THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR A GREEN CARD THROUGH MARRIAGE
The documents required for a marriage green card vary by situation but generally include the following:
Marriage Green Card Documents Checklist
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Financial documents
- Proof of sponsor's U.S. citizenship or permanent residence
- Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status, if applicable
- Police clearance certificate, if applicable
- Prior-marriage termination papers, if applicable
- Court, police, and prison records, if applicable
- Military records, if applicable
- Immigration violation records, if applicable
- Current/expired U.S. visa(s)
- Medical examination document
In the tables below, we’ll discuss which documents are required for each of the most common marriage-based green card forms and who must submit them to the U.S. government. The good news is you can get started on your marriage-based green card application now, while you gather the required documents. You don’t need each one now to make progress! If you can’t locate certain records as you go, make sure to check out our detailed guide to obtaining hard-to-find immigration documents.
Family Sponsorship Form (I-130)
To complete the family sponsorship form, or Form I-130 (officially called the “Petition for Alien Relative”), you must provide the following documents.
I-130 Document Checklist
| Document Type |
|---|
| Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|
| Who Needs It? |
|---|
Proof of U.S. citizenship
Sponsoring spouse who is a U.S. citizen
Proof of green card holder (permanent resident) status
- Green card
- Passport issued in another country and bearing stamp of temporary permanent residence in the United States
Sponsoring spouse who is a green card holder (permanent resident)
Proof of valid marriage
Also provide as many of the following as possible:
- Joint lease
- Joint bank account statements
- Photos of the couple together
Both spouses
Proof of termination of prior marriage(s), if any
Both spouses
Proof of official name change, if any
- Marriage certificate (usually sufficient)
- Court order of name change
- Adoption papers
Both spouses
Green Card Application Form (I-485)
To complete the green card application form, or Form I-485 (officially called the “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status”), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
I-485 Checklist
| Document Type |
|---|
| Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|
Proof of nationality
- Birth certificate issued in another country
- Passport issued in another country
Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status
Both of the following are required:
- U.S. visa
- I-94 travel record
Records of previous interactions with law enforcement, if any
Records of previous immigration violations, if any
Online Green Card Application Form (DS-260)
To complete the online green card application, or Form DS-260 (officially called the “Immigrant Visa Electronic Application”), the spouse seeking a green card from abroad must provide the following documents.
DS-260 Checklist
| Document Type |
|---|
| Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|
Proof of nationality
- Birth certificate issued in another country
- Passport issued in another country
Proof of valid marriage
Proof of termination of prior marriage(s), if any
Records of previous interactions with law enforcement, if any, or lack thereof
Records of previous immigration violations, if any
Financial Support Form (I-864)
To complete the financial support form, or Form I-864 (officially called the “Affidavit of Support”), the sponsoring spouse (and any co-sponsors) must provide the following documents.
I-864 Checklist
| Document Type |
|---|
| Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|
| Who Needs It? |
|---|
Proof of ability to financially support the spouse seeking a green card
- Copy of your most recent U.S. Federal income tax return
In addition, these documents may strengthen your application:
- Copies of your U.S. Federal income tax returns from the past 3 years
- Pay stubs from the past 6 months
- Letter from your employer to show proof of employment
Sponsoring spouse and financial co-sponsor (if any)
Proof of asset value (if you’re counting your assets to meet the income requirements for a marriage-based green card)
If using bank/investment accounts:
- Ownership document of stocks, bonds, Certificates of Deposit (CDs), or other investment account
- Bank statements
If using your home:
- Ownership document (such as title or deed)
- A recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser or a recent tax assessment
- A document showing the amount of every loan secured by a mortgage, trust deed, or other lien on the home
If using your second vehicle:
- Ownership document (such as title or deed) for all vehicles, including the one you’re including as an asset
- A recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser or a statement from the dealer indicating the vehicle’s current value
- Sponsoring spouse, financial co-sponsor (if any), and spouse seeking a green card
Sponsoring spouse, financial co-sponsor (if any), and spouse seeking a green card
Not sure if you meet the income requirements for a marriage green card? With Idocs When you apply for a green card, you’ll need to provide your address and employment history for the past 5 years to the U.S. government (if you’re applying from outside the U.S., you’ll need to provide that information for the past 10 years, at least)., you get an experienced, independent attorney to answer your questions and review your application materials, including the Affidavit of Support. Learn more today!
