Got questions about marriage-based green cards? You’re not alone. Every day, thousands of people turn to Reddit to ask questions, share experiences, and get clarity on the marriage-based green card process. But the answers aren’t always reliable.
That’s where we come in.
We’ve compiled a list of the top 16 most frequently asked marriage-based green card questions on Reddit, along with clear answers you can trust.
Click on any of the questions below to jump to their answers:
- What questions are asked in a marriage green card interview?
- How soon after marriage can I apply for a green card?
- What evidence do I need to show to prove my marriage is real for a green card?
- Do we need to live together or have joint finances to get a marriage green card?
- What if we have a complicated situation when applying for a marriage green card (e.g., overstay, previous marriages)?
- What are the chances of approval for a marriage green card?
- Do I need a lawyer to get a marriage green card?
- Can I apply for an H1-B/L-1 visa concurrently with a marriage green card?
- Can I apply for an F-1 student visa concurrently with a marriage green card?
- What happens if I get divorced while I am waiting for a marriage green card interview?
- Can I marry my partner who has overstayed their visa?
- What happens if the USCIS officer didn’t grant me a marriage green card during my interview appointment?
- Can my spouse keep their 10-year marriage green card after we divorce? Will divorce affect their ability to stay in the U.S.?
- Are marriage green card interviews becoming more rigorous under the new Trump administration?
- If you marry an immigrant, are you fiscally responsible for them?
- I’m a green card applicant who married a U.S. citizen of the same sex. If the new administration declines to federally recognize same-sex marriage in the future, how would that affect my immigration status?
Disclaimer: The information on this page is not legal advice. Click here to learn more about Boundless Immigration’s lawyer-guided services.
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#1: What questions are asked in a marriage green card interview?
Marriage green card interview questions focus on verifying the authenticity of your relationship. Expect to be asked about:
- How and when you met
- Details about your wedding and engagement
- Your daily life and routines together
- Family backgrounds and relationships
- Living arrangements
- Big events, rituals, or celebrations
- Shared assets and finances
- Future plans as a couple
Staying calm, answering honestly, and being familiar with your paperwork are key. Officers may ask for clarification on your forms or request additional evidence.
See our complete list of marriage green card interview questions.
To learn more about the marriage green card interview process, read our guide:
#2: How soon after marriage can I apply for a green card?
There is no mandatory waiting period to apply for a green card after marriage. That said, recently married couples tend to face more scrutiny. Immigration officials’ main focus is to verify the authenticity of the relationship, rather than its duration. Those in newer marriages may be required to submit additional proof that their marriage is legitimate. Gathering all necessary documents can take time, so avoid rushing to apply if your paperwork isn’t ready. Once all of your documents are in order, it’s a good idea to apply as soon as possible to secure your place in line, as wait times can be lengthy.
Learn more about marriage-based green card processing times:
#3: What evidence do I need to show to prove my marriage is real for a green card?
Commonly suggested evidence of a bona fide marriage includes:
- Joint lease or mortgage
- Joint financial accounts or credit cards
- Joint tax returns
- Joint insurance policies
- Photos together (especially with family and friends)
- Proof of travel together
- Letters or affidavits from friends and family
You don’t need every item, but the more supporting evidence you can provide, the better.
Learn more about how to provide evidence of a genuine marriage:
#4: Do we need to live together or have joint finances to get a marriage green card?
Joint finances and cohabitation are not strict requirements for marriage-based green card approval. While sharing financial accounts or living together can help demonstrate a bona fide marriage, many couples have successfully obtained green cards without these elements. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recognizes that couples may live apart for valid reasons, such as work, school, or family obligations. If you do not share finances or a residence, you should be honest about your situation and provide a clear explanation for your living arrangements and future plans to live together.
Applications without proof of shared finances may receive additional scrutiny, so thorough documentation of your relationship is especially important. To strengthen your application, consider submitting alternative evidence of your genuine relationship, such as photos, messages, and affidavits.
Learn more about what paperwork you need for a marriage-based green card:
#5: What if we have a complicated situation when applying for a marriage green card (e.g., overstay, previous marriages)?
Many people have successfully adjusted status after a visa overstay, especially if married to a U.S. citizen. U.S. immigration law generally allows immediate relatives (including spouses) of U.S. citizens to adjust status even after an overstay, provided the foreign spouse originally entered the U.S. legally. However, if the foreign spouse entered the U.S. without inspection (illegally), adjustment of status is not possible, and consular processing is required.
For previous marriages, you must provide documentation showing all prior marriages have been legally terminated (divorce decrees or death certificates) when applying for a marriage green card. If there is a history of marriage fraud or unresolved immigration issues, USCIS will scrutinize the case more closely, and you may need to provide additional evidence to prove the bona fides of your current marriage.
Given the complexity of such cases, consulting a qualified immigration attorney is a good idea. They can help you make sure all documentation is correct and address any potential legal issues.
Learn more about what to do if your case is complicated:
- Marriage Green Card and Divorce
- How Do I Get a Copy of My Divorce Decree?
- How to Apply For a Green Card When You Have a Criminal Record
- Green Card Sponsors with Criminal Records
#6: What are the chances of approval for a marriage green card?
