How much does it cost to become a us citizen through marriage

Congratulations on your marriage! This guide is for people who want to get a marriage green card for their wife or husband. We will explain everything you need to successfully complete the application process. For most couples, the application is straightforward and does not need a lawyer. Instead, save that $4,000 lawyer’s fee for your lovely honeymoon on the beach. Did you know this cool guide makes a satisfying beach read? 🌴

Table of Contents

1. Marriage Green Card Process Overview

Note: This guide is for the spouse of a U.S. citizen or of a green card holder. In addition, the applicant should be inside the U.S. when applying (If you will apply from outside the U.S, use our other in-depth guide instead.)

If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen or green card holder, and you currently live in the U.S, you and your spouse will need to file a Petition for Alien Relative and an Adjustment of Status through marriage[1] [2] (Don’t run, you will become an expert in this in the next five minutes).

Total filing fee: $1,760.
Total processing time: 10-13 months for a U.S. citizen’s spouse, 11-14 months for a green card holder’s spouse.

The application process can be broken into two steps:

Step 1: The Paper Party – Submit Forms and Documents to USCIS

We kick off the party with forms and documents!

The process is slightly different for spouses of U.S. citizens versus spouses of green card holders. So we will explain them separately:

August 20, 2021 Update: In March 2021, USCIS canceled the Trump-era Public Charge Rule. This was major great news for green card applicants, because now applicants no longer need to submit that headache-inducing Form I-944 and its supporting documents! 😇🙌🎉

However, today USCIS just published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding the public charge rule. This means USCIS plans to issue a new public charge rule soon. The new rule is very likely going to be more strict than the current rule, and it may also lead to a new I-944-like form being added back to the application.

Considering all the future uncertainties, we strongly suggest applying soon while the current immigrant-friendly policy is still in place.

Sept 30, 2020 Update: Great news – A U.S. District Court has temporarily blocked USCIS from increasing application fees (the higher fees were originally scheduled to start on Oct 2, 2020). So during a limited period of time starting from now, USCIS will only charge the lower old fees! 😇🙌🎉 Note that this temporary injunction could end at anytime, as USCIS appeals this court decision. The current injunction may not last for very long.	 	 

Once the injunction period ends, the application fees will go up from the current $1,760 to $2,830, a net increase of $1,070, almost doubling the current cost. Because it will be much more expensive to apply after the fee increase, we suggest applying soon while the old fee is still in effect.

August 20, 2021 Update: In March 2021, USCIS canceled the Trump-era Public Charge Rule. This was major great news for green card applicants, because now applicants no longer need to submit that headache-inducing Form I-944 and its supporting documents! 😇🙌🎉

However, today USCIS just published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding the public charge rule. This means USCIS plans to issue a new public charge rule soon. The new rule is very likely going to be more strict than the current rule, and it may also lead to a new I-944-like form being added back to the application.

Considering all the future uncertainties, we strongly suggest applying soon while the current immigrant-friendly policy is still in place.

Sept 30, 2020 Update: Great news – A U.S. District Court has temporarily blocked USCIS from increasing application fees (the higher fees were originally scheduled to start on Oct 2, 2020). So during a limited period of time starting from now, USCIS will only charge the lower old fees! 😇🙌🎉 Note that this temporary injunction could end at anytime, as USCIS appeals this court decision. The current injunction may not last for very long.	 	 

Once the injunction period ends, the application fees will go up from the current $1,760 to $2,830, a net increase of $1,070, almost doubling the current cost. Because it will be much more expensive to apply after the fee increase, we suggest applying soon while the old fee is still in effect.

Step 2: The Waiting Game – Wait until the Interview and the Green Card Approval

No more paperwork at this point! Now it’s mostly waiting around until you receive a Green Card interview notice around 10-13 months later [3]. The interview will take place at a USCIS office near you, and both spouses need to attend in-person. (More on the interview later.) If everything goes well, you will receive your Green Card approval at the end of the interview, and within another month, your Green Card will arrive in the mail!

The timeline section will explain the waiting process in detail.

08/06/2020 Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS offices were closed for 2.5 months between March and June. Many USCIS agents are required to work from home, and applicants with fever and flu symptoms are required to reschedule their USCIS appointments.
Since these changes may impact USCIS' case processing speed, we suggest you consider submitting your application sooner rather than later.

