Marriage-Based Green Card Timeline | Guide to Processing Times in 2025

A marriage green card is the pathway U.S. citizens can take to bring their spouse to the United States to live permanently. This differs from a K1 visa, which is designed for couples who are not yet married. Marriage-based immigration can be complex, depending on your background and situation. In this guide, we’ll explore the marriage-based green card timeline and tips for making the process seamless alongside our immigration team.

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Key Terminology

It’s key to understand the terminology throughout the marriage green card application process:

• The U.S. spouse is known as the “sponsor” or “petitioner.”
• The spouse receiving the green card is known as the “beneficiary.”

What Are Marriage Green Cards? 

There are two types of Marriage Green Cards, both of which provide permanent residency status to your foreign spouse:

CR-1 Visa

If you and your spouse have been married for less than two years, you can apply for a CR1 green card. This visa enables the beneficiary to enter the U.S. with a conditional permanent resident card (green card).

After two years of holding the conditional permanent residency card (green card), you and your spouse must apply to remove the conditions using Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence.

IR1 Visa

If you are married to your U.S. citizen spouse for more than two years, you can apply for a permanent green card (IR1). With this, no action is needed to remove conditions.

Once you hold your green card for three years and remain married to your spouse, a U.S. citizen, you can begin your naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen.

There are other components, like being in the U.S. for a certain amount of time, but we recommend speaking to one of our attorneys to ensure that you meet all the requirements!

Learn how you can Track Your Green Card.

Spouse Visa USA Processing Times in 2025

Processing time for the spousal visas (also known as a green card) can range from 7.6 to 45 months, depending on:

1. If the applicant is applying from within the U.S. under a nonimmigrant visa, or living abroad
2. If the sponsor a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident (green card holder).
3. Your preparedness. It’s critical to have all of your paperwork in order during the various stages of the green card process, as delays on your end will add to the total time.

Once you’ve identified where you fit in the first two points, the chart below details green card processing times in 2025 for both U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Resident sponsors.

The Marriage Green Card timeline and process also vary depending on your situation. Find where you fit below to get an understanding of the timeline:

Marriage Green Card Timelines for Spouses Living in the U.S.

A. Marrying a U.S. Citizen

1. File the I-130, I-485, and work permit (Employment Authorization Document) concurrently (Approximately 9.5 months according to USCIS data)
2. Receive USCIS receipts (2-3 weeks)
3. Biometrics Appointment (1-2 months)
4. Green Card Approval
5. Receive a physical green card (2-3 weeks after)

Total time: 9.5 months

B. Marrying a Green Card Holder

1. File the I-130
2. Receive USCIS receipts (2-3 weeks)
3. File for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) when your priority date is current with the Filing date on the Visa Bulletin (approximately 6 months after filing I-130)
4. USCIS can issue your green card only after your priority date becomes current with the Final Action Date listed on the Visa Bulletin (39 months after you file Form I-130).
5. Attend your biometrics appointment (1-2 months)
6. Receive your EAD/work permit (2-5 months after filing)
7. Green Card Approval
8. Receive a physical green card (2-3 weeks after)

Total time: 39 Months, Subject to the Visa Bulletin

Marriage Green Card Timeline for Spouse Living Outside the U.S.

C. Marrying a U.S. Citizen

1. I-130 processing and approval (Approximately 14.6 months according to USCIS data).
2. NVC Consular Processing (Approximately 6 months)
   • Includes processing DS-260, Interview scheduling, and Medical appointment
3. Visa Approved
4. Travel to the U.S. (During the validity period on the visa)

Total time: Approximately 20.6 months

D. Marrying a Green Card Holder

1. I-130 processing and awaiting priority date to be current, with final action date on Visa Bulletin (39 months currently)
2. National Visa Center (NVC) Consular processing (6 months)
   • Processing DS-260, Interview, and Medical appointment
3. Visa Approved
4. Travel to the U.S. (During the validity period on the visa)

Total time: 45 Months, Subject to the Visa Bulletin

The I-485 processing time is the same for both citizen and green card sponsors, although processing time can be much longer if you receive a request for evidence (RFE) due to incomplete application details.

What is the I-130, Petition for Alien Relative?

As a first step in the process, the couple must establish the existence of a valid marriage. To do this, the sponsor will need to file the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with the USCIS in a category reserved for immediate family. The beneficiary must also file the I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.

Filing these forms kicks off your marriage-based green card timeline. The processing time for these forms depends on which USCIS service center has your forms. You can check your form and case status online.

Recommended read: Marriage-Based Green Card Interview Questions.

I-130 Processing Time For Spouses of U.S. Citizens in 2025

According to USCIS data, I-130 processing times for immediate relatives in FY were 14.4 months. If USCIS sends you a Request for Evidence (RFE), further evidence and/or information is required to complete processing.

Key tip: It is important to keep in mind that if you file concurrently and your adjustment of status application is processed before the I-130, you will be granted permanent resident status (green card holder) even before the I-130 is fully adjudicated.

