So you just got married.. congratulations! Now you can spend the rest of your life with your best friend and live happily ever after...well after you apply for your green card of course. So what do you do first? How do you go about this very serious and complicated process? For some people, they can hire a lawyer and get it taken care of. This is great option if you are willing and able to fork over $5000 or more in application and lawyer fees. However not everyone is able to do this so the good news is YOU DON'T HAVE TO! Below I have outlined the steps my husband and I took to get through this process with a little bit of patience and the help of a family immigration lawyer.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE GREEN CARD IN THE UNITED STATES
Before we begin, let's get some things out of the way.
1. You will have to spend some money
With any immigration process, you will have to pay an application fee. This is expected and there are rare cases in which fees will be wavered, but more likely than not, you will have to pay. I will mention the specifics below but expect to spend around $2k + mailing fees.
2. You will have to wait for a while
Again, immigration processes are complicated and an immigration officer will review your file. I don't know why, but every couples situation varies. Some couples get their interview and green card very quickly, others do not. There is no way around this and you and your spouse will have to be patient. The best thing you can do for time efficiency is making sure you send all your paperwork correctly the first time.
3. It will get tedious
If you have yet to look at the forms you need to fill out, know that they are long and repetitive. You will have to provide the same information many times as well as being specific about certain things. Be patient, it will be worth it!
To get started, you will need the following documents which can be accessed through USCIS website.
- FORM I-130
- FORM I-130A
- FORM I-864
- FORM I-864A
- FORM I-485
- FORM I-765 (This if for work authorization if your non US spouse is wanting to work)
- Pay stubs
- Marriage license
- Tax returns
- Proof of military status
- Proof of residency
- U.S. copy of birth certificate, passport, etc.
- Permanent resident card
- Passport size photos (make sure you write your name lightly on the back with pencil)
- etc.
Remember when I said you would still have to put down some money for this? The filing fees are
- FORM I-130- $535
- FORM I-765- $410
- FORM I-485- Ranges from $0-$1,140 click here and look under special instructions
So here is the main jist of it. Aside from gathering all the required documents and payments it will take time to write down all your information. You will feel like you are providing the same information over and over again (and you will be).
The last thing I have to say is to double, triple, quadruple...check to make sure you are not forgetting anything. Go to the checklists at the end of each instruction page and check items off. Make sure you are sending your document to the right location, and DEFINITELY make sure you get some sort of tracking number or way to keep track of your document at the mail office. Lost mail is no fun!
And above all, don't lose hope! Each process is different and have different response times. Be patient and know you are one step closer to receiving your green card. Good luck!
*Update- If you apply for work authorization (I-765) separately than your I-485, make sure you also include a copy of your I-797 receipt notice or it will get sent back to you.
Have you been through the marriage green card process? What is your green card experience? How long did it take you to receive your green card? Have any more tips or suggestions? Write them down below for others to learn and read about!
*I have no knowledge or previous studies on immigration laws
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