How to complete your green card application in 7 days?

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2. Make Sense of the Process

Why all these forms and documents? In this section, we explain the Green Card application logic that routinely confuses the world’s smartest rocket scientist. Once you understand the logic behind it, this process will make a lot more sense.

To begin, let’s meet Arnold and Maria:

Applicant: Arnold is 28 years old and hails from the snowy mountains of Austria. Arnold is not a U.S. citizen and is applying to receive a Green Card.
 

 
 
Sponsor (also known as a petitioner): Maria is 27 years old and is a native to the sunny Southern California. She is married to Arnold and is a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

After getting married, Arnold and Maria started researching how to apply for a marriage Green Card for Arnold.

Green Card Holder’s Spouse

For couples like Arnold and Maria, here is the application paperwork timeline:

🔑 Application Part One: Immigrant Petition

Part One’s purpose is to establish Arnold’s eligibility for a Green Card. Since Arnold’s eligibility is based on his marriage to Maria, Maria needs to complete the Application Part One to demonstrate [1]:

• Maria is a real person.
• Maria is a U.S. permanent resident.
• Arnold is her husband.
• Their marriage is real.

This part is mostly for Maria to Complete.

Around 2 Weeks Later

USCIS Receipt Notice (Form I-797) Arrives

The receipt notice confirms that USCIS has received your Application Part One. It contains a case number, which you can use to track your Part One case status with the USCIS Case Status Checker. It also contains a date labeled “Priority Date”. You will use this date later to determine when to submit Application Part Two.

Waiting period until a visa number becomes available

Good news — in September and October 2022, there is no wait time! So you can move onto submitting the adjustment of status application immediately after receiving I-130 Receipt Notice. This zero wait-time is expected to last until the end of Octobersource ⏰

🌱 Application Part Two: Adjustment of Status

Part Two’s purpose is to apply for Arnold’s Green Card. After USCIS approves Part One, Arnold has successfully established his Green Card eligibility; now he can apply for it. The Application Part Two collects information that demonstrates [2]:

• Arnold is a real person.
• Arnold’s current immigration status doesn’t bar him from receiving a Green Card.
• Arnold can financially support himself in the U.S. without government assistance.
• Arnold is in good health.
• Arnold has good moral characters.

This part is mostly for Arnold to Complete.

Around 2-3 Weeks after Filing Part Two

USCIS Receipt Notices (Form I-797) Arrive

For each form you submit in Application Part Two, you will receive a receipt notice from USCIS. Each receipt notice contains a case number. You can use these case numbers to track your Part Two case status with the USCIS Case Status Checker.

For the Next 8-10 Months after receiving USCIS Notice of Approval

Mostly Waiting until Receiving Green Card Interview Notice

This is where Step 2 – the Waiting Game begins. We will explain what happens during this time in the timeline after filing section later.

Why the wait before submitting Part Two?

The answer: Arnold cannot apply for a Green Card, until a Green Card becomes available for him to apply to.

This may sound very strange, until you learn this fact: the U.S. government only gives out a fixed number of Green Cards each year, no matter how many people are eligible for it. So when there are more eligible people than there are Green Cards, some people have to wait until a new batch of Green Cards become available. 1

When can I submit Application Part Two?

You can find out by checking the USCIS Visa Bulletin information page, which updates once a month. Click on the link to the current month, and in the chart find category “F2A”.

If the date on the chart is current (“C”), or your priority date (explained below) is earlier than the date on the chart, you may file Application Part Two. Otherwise, you will need to continue waiting and check the bulletin page again next month. 2

What's Priority Date?

You can find your Priority Date on the Form I-130 Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you received earlier. The date is under a column labeled "Priority Date". 3

3. USCIS Application Forms

There are 9 forms in total, to be submitted in two separate packets.  Five forms are required and the other four are optional.  Let’s take a look at what these forms are for:

🔑 Forms for Application Part One: Immigrant Petition

• Form I-130 – Petition for Alien Relatives [Maria to fill out] No, this isn’t about your aunt Barb who claims to be an extraterrestrial 👽. Maria needs to fill out this form to confirm she is a U.S. citizen and Arnold is her husband. It asks for information about both Maria and Arnold.
• Form I-130A – Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary [Arnold to fill out] Enter Arnold’s information for a second time. Only this time it’s Arnold’s turn to fill it out.
• Form G-1145 – e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (optional) [Maria to fill out] Ever dreamed of getting a ping from USCIS on the phone? 💌 Fill in this form to request an electronic notification when USCIS accepts the immigrant petition.

