Please find most commonly asked questions and answers about Greenbroad and immigration here
How much would it cost for a marriage based green card today?
Cost of Green card through marriage
Marriage-based green card application fees vary widely depending on if the applicant is filing in the U.S or overseas. Here is the breakdown of the fees
I-130: $535
I-485: $1140 (Applicants in the U.S. only)
I-864: $120 (Applicants living abroad only)
Biometrics : $85
State Department Processing Fee: $325
U.S. Immigrant Fee: $220
Medical Examination: Depends on the surgeon
For spouse living within the United States, the total cost would be $1,760 and for the spouses living outside the United States, the total cost would be $1,225
This does not include Greenbroad’s fee
What forms do I need to fill for the marriage based green card?
To get a marriage-based green card, the following forms must be filed and submitted:
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative The purpose of this form is to verify that a valid marriage exists between you and your spouse. The petitioner or sponsor of the application must be a citizen or permanent resident in the U.S.
I-130A, Supplemental Information This form is used by the USCIS to collect additional background information about the beneficiary spouse. The questions in the I-130A are based on the past five years of the beneficiary spouse’s employment and residential history. It must be filled out, signed, and submitted. The I-130A is filed and submitted with the I-130.
I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence If the beneficiary spouse is in the U.S. on a different immigrant status, he/she will need to file an I-485 form to the USCIS to prove that, by virtue of the valid marriage between the applicant and permanent resident/citizen spouse, they have met the eligibility requirements to adjust their status to become a permanent resident in the U.S. The I-485 form contains several background-check questions. The I-130, 130A, and 485 forms can be filed at the same time by applicants who live in the U.S.
I-1864, Affidavit of Support This is a form demonstrating agreement between the green card sponsor spouse and the U.S. government. It is an affidavit showing that he/she has income and/or assets that is enough to take care of their beneficiary spouse. This is done to assure the government that the spouse will not end up being a public charge after gaining a permanent residency.
I-1864A, Affidavit of Support This is a form demonstrating agreement between the green card sponsor spouse and the household members of that spouse.
I-693, Report of Medical Test and Vaccination Record The I-693 is filed to prove that the applicant is not inadmissible to the U.S. on health grounds. The USCIS uses the form to assess the results of the medical test of the applicant. The medical test can only be carried out by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. The results of your medical examination will be used primarily for immigration purposes and are confidential. According to the federal immigration law, there are four categories of health-related grounds of inadmissibility, which are: Communicable diseases Lack of proof of having received the required vaccinations Mental or physical disorders with harmful behavior or a history of associated harmful behavior; and Drug abuse or addiction The USCIS requires all beneficiaries to undergo a medical examination which can only be performed by a USCIS-designated physician. After the examination, the examining doctor will give the applicant the test results in a sealed envelope on the I-693, which is to be submitted at during the green card interview. The USCIS will not accept the result if the envelope is opened.
I-765, Application for Employment Authorization This form is filed with the USCIS to get a temporary work authorization while waiting for the Form I-485 to be approved, which in some cases may take six to eight months. However, though this form is not compulsory in the application process since it comes free of charge and takes about 90 days to be approved, it is usually advisable to take advantage of it while the application for permanent residence is pending. If approved, the applicant will have temporary authorization while waiting for their green card approval.
I-131, Application for Travel Document If the applicant has to travel out of the U.S. while their I-485 is yet to be approved, the USCIS may consider their application abandoned, which means they will have to restart the whole process from the beginning. To avoid this, the applicant can file an I-131 along with the marriage-based green card application to have the ability to travel abroad while their green card application is pending. This is another optional form, and just like I-765, it also does not carry a fee. Meanwhile, if the applicant has to travel abroad on an urgent basis, they don’t need to wait for their I-131 to be approved before they leave. The approved document can be forwarded to the designated U.S. embassy or consulate abroad for them to pick it up.
What proof/documents will I need for a marriage based green card application within the United States?
Supporting Documents The forms listed above are to be completed and submitted by the applicant with relevant documents supporting the validity of marriage and eligibility claims. For a fast application process, the applicant needs to provide the following supporting documents:
Marriage Certificate This is to prove further that civil marriage exists between the beneficiary spouse (applicant) and the lawful permanent resident /citizen.
Proof of legal termination of previous marriage If any one or both of the parties have been into any marriage that ended in the past, they have to present evidence supporting how the marriage ended. Depending on the case, the applicant will need to provide any of these: death certificate, divorce decrees, or annulment decree. If the previous marriage has not been lawfully terminated, the present one cannot be deemed valid.
