Marriage Based Green Card
(Form I-130 and I-485)

This service is intended to help you prepare all the required immigration forms and give you an opportunity to move to the United States after marrying a US citizen or marrying a US Green Card holder.

Getting a Green Card through marriage is the first step to becoming a US citizen. Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) can live in the US, work or study for as long as they want on the condition that they adhere to certain rules. You may be eligible to get a Marriage Based Green Card if you marry a US citizen or a Green Card holder.

Read the information below to learn more about applying for a Marriage Green Card with the assistance of our attorneys.

What documents are required?

Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
Biographic Information
Form I-130A for the spouse of a U.S. citizen/permanent resident
A photocopy of your current marital status document, evidence of your and/or your relative’s previous marriage(s) termination
Affidavit of Support Form I-864
Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record (I-94)
Color passport photographs on white background, 2x2 inches
Passport and Travel Documents
The applicant’s Birth Certificate
Medical Examination
Form I-131 Travel Permit/Advance Parole (if you need to travel outside the US before your Green Card is issued)
Form I-765 Employment Authorization/Work Permit Application (if necessary)
Documents proving that the sponsor can support the immigrating relative.
- A copy of your federal tax return for the recent year or the most recent three years
- Asset value proof (bank statements, real estate and vehicle ownership documents, stocks, etc.)
The Sponsor’s U.S. birth or naturalization certificate or U.S. passport proving their status of a U.S. citizen or the one of a lawful permanent resident
Police clearance from every country in which the applicant lived for six months and longer, after the age of 16.
Form DS-260 if the immigrant is presently abroad.

The list may vary depending on each individual case, you may be requested additional documents other than listed above.

How much does it cost?

U.S. government fees are mandatory and nonrefundable:

Petition for Alien Relative (I-130, I-130A): $535

If approved:

Form I-485 filing fee: $1,140
Online immigrant visa application (DS-260): $325

The total cost for each type of green card application can vary. The figures above do not include travel costs, securing needed documents, attorney fees, professional assistance fees. Government fees may change by the decision of the government.

Application advisory fee charged by Immigrate.tech: $899

How long does it take?

The petition filed by Sponsor (Form I-130) is reviewed within 5-12 months.
If the petition is approved, the intended immigrant files Form I-485; the USCIS confirms the receipt within 1-3 weeks. The application processing time is from 7 to 33 months.
The Biometrics appointment is scheduled within 2-6 weeks thereof.
An interview is scheduled within 4-10 weeks.
If the application is approved, the applicant can obtain a temporary Green Card at the local USCIS office in 5-7 months.
An actual green card is received 1-2 weeks later.

*If the immigrant is abroad, after marrying a US citizen or permanent resident they will need to apply for a spouse visa first (CR1 Visa) and when they arrive in the US they will apply for a Green Card through marriage.

This information is approximate and does not guarantee that the actual timeline of your application will be the same.

Who can apply?

To get a Green Card through marriage the applicant must be a spouse of a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident
Sponsor, i.e. U.S. Citizen / permanent resident must be 21 years of age or older.
If the beneficiary (immigrant) is abroad, after marrying a US citizen or permanent resident they will get a CR1 Visa first (a spouse visa) and apply for a Marriage Based Green Card as soon as they enter the United States.

Application tips: