How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card and Become a U.S. Citizen Through Marriage?

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Falling in love and getting married is a dream many hold from a very young age. For non-United States citizens who fall in love with United States citizens, moving to the United States with their spouse and pursuing citizenship in the United States seems like the natural next step. 

For those who wish to marry a United States citizen and live permanently in the U.S. (where you will obtain a green card and might eventually gain U.S. citizenship), you probably wish to get started on your journey to United States naturalization as soon as possible. 

Although marrying a United States citizen does open a path to a green card and, eventually, citizenship, this is a two-step process with two very distinct processing timelines. There are a lot of questions you might have, like, “How long after marriage can I sponsor my husband?” and “How long does it take to bring a spouse to the USA?” In this article, you will find the answers to these important questions. 

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This process can be quite overwhelming, confusing, and time-consuming – but it doesn’t have to be. Why? You are not in this alone! If you feel as though you would benefit from the help of immigration specialists, contact Consulta Immigration to begin your guided spousal immigration journey. 

Now, let’s break down the stages of becoming a U.S. citizen through marriage. 

Stage 1: Marriage-Based Green Card

The first step of the two-step process on the green card by marriage timeline is to pursue a marriage-based green card. You cannot begin the citizenship through marriage timeline without first undergoing the green card through marriage timeline. 

Processing Timeline

You’re probably wondering, how long does a marriage visa take? Although the green card by marriage timeline can vary greatly, the current estimated processing timeline for a marriage-based green card when married to a U.S. citizen is ten to thirteen months. 

The USCIS processing times can vary greatly due to the agency’s workload and varying individual circumstances. It’s crucial to make sure you have all necessary information for various forms and to be patient, cooperative, and diligent. If you have a more complex case, are missing any documentation, or have issues come up during background checks, the green card marriage processing timeline may lengthen. 

So how long does a spouse visa take? That depends on a lot of factors. There are several different stages to be aware of when going through the green card through marriage timeline. 

Form I-130 and Form I-485

Completing Form I-130

Stage one of the marriage green card timeline involves your U.S. citizen spouse filing first the Form I-130 petition and then Form I-484. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, these forms can be filed at the same time and tend to take nine to eleven months to be processed. 

First, to begin the green card through marriage timeline, your U.S. citizen spouse will file Form I-130, or Petition for Alien Relative. This is the form that establishes you as eligible for the green card and proves that you are in a lawful marriage to your US citizen spouse. To submit Form I-130, your spouse will need to provide the following evidence:

• Two-passport style photos from the petitioner 
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship
• A marriage certificate
• Evidence of bona fides of the marriage (a document showing joint property ownership, a document showing combined financial resources, birth certificates of your children, etc.)
• Proof of any legal name changes.

Submitting Form I-130

Your U.S. citizen spouse can submit Form I-130 either online or by mail. You could create an account with USCIS to stay on track. To learn more, check out this “How to Create a USCIS Online Account” page. To file by mail, see the relevant addresses listed on the USCIS website.

Completing Form I-488

If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you can submit Form I-485 at the same time that you submit Form I-130. Form I-485 is also called the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This is an important form when undergoing the marriage based green card timeline and is essentially your application for a green card. To submit Form I-485, you will need to submit the following evidence:

• Four identical passport photos from the beneficiary
• Government-issued identity document with photograph
• Marriage certificate or proof of marriage
• Certified police and court records of criminal charges, arrests, or convictions
• A copy of your birth certificate
• Proof you entered lawfully into the United States
• Proof of your immigration medical exam
• Documents proving that your spouse can financially support you in the U.S. (Form I-864, Affidavit of Support)

If you have diplomatic rights or believe you may be inadmissible for a green card, there may be other forms you need to submit.

Submitting Form I-485

You cannot file form I-485 online at this time. You must submit it by mail. Where you file depends on your eligibility category. You can find your direct filing address on the USCIS website.

After Submitting Form I-130 and Form I-485

Once your I-130 form is approved, if your spouse/sponsor is a US citizen, you will be automatically assigned a visa number. 

Biometric Appointment

During the nine to eleven month form processing time, you will have to undergo fingerprinting. If you applied for your work permit authorization (Form I-765), you will receive your work permit card in the mail as well, while your Adjustment of Status application is pending.