Marriage-based green card applications have relatively high approval rates, especially for couples with genuine relationships and complete paperwork. Recent USCIS data shows approval rates for Form I-130 (“Petition for Alien Relative”) ranged from 84.5% to 90.4%, and approval rates for Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) exceeded 90% in recent years. Denials are uncommon for straightforward cases, but can occur if there is insufficient evidence of a bona fide marriage, suspected fraud, incomplete forms, or ineligibility due to immigration or criminal history.
Learn more about marriage green card approval rates:
#7: Do I need a lawyer to get a marriage green card?
You do not need a lawyer for a marriage-based green card application if your case is straightforward and you are comfortable handling the paperwork yourself. Many applicants successfully complete the process without legal representation. However, an immigration attorney can help identify potential issues, ensure your application is complete, and represent you if complications arise.
#8: Can I apply for an H1-B/L-1 visa concurrently with a marriage green card?
Yes, the H-1B visa and L-1 visa are dual intent visas, which means you can hold temporary intent to work in the U.S. while also pursuing permanent residency through a marriage green card. This allows you to apply for both simultaneously without jeopardizing your visa status.
#9: Can I apply for an F-1 student visa concurrently with a marriage green card?
The F-1 visa does not allow for dual intent, which means applying for a green card while applying for an F-1 visa can result in denial due to the nonimmigrant intent requirement.
However, a 2023 USCIS policy update clarified that being the beneficiary of a green card petition does not automatically bar you from maintaining or obtaining F-1 status, as long as you can prove you still intend to return home after your studies. In practice, this is difficult to prove, so most applicants are not able to successfully pursue both at the same time.
#10: What happens if I get divorced while I am waiting for a marriage green card interview?
If you are applying for a green card based on marriage and the marriage ends (divorce) before the interview or approval, your eligibility for a green card through that marriage generally ends. The green card application is based on a bona fide marital relationship, and if that relationship no longer exists, the basis for the application is lost.
There is an exception under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). If your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse subjected you to battery or abuse, you may be eligible to self-petition for a green card using Form I-360 (VAWA self-petition). This process allows you to continue your green card application independently of your spouse. If you wish to pursue this option, it’s wise to seek help from a qualified immigration attorney.
#11: Can I marry my partner who has overstayed their visa?
In many cases, yes, especially if the sponsoring partner is a U.S. citizen. Overstaying a visa doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from applying for a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, there are a few key things to know:
- If the immigrant is on a visa that does not allow immigrant intent (like the F-1), marrying a U.S. citizen and planning to adjust status could be viewed as visa fraud if not timed carefully.
- If the immigrant overstayed a visa and is marrying a green card holder (not a U.S. citizen), they likely cannot adjust status inside the U.S. unless they qualify for a provisional waiver (Form I-601A) and complete consular processing.
Also note, a person who wishes to marry a U.S. citizen and had more than 180 days unlawful presence in a single stay and then left are subject to a 3-year bar from re-entering the country, and also require a 601A waiver to apply for a green card.
If they have more than 1 year of unlawful presence and leave, the bar increases to 10 years.
#12: What happens if the USCIS officer didn’t grant me a marriage green card during my interview appointment?
There are typically five possible outcomes after a marriage green card interview: approval, request for evidence or notice of intent to deny, additional review, second interview (Stokes), or denial. Each outcome has specific next steps, and applicants are generally notified in writing about the decision or any further actions required.
#13: Can my spouse keep their 10-year marriage green card after we divorce? Will divorce affect their ability to stay in the U.S.?
If your spouse already has a 10-year permanent green card, divorce won’t affect their legal status or ability to stay in the U.S. They can renew their green card without needing to prove the marriage is still valid.
However, divorce may delay their path to U.S. citizenship. Instead of applying after three years as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, they’ll need to wait five years to apply for naturalization.
#14: Are marriage green card interviews becoming more rigorous under the new Trump administration?
The Trump administration reintroduced stricter requirements for marriage-based green cards in 2025. Marriage-based green card interviews have become significantly more rigorous, with in-person interview requirements for most applicants, more detailed questioning, increased evidence requirements, and enhanced vetting measures.
Couples should prepare for a tougher process by gathering extensive documentation and considering legal advice.
#15: If you marry an immigrant, are you fiscally responsible for them?
If you sponsor your spouse for a green card, you must sign an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), which makes you financially responsible for them. This legal contract requires you to support your spouse at 125% of the federal poverty level until they become a U.S. citizen, work 40 qualifying quarters (about 10 years), permanently leave the country, or pass away. Even if you divorce, this financial obligation still applies unless specific conditions are met.
#16: I’m a green card applicant who married a U.S. citizen of the same sex. If the new administration declines to federally recognize same-sex marriage in the future, how would that affect my immigration status?
Even if the administration refused to recognize same-sex marriage, your immigration status would likely remain unchanged unless federal law itself changes. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was struck down in 2013, and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) established same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. Unless these decisions are overturned by new legislation or a Supreme Court ruling, your marriage-based green card and path to citizenship should remain valid. If laws were reversed in the future, existing green cards likely wouldn’t be revoked, though future applications could be impacted.
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