownership of a car. Evidence of major purchases made together (for example, TV, refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc.) Both spouses.
7. Form I-131, “Application for Travel Document” (optional but recommended)
The form’s purpose: This form reports the results of all medical examinations required by the USCIS to allow an immigrant into the United States. Through this, the USCIS ensures that the spouse seeking green card, through Form I-485 does not possess any “health conditions” that might pose a risk to the U.S. citizens.
Only a U.S. citizen, or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) can file an I-130 petition. U.S. citizens can file this petition for their spouses, children, parents and siblings. A green card holder can file the same for their spouses and unmarried children.
Form I-130 is the U.S. Immigration Form called “Petition for Alien Relative”. Filling out this form is the first step you must take in order to receive a marriage-based green card. The spouse that is the U.S. Citizen or current Green Card holder is known as the “Petitioner” on Form I-130.
The green card processing time for spouses of permanent residents can take from 22 to 38 months. If the Beneficiary is living in the United States expect the processing time to be between 29 and 38 months. If the Beneficiary is living abroad, expect the time to be between 22 and 32 months.
If you and your spouse have been married less than 2 years at the time the green card was approved then you will receive this conditional green card. It is important to know that a holder of a conditional green card has the same rights and privileges as a permanent resident who holds a permanent green card.
The processing time for the I-485 when submitted by spouses of U.S. citizens is 9 to 12 months. The processing time for the I-485 when submitted by spouses of lawful permanent residents will take longer due to having to wait for green card availability.
Immigrant is physically present in the United States and will remain physically present throughout the Adjustment of Status process; Immigrant entered the country legally. This means the immigrant entered the country with required documentation and was approved entry by USCIS; and.
The good news for spouses of U.S. citizens applying for a marriage-based green card is that there is an unlimited number of visas available for them . This means the green card processing time is much shorter when the beneficiary is married to a U.S. citizen.
As of February 2020, the fee for filing Form I-130 is $535 and should be sent when filing the Petition.