How Long Does it Take to Get a Green Card After Marriage?

Form I-130 establishes the validity of your marriage. The spouse who is a U.S. citizen (the petitioner or sponsor) will complete this form.

The documents needed to complete this form include:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship
• Marriage certificate showing the names of both spouses, the location of the marriage, and the date
• Divorce decree if either spouse was previously married
• Documents that support the validity of the marriage, like joint bank account statements, joint leases, and pictures showing the couple’s life together

After completing the form, mail it to the appropriate USCIS location. You’ll receive a receipt notice within about two weeks. USCIS will send a Request for Evidence if additional information is required.

Processing Timeline for Form I-130

The time for this step will vary depending on the service center or field office processing your application. The average wait time for service centers is about 14 months. If you’re using the National Benefits Center, the wait could be around 55 months.

You can utilize the USCIS Case Processing Times calculator to determine what you can expect based on your situation.

This step is specifically for applicants living in the U.S.

The documents needed to complete this form include:

• Passport and birth certificate for the spouse applying for a green card.
• Copy of the I-94 travel record and prior U.S. visa to prove lawful entry.
• Medical examination and a signed Form I-693 no more than 60 days before applying.
• Form I-864, Affidavit of Support: This form demonstrates the sponsoring spouse can financially support the spouse seeking a green card. You’ll need to provide evidence like pay stubs and tax returns.

Processing Timeline for Form I-485, Adjustment of Status

The average processing time will depend on your location. However, the average waiting time is about 20 months and can range from as little as 13 months up to about 40 months.

The good news is that spouses of U.S. citizens can file Form I-485 when they file Form I-130. The USCIS will process both forms simultaneously, drastically reducing the wait time for a green card.

You can get a rough estimate of the expected wait time for your marriage green card by looking at the average wait time for your location for each step. Be sure you don’t miss any forms, deadlines, or communication from the USCIS. Missing a step can extend the wait time (or worse, force you to start over!)

While waiting for your application to process, start preparing for your interview. The sponsoring spouse and immigrant spouse must attend an interview. The marriage green card interview typically occurs 7-15 months after applying.

If the interviewing office approves your application, the immigrant spouse will receive a green card within 2-3 weeks.

If you are married for less than two years, the immigrant spouse will receive a conditional marriage green card. After two years, you and your spouse can apply for a permanent marriage green card.

You’ll need all the supporting documents listed above. The spouse who is a U.S. citizen will send the completed form to the appropriate USCIS service center or field office.

The difference in this step is you’ll have to wait until USCIS approves Form I-130 because they will send it to the National Visa Center (NVC).

The NVC will check the documents and assign you a case number. You’ll need the case number to move on to the next step. This step will add an additional one to two months to your processing timeline.

At this point, instead of filing for an adjustment of status, you’ll complete Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application.

DS-260 is an online form used by the U.S. Department of State to collect biographical information from immigrant visa applicants, including those applying for a marriage-based green card.

The documents needed to complete this form include:

• Birth certificate and passport photo page
• Police clearance certificate
• Form I-864, which provides proof your spouse can financially support you in the U.S.
• Medical Exam

The form asks for information about your personal background, including your name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality,  marital status, spouse’s information, and children. The form also requests details about your education, employment history, and previous travel to the United States.

The NVC will review your application and schedule an interview with a consular officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.

Processing Timeline for DS-260

Since your spouse is a U.S. citizen, the NVC processing time is usually within 1-3 months.

Most marriage applicants wait the longest for an interview.

The foreign spouse will attend the interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. The consulate or embassy will notify you of the date, time, and location via mail after receiving your application packet.

The sponsoring spouse does not need to attend this interview. The consular officer conducting the interview will decide whether to grant the immigrant spouse an immigrant visa. Decisions are usually made within a week unless the U.S. consulate requires further information.

If granted a visa, the consular officer will give the immigrant spouse a packet of information known as a visa packet, which should not be opened. The Customs and Border Patrol Agent will open the visa packet when the immigrant spouse arrives at customs.

Processing Timeline for Interview

Unfortunately, in this situation, interviews are through consular processing. Average wait times will vary significantly by location and are not published.

The documents and wait times are the same in this situation. The difference is that USCIS must approve Form I-130 before moving on to the adjustment of status step. Unlike for U.S. citizens, green card holders and their immigrant spouses cannot file Form I-485 simultaneously.

Processing Timeline for Form I-130 for Marriage Green Card for Legal Permanent Residents

Unfortunately, the wait times for processing Form I-130 are longer for legal permanent residents applying for their spouses. The average wait time for service centers is 24.3 months; at all field offices, the wait time is 46 months.

If you are in the United States and your spouse is a green card holder, you may be eligible to adjust your status to a permanent resident by filing Form I-485. You have the same submission guidelines; however, you must wait until a visa is available based on the visa bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State.

The availability of visas for spouses of green card holders is limited, and there may be a waiting period of several years before a visa becomes available. You must maintain lawful U.S. status throughout the process, or your application may be denied.

Processing Timeline for Form I-485

The timeline for this form is the same as for U.S. citizens, about 20 months.

Finally, you and your spouse will attend your interview at a local USCIS office. If the USCIS approves your application, you should receive your green card within two to three weeks.

As in the previous situations, you must submit  Form I-130 first. You’ll wait for approval before moving on to the next step.

Processing Timeline for Form I-130 for When the Spouse Is a Legal Permanent Resident

As in the previous scenario, the average wait time for service centers is 24.3 months; at all field offices, the wait time is 46 months.

After the I-130 form is approved, USCIS will transfer the case to the NVC. Within a month or two, you should receive your unique case number.

You’ll complete the DS-260 with the same documentation listed above for immigrants abroad marrying U.S. citizens. Since this category has annual caps, the NVC may only authorize an application when available.

Processing Timeline for Form I-130 for Legal Permanent Residents

The approval process for Form DS-260 generally takes two to three months.

Once the consulate or embassy conducting the interview receives the application packet, they will notify the immigrant spouse of the interview date, time, and location by mail. In this situation, the green card sponsor does not attend the interview.

The consular officer conducting the interview will decide whether to grant the immigrant spouse a conditional visa. The decision usually takes about a week. If the consular officer approves your application, they will provide you with a packet of information that a Customs and Border Patrol Agent will open when you arrive in the U.S.

Processing Timeline for Interview

You may have a long wait for an interview through the consular process. Average wait times are not published and can vary significantly depending on location.