🌱 Forms for Application Part Two: Adjustment of Status

• Form I-485 – Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status [Arnold to fill out] Arnold, please stretch your fingers. 🖐 You are about to enter your information for a third time here. And don’t forget the 66 check boxes at the end for questions such as “Does Arnold intend to sabotage the United States?”.
• Form I-864 – Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA [Maria to fill out] Affi what? Who is David?🧜‍Well, it’s actually a form to show Arnold can financially support himself in the U.S. without government assistance. The simplest way to do so is if Maria can demonstrate that her income is at least 125 percent of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines for Maria’s household size (only 100 percent of the Guidelines if Maria is on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard). If this is not the case, the form instruction outlines other ways for Arnold and other relatives to chip in. Yeah… this form is definitely the most confusing one. So make sure to spend some time understanding the form instructions.🤷‍
• Form I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization (optional) [Arnold to fill out] Arnold needs to do this form if he wants to work in the U.S.while his application is pending. (Arnold wants to continue his employment with Skyweb 😎, so he fills out the form.)
• Form I-131 – Application for Travel Document (optional) [Arnold to fill out] Arnold needs to do this form if he wants to travel outside of the U.S. while his application is pending. (Arnold needs to fly to Maluku to terminate a tasselled wobbegong 🐡, so he fills out the form.)
• G-1145 – e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (optional) [Arnold to fill out] Fill in this form to request an electronic notification when USCIS accepts the adjustment of status.
• Form I-944 – Declaration of Self Sufficiency  [Arnold to fill out]
  This is a new form added due to the new USCIS Public Charge rule. Arnold needs to fill out detailed information regarding his income, tax returns, family members, credit score, assets, debts & liabilities, health insurance, and education. Oh well, guess he’s got no other choice but to tell USCIS everything… 😭 [💡: No longer needed due to the recent Public Charge rule changes]

How to make sure I filled out the forms correctly?

Each USCIS form comes with an instruction [1] [2] [4] [5] [6] [7]. Make sure you carefully review the instructions. I know, I know – those instructions are written in Austrian Martian. Even the killer robot from the future cannot survive the grandeur of 132 pages of full-length legal verbiage without dropping cold onto the floor.

If you are like Arnold, you may dream about doing your application the TurboTax style: fill out a simple questionnaire with step-by-step instructions, and boom!, your forms are completed for you.

Good news – here at GreenCardHero, we have created a useful Green Card application software which does exactly that for you: 😃

5.0 on 

Trusted by over 1,500 applicants

“This software has helped me save thousands of dollars from hiring lawyers. The instructions are super clear, easy to follow and it’s affordable.”
— Brandon T

4. Document Checklist

USCIS requires many supporting documents and the list varies from person to person. The number of documents needed ranges between 13 and 47 (or more). In this section, we will first briefly describe the various document categories. Then, we have prepared a detailed interactive checklist to help you fully understand all the required documents. Let’s get started!

🔑 Documents for Application Part One: Immigrant Petition

• Arnold’s and Maria’s passport-style photos
  Passport-style photos of both Arnold 🦊 (2 copies) and Maria 🐰(2 copies), taken within 30 days of filing the application
• Proof of Maria’s U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residence Status
  e.g. U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, U.S birth certificate, U.S. Permanent Resident Card 🔖
• Marriage papers
  Current marriage certificate and prior marriage termination documents 📑
• Evidence of Arnold and Maria’s joint activities
  Documents that prove the marriage is real. 💑 For example, joint ownership of property, joint apartment lease, birth certificates of children you had together, photo collection.[1]

