Married to or marrying a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder)? It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the process of obtaining your own Green Card prior to beginning the application process. This guide can also be beneficial to U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouses looking to sponsor their foreign-born spouse for a Green Card. Keep reading to learn more about the marriage Green Card application and its cost.
How to Start the U.S. Green Card Application
The U.S. Green Card application for foreign-born spouses is largely dependent on where the spouse is located. If the spouse is still living in their home country abroad, they must use a method called “consular processing” to apply for a Green Card. If the spouse is already living in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, the method for obtaining a Green Card is called “Adjustment of Status (AOS).”
For consular processing:
- First, the spouse who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident must file Form I-130, Form I-130A, and supporting evidence with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- If the I-130 is approved, you may then apply for a marriage Green Card at a local U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. This process includes completing Form DS-260 and attending a visa interview with a consular officer.
For AOS:
- First, file Form I-130 with USCIS.
- If the I-130 is approved, you may then file Form I-485 with USCIS or you may file Form I-485 concurrently (at the same time) with Form I-130. There is technically no need to wait for I-130 approval when applying for AOS.
- Finally, file any required supporting AOS application forms with USCIS, such as I-130A, I-864, and I-693. Forms I-765 and I-131 are optional and may also be filed for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or travel authorization document, respectively.
Cost of a Marriage-Based U.S. Green Card
In general, you can expect to pay about $2,265 to $3,605 for AOS in the United States and $1,305 to $1,355 for consular processing abroad. These estimated ranges only include government fees, not legal fees (consulting with an immigration attorney is strongly recommended).
It’s important to note that the cost of a Green Card application will vary by each unique case; learn more in the full, comprehensive marriage Green Card cost guide.