United States Spouse green card (citizen)

For the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen. There is no annual visa cap; the spouse receives a Green Card, conditional for two years if the marriage is under two years old. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

What you must show and pay

• Income of at least $27,050 a year · Sponsor's Form I-864 affidavit of support: income of at least 125% of the HHS poverty guideline for a household of two in the 48 contiguous states, effective March 1, 2026; add $7,100 for each additional household member. Higher in Alaska and Hawaii; 100% ($21,640) for sponsors on active US military duty. ³
• A fee of $675 · Form I-130 petition filed on paper (Form G-1055). ⁴
• A fee of $625 · Form I-130 petition filed online (Form G-1055). ⁴
• A fee of $1,440 · Form I-485 adjustment of status, paper filing, only when the spouse applies from inside the US (Form G-1055). ⁴
• A fee of $1,390 · Form I-485 adjustment of status, online filing, only when the spouse applies from inside the US (Form G-1055). ⁴
• A fee of $235 · USCIS Immigrant Fee, paid once the immigrant visa is issued and before entry (Form G-1055). ^{4 5}

Requirements

• Married to a U.S. citizen; a visa number is always available for spouses of citizens. ^{1 2}
• Not inadmissible under the grounds of inadmissibility in the Immigration and Nationality Act. ²
• Citizen sponsor submits Form I-864 showing income of at least 125% of the poverty guideline. ^{2 3}
• Civil marriage certificate and decrees ending all earlier marriages of either spouse. ¹
• Passport-style photos of both spouses and evidence of any legal name changes. ¹
• Proof of the sponsor's U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. ¹
• Spouse abroad: citizen files Form I-130, then the approved case goes to consular processing. ¹
• Spouse inside the US after lawful admission or parole: Form I-130 and Form I-485 are filed together. ^{1 2}
• If married under two years when residence is granted, the Green Card is conditional for two years. ¹
• Conditions are removed by both spouses filing Form I-751 in the 90 days before the card expires. ¹

Stay

• Permanent residence; a Green Card is conditional for two years when the marriage is under two years old at approval.

Work

Permanent residents can work in any legal job of their choosing; some jobs are limited to US citizens for security reasons.

Family

A spouse or child of an immediate relative cannot be added as a derivative beneficiary and must qualify independently.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Bringing Spouses to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
2. Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
3. I-864P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support (effective March 1, 2026) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
4. Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
5. Consular Processing (USCIS Immigrant Fee) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
6. Rights and Responsibilities of a Green Card Holder (Permanent Resident) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
7. I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
8. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
9. Maintaining permanent residence · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11