🌱 Documents for Application Part Two: Adjustment of Status

• Arnold’s passport-style photos
  Passport-style photos of Arnold 🦊 (2 – 6 copies depending on the case), taken within 30 days of filing the application. Did you notice USCIS really loves immigrants’ photos?
• Arnold’s birth certificate
  Arnold’s birth certificate 🐣
• Proof of Arnold’s immigration status
  Evidence of continuously maintaining a lawful status since arrival in the U.S. 🤟
• Arnold’s proof of financial support
  E.g. (If Maria is Arnold’s financial sponsor in Form I-864) Maria’s pay stubs, Maria’s tax returns, Maria’s letter from employer🤑
• Arnold’s proof of self-sufficiency
  This section is a new type of black hole generated by the new Form I-944. This hole’s unprecedented vast range extends to proof of family relationship in the south, high school language course grades in the north, real estate appraisal in the east, and health insurance policy in the west. There are no documents that USCIS cannot ask for – the only limit is your imagination. [💡: No longer needed due to the recent Public Charge rule changes]
• Arnold’s medical examination result
  Form I-693 – Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record . This form will be filled out by the doctor who provides you with the exam. At the end of the exam, the doctor will hand you the filled out Form I-693 in a sealed envelop. Do not open the envelope and mail it together with the rest of Application Part 2 to USCIS.) ⚕
• U.S. Citizen’s Spouse Does not Need This Form I-130 Receipt or Approval Notice (called Form I-797)
  Around 2 weeks after Maria filed Form I-130 in Application Part One, Maria should have received a Form I-130 receipt notice from USCIS.

📄 GreenCardHero’s comprehensive list of application documents – Click on each document category to see all the documents you need:

The sponsor is a:

 U.S. Citizen
 Green Card Holder

(If the checklist below displays blank, click here to see.)

(If the checklist below displays blank, click here to see.)

5. USCIS Filing Fees

USCIS charges a total of $1,760 for filing fees, paid in two separate checks/ money orders. Make each check/ money order payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”.

🔑 Filing Fee for Application Part One: Immigrant Petition

$535 - pay it with a check/ money order Filing fee for Form I-130

🌱 Filing Fee for Application Part Two: Adjustment of Status

$1,225 - pay it with a second check/ money order
Filing fee for Form I-485 ($1,140) + Biometric services fee ($85), paid a total of $1,225 using one check/money order

Sept 30, 2020 Update: Great news – A U.S. District Court has temporarily blocked USCIS from increasing application fees (the higher fees were originally scheduled to start on Oct 2, 2020). So during a limited period of time starting from now, USCIS will only charge the lower old fees! 😇🙌🎉 Note that this temporary injunction could end at anytime, as USCIS appeals this court decision. The current injunction may not last for very long.	 	 

Once the injunction period ends, the application fees will go up from the current $1,760 to $2,830, a net increase of $1,070, almost doubling the current cost. Because it will be much more expensive to apply after the fee increase, we suggest applying soon while the old fee is still in effect.

Is the complexity level of your case suitable for DIY?

Immigration history, income, marriage time and criminal records are all factors.
Take our eligibility quiz to find out in 40 seconds:

6. Assemble and File the Application

We are all done with the hard part! Now let’s stuff this delicious paperwork feast in a hungry envelope! 📩

U.S. Citizen’s Spouse

Submit in One Envelope, but as Two Packets

The immigrant petition and the adjustment of status can be submitted together in the same envelope. This is called “concurrent filing” and is a special privilege given to U.S. citizens’ immediate relatives (including the spouse) who are already living in the U.S. [8]. Most other Green Card applicants have to patiently wait until the immigrant petition is approved by USCIS before submitting the adjustment of status. So lucky you!

Even though these two parts are submitted together, USCIS processes them separately [8]. Therefore, to avoid grumpy USCIS agents, kindly organize the paperwork into two separate application packets.

Cover Each Packet with A Cover Letter

Time to organize, kids! USCIS recommends creating a cover letter for each application packet and placing the cover letter on top of the packet. A cover letter is essentially a table of contents of all the forms and documents contained within the packet. The cover letter helps you organize your papers, and also helps USCIS agents during their review.

If you are using GreenCardHero, GreenCardHero will create a customized cover letter for each of your application packet, making your submission fast and easy.

Stack and Stuff

Now stack your forms and documents in the order listed on the cover letter. Then put the assembled packet in one envelop/package. Your application is now ready to send!

