Marriage Green Card Immigration Attorney Services
Every other visa asks what you’ve built in your life. This one asks who you’ve built a life with.
Marriage-based residence exists because immigration law recognizes something simple: married couples should be able to live in the same country. It’s the one category where the whole point is keeping two people together — not filling a labor shortage, not winning a lottery.
That’s why spouses of U.S. citizens are immediate relatives, with no annual cap and no waiting for a visa number, and why children under 21 can come along. Our work is making the life you already share legible on paper.
The Marriage Green Card is awarded based on your shared life, not on luck
A Marriage Green Card grants lawful permanent residence to the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder. As a permanent resident you can live and work anywhere in the U.S., travel freely, and eventually apply for citizenship after three years of residence rather than the standard five.
This Green Card is meant for genuine marriages, not ones entered into solely for immigration purposes. It’s designed to bring families together when the relationship is real and entered into in good faith.
What “bona fide marriage” really means
The question is never “Are we really married?” It’s “Can an officer see a shared life in the file in front of them?”
EVIDENCE OF A BONA FIDE MARRIAGE
Joint financial accounts and shared financial responsibilities
Lease or mortgage documents showing you live together
Photographs together spanning your relationship
Communication records — emails, messages, call logs
Joint travel records and itineraries
Affidavits from friends and family who know your relationship
Birth certificates of children born to the marriage
Qualifying is more straightforward than you may think
For a Marriage Green Card, you and your spouse must satisfy all five of the following requirements.
Most couples already meet every one of them. The work is presenting your marriage to USCIS in a way that is documented, consistent, and difficult to question.
1
A valid marriage under the law where it took place, with any prior marriages legally ended
2
A bona fide marriage — a genuine relationship, not one entered into for immigration benefits
3
Financial support at 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, filed on Form I-864
4
Admissibility — no disqualifying convictions, immigration violations, or health grounds. Waivers exist
5
Intent to live together in the U.S., with a sponsoring spouse who is 18 or older and lives here
Unmarried children under 21 of the foreign spouse may qualify as derivative beneficiaries — meaning the whole family can move together.
What if your situation isn’t the simple case?
Most marriages don’t arrive at USCIS in a tidy package. These are the complications we handle most often:
Married under two years, so the first card is conditional.
If your marriage is less than two years old on the date of approval, you receive a 2-year conditional Green Card. You and your spouse must jointly file Form I-751 in the 90-day window before it expires to remove conditions — we calendar it and prepare the second evidence package.
One spouse abroad, meaning consular processing.
When the foreign spouse is outside the U.S., the case moves from USCIS to the National Visa Center and then to a consulate via DS-260, rather than adjustment of status. The evidence is the same; the sequencing, interview venue, and travel planning are not.
A prior overstay, refusal, or other issue calling for a waiver.
Unlawful presence, a prior visa refusal, or a criminal record does not automatically end the case. Depending on the ground, a waiver such as I-601 or I-601A may be available — the strategy has to be decided before you file, not after an officer raises it.
A sponsoring spouse who is a Green Card holder, not a citizen.
Spouses of permanent residents fall under category F2A, which is subject to annual visa limits. That means a priority date to monitor in the Visa Bulletin and, in some cases, a decision about whether to wait or whether the sponsor should naturalize first.
The exact steps for getting your Marriage Green Card
The timeline depends on whether your sponsoring spouse is a citizen or a permanent resident, and whether you apply from inside or outside the U.S. Here are the typical steps.
01
Manifest quiz & attorney consult.
Confirm eligibility of both spouses and of the marriage itself, then set the case strategy. Typically 1 to 3 days.
02
File Form I-130.
The citizen or permanent-resident spouse petitions USCIS to establish the bona fide marital relationship. 2 to 12 months, depending on service center and the sponsor’s status.
03
Assemble evidence of a shared life.
Joint finances, shared address, photographs, communications, travel, and affidavits — organized and cross-checked for consistency. Runs alongside filing.