You will also have an interview at a local USCIS office in the United States. If you filed Form I-485, your U.S. citizen spouse will have to attend this interview with you. Afterwards, if your spousal petition is approved, approximately two to three weeks after your interview, you will receive your green card in the mail and have a permanent residence card marriage. Alternatively, the best scenario is for your interview to be waived and for you to receive your Green Card in the mail.

And there you have it! If you follow the preceding steps, the green card through marriage timeline should take ten to thirteen months total.

Stage 2: Path to Citizenship (Naturalization)

After obtaining your green card through marriage, you are likely wondering, what is the citizenship through marriage timeline? There are several important steps you will have to take when becoming a citizen through naturalization and there is a timeline you will have to consider. 

Eligibility Waiting Period

After receiving your green card, there is an initial waiting period before applying for citizenship. This is typically three years, with some exceptions. You will have to have been physically present in the United States for 18 months of those three years. 

Naturalization Processing Timeline

On average, the timeline for naturalization takes around eight months. Like the green card through marriage timeline, this timeline also depends heavily on USCIS workload and individual circumstances like your background check, your medical history, and so on. If you are missing any required information or have any incorrect information, your application may take longer. 

As with following the stages of applying for a green card, applying for citizenship has several different stages with varying time requirements. 

Form N-400 and Application Filing

You will have to fill out and file Form N-400 or Application for Naturalization. To submit this form, you will need the following information and documentation:

• Your green card
• Form N-486 (a medical certification for disability exemptions, if applicable)
• Marital status proof
• Demonstration of good moral character (documentation of all crimes/offenses, traffic incidents, or fines)
• Continuous residence and physical presence documentation (rent/mortgage statements, proof of car registration, bank statements, etc.)
• A copy of your marriage certificate
• Evidence of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship.

The sooner you send this information to USCIS, the sooner they can process your information and move forward with your naturalization application. Before submitting, be sure all information included is correct. As you wait for this form to be processed, you will also have to attend a biometrics appointment. 

Civics and U.S. History Test 

On average, eight months after submitting form N-400, you will have to take the U.S. citizenship test. There are different components to this exam you should be aware of:

The English Exam

• Speaking: You will be asked questions about your citizenship application to ascertain your ability to speak and understand English.
• Reading: You will have to read one to three sentences aloud. You will be given vocabulary words used in the reading test ahead of time. Understanding the meaning of the sentence is more important than reading it perfectly. 
• Writing: You will have to write one of the three sentences you have read successfully. 

The Civics Exam:

• You will have to answer six out of ten questions correctly to demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government. You will be given a list of questions and answers ahead of time, but the immigration officer testing you will choose the questions randomly. 

You will hear back about your results the same day that you take the test. If you pass, you are one step closer to naturalization. If you fail, you can retake the exam. You can expect your makeup exam to be two to three months after your initial exam. 

Interview With a USCIS Officer

USCIS will send you the date and location of your interview. You will only receive one letter, so be sure that you have updated your mailing address beforehand. Be sure to prepare ahead of time and bring all required paperwork. During this interview, you will be asked questions about your application and background.

If everything goes accordingly, you could be approved for naturalization on the same day as your exam and interview. If there are other circumstances, USCIS has 120 days to send you their decision (approved, continued, or denied) by mail. 

Oath Ceremony

Most of the time, if you pass your exam and interview, your Oath of Allegiance ceremony will be on the same day. Otherwise, USCIS will schedule it two to six weeks later. You must attend this ceremony to be officially a United States citizen. If you cannot make it to your assigned ceremony, you must provide notice to USCIS. Be sure to appear for this ceremony – failing to do so more than once could mean that your application is denied.

Look at that! Approximately eight months after filing N-400, you could be a naturalized American citizen. 

Get the Immigration Support You Need

Following a green card via marriage timeline and becoming a U.S. citizen through marriage have two distinct timelines and various different requirements. The green card marriage process timeline often takes ten to thirteen months in total. From there, you have to wait three years, and then you can begin the process for naturalization, which typically takes eight months. Provided everything goes well, between these two timelines, you could become a U.S. citizen in less than five years. 

If this process seems overwhelming, you are not alone and not without help. To ensure that you are doing everything within your power to ensure the naturalization process goes smoothly, don’t be afraid to work with immigration consultant specialists. Contact Consulta Immigration today and get started on the journey of a lifetime!