While it's possible to apply for a marriage-based green card without a lawyer, the stakes are high, and the process can be challenging. Hiring a lawyer who specializes in immigration law can greatly increase your chances of success and reduce the stress and uncertainty of the process.
- 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.
The first step is to file a Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for your spouse (husband or wife) to immigrate to the United States.
Marriage to the U.S. citizen is the most common and fastest way of getting a green card for a foreign national. If a foreign national marries the U.S. citizen abroad, the foreign national becomes an immediate relative of the U.S. spouse regardless of the place where marriage took place.
After filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, the approval process can take anywhere from 10 to 13 months for immediate relatives and could take several years for family preference categories. This is an approximation. It may be shorter for some and longer for others.
You must file a separate Form I-130 for each eligible relative unless they can be considered a derivative beneficiary. See the form instructions for more information. If you submit a petition for your spouse, you must also submit Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
Green Card Sponsorship Income Summary The minimum income for a household of 2 to sponsor a family member or spouse is $25,550 as of August 2024. Minimum income requirements are lower for active duty military members. The general income requirement is 125% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines or 100% for active duty military.
How Do You Complete and File Form I-130A? Part 1: Information About You. Part 2 and 3: Information About Your Employment Inside and Outside the United States. Part 4: Spouse Beneficiary's Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. Part 5: Interpreter's Contact Information, Certification, and Signature.
Approximately 10 to 14 Months After Filing Most Form I-130 petitions for immediate relatives are approved within a 10 to 14 month time frame, but they can take longer in some cases.