Family-Based Green Cards for Spouses
Guide
Learn how a U.S. citizen or permanent resident can sponsor a spouse for lawful permanent residence in this overview of family-based green cards for spouses.
Written by Diane Rish, Immigration Lawyer and Deputy Director, Talent Mobility Fund and the International Student Resource
Last updated: July, 2026
The basic process of sponsoring a spouse for a green card
The U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS, supported by proof of their status and proof of a genuine marriage. An in-person interview is common.
Can the non-U.S. citizen spouse file for the green card at the same time as the I-130 form is filed?
It depends on your spouse's status. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, you can generally file your green card application together with the I-130 (concurrent filing). If your spouse is a green card holder, you must wait until a visa is available based on the date the I-130 was filed for you. Track availability on the U.S. State Department's Visa Bulletin under the "F2A" category. If you are inside the United States, the application you file to adjust status is Form I-485.
(See the FAQ on concurrent filing). ← /faq/marriage-green-card-concurrent-filing
If your sponsoring spouse becomes a U.S. citizen later
If your green-card-holder spouse naturalizes to U.S. citizen after filing the I-130 form for you, you no longer have to wait for a visa to become available. USCIS provides instructions under the "Special Instructions" tab for which office to notify of the new citizenship.
The Affidavit of Support
A family-based pathway normally requires an Affidavit of Support, Form I-864 (or the simpler Form I-864EZ). This is the sponsor's legally enforceable promise to financially support the immigrant. Details are in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part G (Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility), Chapter 6.
Other family-based options
Beyond a spouse, other family relationships can support a green card. ISRC covers these other family-based options separately.