04
Apply for the Green Card.
Inside the U.S.: File Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status).
Outside the U.S.: Complete DS-260 (Consular Processing) via the NVC.
Concurrent filing: Spouses of U.S. citizens may file I-130 and I-485 together.
05
Biometrics & medical.
Attend fingerprinting, submit the Form I-693 medical exam, and respond to any requests for evidence. Scheduled by USCIS.
06
Interview & decision.
Both spouses attend the interview. On approval you receive a 2-year conditional card if the marriage is under two years old, or a 10-year card if it is older. Typically 12 to 18 months from filing.
Staying together is the goal. Getting the details right is how you protect it. A genuine marriage deserves a file that shows it plainly — and a team that prepares you both for the interview.
Manifest Law was founded by immigrants, with the purpose of addressing our shared frustrations
OUR QUALITY BAR
Only the Top 1% of Attorney Applicants Are Selected
Every Manifest attorney goes through a selective, multi-stage hiring process. When you engage us, you’re getting an attorney who was chosen for how they think and how they write — not just who was available.
THOUGHTFUL PRICING
No Billable Hour, Money-Back Guarantee Available*
The billable hour is archaic and unfair, but all too common. So we got rid of it. If your case is not approved, we stand behind our work with a money-back guarantee. Meaning you get to file with peace of mind.
*Only available for select plans
TOTAL TRANSPARENCY
Seamless communication, fast response times
Track your case preparation progress and receive real-time notifications and updates from your legal team via the Manifest portal. We closely monitor trends in approvals and denials to stay ahead of evolving USCIS expectations.
DEEP EXPERTISE
Multi-layer reviews with ex USCIS advisors
Every case goes through a structured, multi-level review process by experienced immigration professionals. On select plans, petitions can be reviewed by former USCIS officers to pressure-test the petition before it’s filed.
MARRIAGE GREEN CARD ATTORNEY FEES
Transparent Pricing
Our goal is simple: complete transparency. Every Marriage Green Card case is handled on a flat-fee basis—no hourly billing, no hidden charges, and no surprises. You’ll know exactly what’s included from day one, with the flexibility to choose the level of support that fits your needs.
Silver — starting at
Your experienced attorney files your case, with clear communication and transparency every step of the way. Form I-130 only: $4,000. Including Adjustment of Status (I-485): $5,000.
What’s included:
Form I-130 filing
Live case tracking
2-chair legal review
Guaranteed timelines personalized to your case*
In-person interview support available pending evaluation
Upgrade to Gold:
Gold — 60% money-back guarantee
Everything in Silver, plus a 60% refund or free refile*.
$5,000
$6,000 with I-485
Flat-fee pricing with no surprise fees
Credit cards & bank transfers are accepted
Flexible payment plans available for every tier
Our clients love us because we genuinely want to help
I
Irina Batukhtina
4 reviews
2 months ago
I had an amazing experience with Manifest Law from the first intake interview, through a fast and professional process of working on the file, to a straightforward approval of my case.
Catlea Bobis is a superstar attorney, and I recommend everyone considering trusting your case to professional support like I had with Catlea and the entire team at Manifest Law.
S
Sandra Rocha
2 reviews
3 months ago
I have worked with Dan and Simon directly, and my experience has been like no other. It feels like I’m talking with actual people who care about my case. Any questions I had, they were happy to assist me with in a very short time and make sure everything was clear before moving on to the next thing. I will definitely be working with them again in the future.
X
Xin Bu
1 review
5 months ago
The team was simply fantastic. Initially, I thought my case was not highly strong. What impressed me most was their legal expertise extracting the most valuable insights from facts to support my case. Communications with them were effective and pleasant. I greatly appreciated the team’s understanding and quick action. I would highly recommend them.
A few minutes tells you which path fits your marriage, how long it should take, and what your file still needs. No commitment.