Work Permit Application Form (I-765)
To complete the work permit application, or Form I-765 (officially called the “Application for Employment Authorization Document,” or EAD), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
I-765 Checklist
| Document Type |
|---|
| Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|
| Who Needs It? |
|---|
Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status
- I-94 travel record
- Valid U.S. visa
- Passport issued in another country
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States
Proof of pending marriage-based green card application
- Receipt notice (Form I-797C, or “Notice of Action”)
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States and married to a green card holder (Spouses of U.S. citizens typically file their work permit and green card applications at the same time.)
Proof of previous authorization to work in the United States
- Prior work permit(s), if any
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States who has been issued a previous work permit
Proof of nationality
- Birth certificate and photo ID
- Visa issued by the consulate of a country other than the United States
- Other national identity document with your photo and/or fingerprint
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States who has been issued a previous work permit
Proof of identity
- Two 2-inch-by-2-inch (passport-style photos*)
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States
*If you are submitting (or have already submitted) a set of two passport-style photos for your green card application and an additional set for your travel permit application, you do not need to submit a third set for your work permit application. You will need to provide only two total sets. If, however, you’re married to a green card holder or if you’re married to a U.S. citizen and file your work permit application after submitting your green card application (which would be unusual), then you will need to provide a new set with your work permit application.
Travel Permit Application Form (I-131)
To complete the travel permit application, or Form I-131 (officially called the “Application for Travel Document”), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
I-131 Checklist
| Document Type |
|---|
| Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|
| Who Needs It? |
|---|
Proof of identity (must show your name, date of birth, and photo)
- Green card
- Passport (photo page only)
- Current work permit, if available
- Valid government-issued driver’s license
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States and married to a green card holder (Spouses of U.S. citizens typically file their work permit and green card applications at the same time.)
Proof of present immigration status
- Valid U.S. visa
- Any other document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing your present status, if any, in the United States (such as Form I-797, or “Notice of Action”)
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States
Proof of pending marriage-based green card application
- Receipt notice (Form I-797C, or “Notice of Action”)
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States and married to a green card holder (Spouses of U.S. citizens typically file their work permit and green card applications at the same time.)
Additional proof of identity
- Two 2-inch-by-2-inch (passport-style photos*)
Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States
*If you are submitting (or have already submitted) a set of two passport-style photos for your green card application and an additional set for your travel permit application, you do not need to submit a third set for your work permit application. You will need to provide only two total sets. If, however, you’re married to a green card holder or if you’re married to a U.S. citizen and file your work permit application after submitting your green card application (which would be unusual), then you will need to provide a new set with your work permit application.
Special Considerations
Unavailable documents
If you have trouble locating certain documents, you may be able to obtain official copies. If you cannot access copies, you will need to provide notarized statements from yourself and one or two other people. Idocs has a guide on providing secondary evidence when primary evidence (the documents listed above) is not available.
Documents in a foreign language
If some of your documents are written in a language other than English, you will need to obtain certified English translations and attach these to your documents.
Here’s a checklist of hard-to-find marriage green card documents:
Checklist of Hard-to-Find Marriage Green Card Documents
- Birth certificate: When applying for a marriage green card, both spouses must include a certified copy of their birth certificate (typically the long-form version) with their green card application.
- Translations for documents not in English: If any of either spouses' supporting documents are not written entirely in English, they must provide a certified translation. That applies to any of the required documents, including the birth certificate-the most common document that needs translation.
- Evidence of relationship: When you're applying for a marriage green card, one of the most important parts of the process is proving that your relationship is real. A marriage certificate isn't enough - you need additional proof that you plan to build a life together.
- Address and employment history: When you apply for a green card, you'll need to provide your address and employment history for the past 5 years to the U.S. government (if you're applying from outside the U.S., you'll need to provide that information for the past 10 years, at least).
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If any of the documents you submit with your marriage green card application are not in English, they must be accompanied by a certified translation. The translation should accurately reflect the contents of the original document. It’s important to ensure that the translation is done by a qualified translator or translation service.
When submitting copies of documents with your marriage-based green card application, it is generally recommended to provide clear, legible photocopies of the original documents. Avoid submitting original documents unless specifically requested by the USCIS.
The documents for a marriage green card application typically need to cover the entire period of the relationship, from the date of the marriage to the present. This is to establish the continuity and bona fide nature of the marriage. It is important to provide a range of documents that span the entire period, including initial dating or courtship evidence, evidence of joint financial responsibilities, and documents that demonstrate ongoing joint activities and commitments.