3 Years of Continuous Residence. The spouse of a U.S. citizen residing in the United States must have continuously resided in the United States as an LPR for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application and up to the time of the Oath of Allegiance.
You may file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 90 calendar days before you complete your continuous residence requirement if your eligibility for naturalization is based upon being a: Permanent resident for at least 5 years; or. Permanent resident for at least 3 years if you are married to a US citizen.
Generally, after we approve the petition, your relative may apply for a Green Card. If your relative is already in the United States and an immigrant visa is available, they may be eligible to apply for their Green Card by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
If you have a USCIS online account and have access to secure messaging, you may select “expedite” as the reason for your inquiry and submit your request there. You generally need to justify your expedite request with evidence. When communicating with the Contact Center, you will be asked about supporting documentation.
- The processing time for U.S. citizens filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 13-54.5 months. - The processing time for legal permanent residents filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 32-67.5 months.
Naturalization Process for Marriage Green Card Holders Meet Eligibility Requirements. Prepare Form N-400. Biometrics Appointment. Naturalization Interview. English and Civics Tests. Oath of Allegiance Ceremony. Receive Certificate of Naturalization.
The processing time for form I-130 is an average of 11 months, as of December 2024. The I-130 filing costs $625 for online filing and $675 for paper filing, as of December 2024.
- The processing time for U.S. citizens filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 13-54.5 months. - The processing time for legal permanent residents filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 32-67.5 months.
Your US citizen spouse would complete form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. You would complete form I-485, Application to Adjust Status and Register Lawful Permanent Residence. Both of these forms require supporting forms and evidence; read the instructions closely.
Can Form I-485 be filed online? You must file Form I-485 via mail to a USCIS service center. If you and your relative are filing Form I-130 and Form I-485 together, you can still file Form I-130 online, but you must physically send Form I-485 to the correct USCIS Service Center.