Where to Send

Finally, it’s time to mail the application package! 📩 Mail the envelope to USCIS at the address below [10] [11].

If you mail through U.S. Postal Service (USPS), depending on the state where the applicant lives, the mailing address is one of the following:

USCIS
Attn: AOS
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680

OR

USCIS
Attn: AOS
P.O. Box 20500
Phoenix, AZ 85036-0500

If you mail through FedEx, UPS, and DHL, depending on the state where the applicant lives, the mailing address is one of the following:

USCIS
Attn: AOS (Box 805887)
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

OR

USCIS
Attn: AOS (Box 20500)
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034-4850

How to Catch Mistakes before Filing

• First, take a deep breath. Hundreds of thousands of couples just like you apply for their Green Cards every year, and the vast majority get approved. The odds are on your side!
• Review each application form, document and cover letter.
• If you’re iffy about any particular section, try re-reading the form’s instructions for that section.
• If you to check more closely, consider hiring an immigration lawyer to review your completed application. An application review is affordable, usually costs around $500. In contrast, hiring a lawyer to do the whole application for you can cost $4,000 and up.

7. Application Timeline

Yay, you filed! The hardest part is officially behind us! Now we move on to the second – and final – step of the process: “Game of Groans”. The groans are caused by prolonged waiting: once in a while, your application reaches a milestone and you receive a USCIS communication, and then you wait some more, until you get a notice for an interview. Eventually, you will receive that gorgeous Green Card in the mail.

This timeline explains what happens after filing the Green Card application:

08/06/2020 Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS offices were closed for 2.5 months between March and June. Many USCIS agents are required to work from home, and applicants with fever and flu symptoms are required to reschedule their USCIS appointments.
Since these changes may impact USCIS' case processing speed, we suggest you consider submitting your application sooner rather than later.

Around 2-3 Weeks after Filing

USCIS Receipt Notices Arrive

For each form you submit in the application, you will receive a receipt notice from USCIS. Each receipt notice contains a case number. You can use these case numbers to track your case status with the USCIS Case Status Checker.

Around 3-5 Weeks after Filing (maybe slower due to COVID-19)

Biometrics Appointment Notice Arrives for the Applicant

The biometrics services appointment is a quick, low stress procedure where the USCIS takes the applicant’s fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature. This helps USCIS confirm the applicant’s identity and run required background and security checks.4

The appointment will be at a local USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). The applicant’s appointment notice will include the date, time and location for the appointment.5

Download GreenCardHero to see the complete application timeline

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Around 4-6 Weeks after Filing (maybe slower due to COVID-19)

The Applicant Goes to the Biometrics Appointment

Attend the scheduled biometrics services appointment. You can learn more about what it’s like on the USCIS website.

8. Track Case Status and Processing Time

USCIS Case Status Checker is the official tool for checking your case status. Enter all the case numbers printed on the receipt notices you received, then the tool will display the processing status of each form in your particular case.

You may also use the official USCIS Case Processing Times Checker to see the current processing time of each form, so that you can anticipate when your case status will change. The processing time has been steadily increasing since Trump became president in 2017, and it varies significantly depending on where you live. The tool shows the processing time range for each form type at different USCIS office locations.

How to Preserve Sanity During the Wait

Based on my personal experience, the long wait can get very frustrating – feeling suspended in uncertainty is not fun. Unfortunately, none of us can speed up processing speed (except President Trump perhaps?).

I found it helpful to join an online immigration forum and feel like part of a community that is going through this together. I also found it helpful to keep myself engaged with other activities in life, so I wouldn’t think about “the G” (“g” from Green Card) that much.

Ultimately, the time will come when a fateful USPS letter arrives in your mailbox. You pick it up and feel a thin and sturdy object inside, perfectly rectangular with slight rounded edges. You carefully open the envelope, and there it is – a Green Card, shrouded in an ornate tapestry and soft hues; through a fine layer of misty Atlantic fog, the statue of liberty greets you with a gorgeous smile. This journey has made you older and wiser, and congratulations, you’ve now got the key to America!

Related Posts

1. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-for-january-2019.html
2. https://www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo
3. https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/visa-availability-priority-dates
4. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-information/preparing-your-biometric-services-appointment
5. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-information/preparing-your-biometric-services-appointment

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