The National Association of Foreign-BornGreen Card for My Wife or Husband
to Live in the U.S. as a Permanent Resident
Green Card Wife Husband Spouse Immigration Visa Marriage US Citizen Permanent Resident
- Am I Eligible to Have a Green Card for My Wife or Husband?
- The Green Card Process for My Wife or Husband
- How Do I Apply for a Green Card for My Wife or Husband?
- Obtaining an Immigrant Visa Number for My Wife or Husband
- Work Permits for My Wife or Husband
- Checking the Status of a Green Card Application for My Wife or Husband
- How Can I Appeal if a Green Card is Denied for My Wife or Husband?
- Help! with a Green Card for My Wife or Husband
- Additional Information: a Green Card for My Wife or Husband
Am I Eligible to Have a Green Card for My Wife or Husband?
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you may apply for a Green Card to bring a husband or wife (spouse) to live and work permanently in the United States. As the sponsor of your wife or husband, you must show that your household income is sufficient to support your family at 125% or more above the U.S. poverty level for your household size. For more details about meeting this income requirement, see Affidavit of Support Guide (Form I-864).
If your U.S. citizen parent, or your U.S. citizen brother or sister, is applying for a Green Card (on Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative) to bring you to the United States to live and you would like to bring your wife or husband to live in the United States with you, your wife or husband and children do not require a separate Green Card visa petition. See Green Card Application for My Wife or Husband to Live in the U.S. as a Permanent Resident for more information.
If you were married to your wife or husband before you became a permanent resident (Green Card holder), your wife or husband may be eligible to receive following-to-join benefits. This means that you would not have to submit a separate USCIS Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) for your wife or husband, and your wife or husband would not have to wait any extra time for an immigrant visa number to become available. See Green Card Application for My Wife or Husband to Live in the U.S. as a Permanent Resident for more information on following-to-join benefits.
The Green Card Process for My Wife or Husband
An immigrant (also called a "lawful permanent resident" and Green Card holder) is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of living and working permanently in the United States. Your husband or wife must go through a multi-step process to become an immigrant. First, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must approve an immigrant petition (application) that you file for your husband or wife. Second, the State Department must give your husband or wife an immigrant visa number, even if your wife or husband is already in the United States. Third, if your wife or husband is already in the United States, your wife or husband may apply to adjust to permanent resident status. If your husband or wife is outside the United States, your husband or wife will be notified to go to the local U.S. consulate to complete the processing for an immigrant visa.
- If you have been married less than two years when your wife or husband is approved for permanent residence, your wife or husband will receive conditional permanent resident status. For more information, please see Removing Conditional Resident Status (for Marriage-Based Green Card).
- If you are a refugee or aslyee, please see How Do I Get My Children or Spouse Derivative Refugee or Asylee Status?.
How Do I Apply for a Green Card for My Wife or Husband?
To find out how you can petition (apply) for your wife or husband to live in the United States permanently, please see Green Card Application for My Wife or Husband to Live in the U.S. as a Permanent Resident.
Obtaining an Immigrant Visa Number for My Wife or Husband
If you are a U.S. citizen bringing your husband or wife, and your immigrant visa petition is approved, an immigrant visa number will be immediately available to your husband or wife. If you are a lawful permanent resident bringing your husband or wife, and your petition is approved, your husband or wife must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available according to the preference system. Because the number of immigrant visa numbers that are available each year is limited, they may not get an immigrant visa number immediately after the immigrant visa petition is approved. For more information, see The Preference System and Immigrant Visa Numbers.
