Marriage Green Card

Can I get a green card through marriage?

Yes. Marrying a U.S. citizen or a green card holder is one of the most common paths to permanent residence. There are two roads to it, and which one you take depends on one thing: where your spouse is right now.

If your spouse is already in the United States: Adjustment of Status

How does it work?

If you married and your spouse is already here on a valid visa, they may be able to apply for a green card without leaving the country. This is called adjustment of status. You file the petition and the green card application together, your spouse can request a work permit while it's pending, and the two of you attend a green card interview here in the States.

2026 update — please read. Two changes affect marriage cases. 

First, USCIS now treats applying from inside the U.S. as discretionary: an officer can agree you qualify and still deny, and direct you to apply at a consulate abroad (memo of May 21, 2026). A case needs a record of your equities now, not just proof of a real marriage. 

Second, new public charge guidance applies to applications filed on or after September 18, 2026 - cases filed before that date are decided under the older rules. And since a 2025 memo, a denial can lead to a Notice to Appear in immigration court if the applicant is out of status when it is denied, so filing from inside the U.S. is a decision to make carefully rather than a default. Details on my Policy Updates page. 

If your spouse is outside the United States: Consular Processing

How does it work?

If your spouse lives abroad, we go through the U.S. consulate in their country. You file the petition, the case moves to the National Visa Center, and your spouse attends an immigrant visa interview at the consulate. Once approved, they enter the U.S. already a permanent resident. This is the standard, well-worn route, and it's what the government now points to first.

Who qualifies for a marriage green card?

• You're married to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

• Your marriage is genuine — entered to build a life together, not for immigration.

• You can show the relationship is real: shared finances, a life together, the ordinary evidence of a marriage.

What I do for you

I take the whole case: figuring out which road fits your situation, preparing every form and the evidence package, getting you ready for the interview, and — under the new rules especially — building the record so your case is as strong as it can be. Twenty-five years of doing exactly this, for clients across the country, entirely online. Filipino spoken.

How much does a marriage green card cost?

My fee for Adjustment of Status Green Card is approximately $2,750, plus the government's filing fees. Discounts for former Fiance Visa clients. For Consular Processing it is $2,750 (in two stages). Fees are low and predictable, with discounts in some situations — just ask.