I-130 Processing Time for Spouse of Green Card Holder in 2025

Concurrent filing is not an option for spouses of green card holders. Therefore, after the immigrant spouse’s I-130 is approved, they must wait until a visa is available (wait until their priority date is current with the filing date on the visa bulletin) before filing:

• I-485 Adjustment of Status (living in the U.S.)
• DS-260 (NVC Processing from outside the U.S.)

Though many of the forms and steps are the same for immigrants married to U.S. legal permanent residents as those married to citizens, the timeline is not the same.

To know when a visa is available, look at the Visa Bulletin and look under the F-2A visa under final action dates to see the priority date based on your home country.

As of April 2025, the U.S. government is currently processing F-2A visas from January 01, 2022, which means that individuals should anticipate a waiting period of at least three years until the Visa Bulletin advances.

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What is the National Visa Center Processing Time

Once you have filed your Petition for Alien Relative along with the supplementary I-130A, the USCIS office will transfer the case to the National Visa Center (NVC). You can check the most recent NVC processing times online. You can also consider expediting your NVC file processing in limited cases.

The average processing time for NVC processing is around 6 months. This includes:

• Processing documents and evidence filed
• Medical Appointment
• Booking the interview.

Recommended read: What happens to green cards after divorce?

Once a handover is completed from the USCIS to NVC, they will request the necessary forms and documentation to decide if the spouse seeking a green card is eligible for an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.

Once the case is ready for processing, the spouse will have to pay processing fees and a financial support form fee. The financial support form is commonly known as the Affidavit of Support (form I-864).

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Interview and Approval

Your spouse will need to prepare for the interview at the U.S. embassy or field office. To do this, the beneficiary needs to complete the following:

• Medical Examination
  • Complete this with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon if you are in the U.S..
  • or a designated panel physician for Consular Processing.
    • The U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your case will give a list of eligible doctors along with your interview notice
• Lodge Address
  • Follow the directions from the responsible U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Your passport will be delivered to this address once the approved visa stamp is obtained.
• Biometrics Appointment
  • In most cases, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will request a background and security check. The beneficiary will be informed of the procedure or any special instructions.

When your spouse has completed the above prerequisites, they will be required to attend their green card interview. The interview will be at the embassy, consulate or field office per the instructions of the date, time, and location given in a prior interview notice.

U.S. embassies and consulates tell the NVC their available appointment times. NVC schedules the interview on a first-come, first-served basis. Check with your nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate for potential interview wait times.

Learn about Immigration Options for the USA.

There are no strict criteria, such as the number of years of marriage, to be eligible. Instead, the consular official handling your case must be sufficiently satisfied that your marriage is genuine. There is a rise in the number of fraudulent attempts to obtain marriage-based green cards, and, as such, newlyweds usually face more scrutiny. The consular official can approve on the spot.

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To get to the interview stage, your application must pass the initial assessment stages. This means that the USCIS or NVC will check whether you have provided all of the necessary documents and forms first, before allowing you to progress to the interview stage.

VisaNation ensures that you have all of the necessary documentation and that your application is error-free. Start your application today!

Spouse Visa Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions about marriage-based green cards. Did you know that when you use VisNation’s software, all of your questions can be answered in your account? Get started today!

How long do you have to be married to get a green card?

After getting married, you are first issued a conditional Marriage Green Card.  Then, after being married for two years, you can apply for a permanent marriage green card.

If I marry a U.S. citizen, do I get citizenship?

No, marrying a U.S. citizen does not automatically qualify you for citizenship. But instead, the possibility of obtaining a green card opens up as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. However, several criteria must be fulfilled before you can file for citizenship.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for a green card through marriage?

Nothing is preventing you from applying for a green card through marriage by yourself, however, it is recommended to seek the advice of an attorney before. This is to avoid any mistakes and reduce the chances of a green card denial.

How long does it take to get a green card after marriage?

Depending on whether the immigrant is in the U.S. or abroad, the processing time for a green card after marriage can range anywhere between 6 and 24 months.

How can I get a green card faster than 90 days?

Marrying a U.S. citizen is already one of the quickest ways to immigrate to the country. You can request to expedite your request with USCIS. USCIS considers the following criteria when deciding which cases to expedite

• Urgent humanitarian reasons related to human welfare
• Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the interest of the United States
• Family life or death matters
• U.S. government interests
• A clear USCIS error

How Long to Get a Green Card After Interview 2025?

USCIS has 30 days from the date of your interview to let you know of their decision. If USCIS approves the green card, they will typically mail your green card about six months from the time of your interview. You can check your case processing time using this USCIS tool.

How We Can Help

Understanding the marriage-based green card timeline starts with understanding your case. Many factors go into what you can expect in terms of waiting times. The best thing to do is to have an immigration attorney review your case and advise you on more accurate processing times.

VisaNation Law Group attorneys have helped hundreds of families and immigrants realize their dream of migrating to the United States.

Get in touch with one of VisaNation Law Group’s immigration attorneys and schedule your private consultation today.