Evidence for name change If either of the parties has ever changed names, they are to present documents showing the change. For a name change by marriage, a marriage certificate will suffice for the applicant. If it wasn’t for marriage purposes, a court order has to be submitted as proof.
Passport Photographs Two identical passport size photographs have to be submitted, each taken within 30 days of filing the I-130.
Birth Certificate Submit a copy of the birth certificate when filing, but when going into USCIS interview, the original birth certificate is to be presented.
I-94, Arrival/Departure The applicant has to present the I-94 arrival/departure record. This document is issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to every alien who enters into the US as proof that he/she has been inspected by the agency when entering the U.S.
A Copy of Government-Issued Identification In this case, the passport page with a non-immigrant visa or with the admission or parole stamp will suffice.
Criminal History
Furthermore, the applicant needs to reveal his/her criminal history if applicable. If they have been arrested or convicted before either in the U.S. or overseas, they must provide the records. They will likely need a lawyer to advise them on the best way to go about this. The applicant has to be truthful in filing his/her criminal history record as any detection of dishonesty or fraud may lead to denial of his/her application by the USCIS and possible barring from re-entry into the United States.
How does Greenbroad’s money back guarantee work?
If you are unhappy with our work and if your application was not approved in first try, we will give you a 100% as long as you filled the questionnaire completely and true to your knowledge. Seriously, we mean it when we say that we will give you all of your money back. That’s the faith we have in our process.
What are the steps for the process of marriage green card?
Step 1: Establishing the marriage relationship (Form I-130)
The first step in the process of getting a green card through marriage is to submit Form I-130 (officially called the “Petition for Alien Relative”) to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The main purpose of the I-130 form, along with supporting documents, is to establish that a valid marriage exists. The spouse filing the I-130 is called the “petitioner” or “sponsor.” This is the spouse who is a U.S. citizen or current green card holder. The spouse seeking a green card is called the “beneficiary” or “green card applicant.”
Step 2: Establishing the spouse’s eligibility for a green card
The U.S. government follows two different processes to determine a spouse’s eligibility for a marriage-based green card. The right process depends on where that spouse currently lives:
FOR GREEN CARD APPLICANTS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES
If the spouse seeking a green card physically lives in the United States, the next step is to file Form I-485 (officially called the “Adjustment of Status” application). The I-485 is filed with USCIS, and its primary purpose is to establish that the spouse is eligible for a green card.
Step 3: Attending the green card interview and awaiting approval
The final step in the marriage-based green card process is the green card interview. The interviewing officer’s primary goal is to assess the authenticity of the marriage. Questions can focus on the couple’s relationship history, as well as their daily activities and future plans together. If the interviewing officer is sufficiently convinced that the marriage is not fraudulent, they will approve the spouse for a green card.
The location of the interview — in addition to whether the sponsoring spouse must also attend — depends on where the spouse seeking a green card currently lives:
DOES YOUR SPOUSE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES?
A spouse applying for a green card from within the United States will attend their interview with the sponsoring spouse at their local USCIS office. The physical green card will typically arrive by mail within 2-3 weeks of case approval.
DOES YOUR SPOUSE LIVE ABROAD?
A spouse applying for a green card from abroad will attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. The sponsoring spouse does not attend this interview.
The spouse seeking a green card will then receive a visa stamp in their passport, allowing for travel to the United States. The USCIS Immigrant Fee ($220) must be paid online before a physical green card can be issued. (USCIS recommends paying this fee before the spouse leaves for the United States.) The green card is typically mailed to the couple’s U.S. address within 2-3 weeks of the spouse’s arrival.
Greenbroad can help you stay on top of interview preparation and every other important milestone in the green card process. Let’s go!
Marriage Green Card- For spouses applying in the U.S.
If you are a spouse applying for a green card from within the United States, your complete Greenbroad filing package will include all of the following forms that you’ll need to work, travel, and ultimately obtain your green card:
Marriage relationship form I-130
(Petition for Alien Relative)
Supplemental information form I-130A
(Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary)
Green card application form I-485
(Application for Adjustment of Status)
Financial support form I-864
(Affidavit of Support for Sponsoring Spouse)
Work permit application form I-765
(Application for Employment Authorization)
Travel permit application form I-131
(Application for Travel Document)
Online notification application G-1145
(e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance)
Medical examination form I-693
(Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record will not be included by us. You may have to go to a U.S. Civil Surgeon to acquire a Medical Examination Form I-693)