The documents required for a marriage green card vary by situation but generally include the following:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Financial documents
- Proof of sponsor’s U.S. citizenship or permanent residence
- Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status, if applicable
- Police clearance certificate, if applicable
- Prior-marriage termination papers, if applicable
- Court, police, and prison records, if applicable
- Military records, if applicable
- Immigration violation records, if applicable
- Current/expired U.S. visa(s)
- Medical examination document
In the tables below, we’ll discuss which documents are required for each of the most common marriage-based green card forms and who must submit them to the U.S. government. If you can’t locate certain records, make sure to check out our detailed guide to obtaining hard-to-find immigration documents.
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Family Sponsorship Form (I-130)
To complete the family sponsorship form, or Form I-130 (officially called the “Petition for Alien Relative”), you must provide the following documents.
I-130 Checklist
| Document Type | Examples of Acceptable Documents | Who Needs It? |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of U.S. citizenship | Sponsoring spouse who is a U.S. citizen | |
| Proof of green card holder (permanent resident) status |
| Sponsoring spouse who is a green card holder (permanent resident) |
| Proof of valid marriage | Also provide as many of the following as possible:
| Both spouses |
| Proof of termination of prior marriage(s), if any | Both spouses | |
| Proof of official name change, if any |
| Both spouses |
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Green Card Application Form (I-485)
To complete the green card application form, or Form I-485 (officially called the “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status”), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
I-485 Checklist
| Document Type | Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|---|
| Proof of nationality |
|
| Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status | Both of the following are required:
|
| Records of previous interactions with law enforcement, if any | |
| Records of previous immigration violations, if any |
With Boundless, you get the confidence of an independent immigration attorney who will review all of your materials and answer any questions you have — for no additional fee. Learn more today!
Online Green Card Application Form (DS-260)
To complete the online green card application, or Form DS-260 (officially called the “Immigrant Visa Electronic Application”), the spouse seeking a green card from abroad must provide the following documents.
DS-260 Checklist
| Document Type | Examples of Acceptable Documents |
|---|---|
| Proof of nationality |
|
| Proof of valid marriage | |
| Proof of termination of prior marriage(s), if any | |
| Records of military service, if applicable |
|
| Records of previous interactions with law enforcement, if any, or lack thereof | |
| Records of previous immigration violations, if any |
Boundless makes it easy to complete your green card application. We turn all the required forms for your situation into simple questions you can answer in a short amount of time — typically under two hours. Get started now!
Financial Support Form (I-864)
To complete the financial support form, or Form I-864 (officially called the “Affidavit of Support”), the sponsoring spouse (and any co-sponsors) must provide the following documents.
I-864 Checklist
| Document Type | Examples of Acceptable Documents | Who Needs It? |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of ability to financially support the spouse seeking a green card |
In addition, these documents may strengthen your application:
| Sponsoring spouse and financial co-sponsor (if any) |
| Proof of asset value (if you’re counting your assets to meet the income requirements for a marriage-based green card) | If using bank/investment accounts:
If using your home:
If using your second vehicle:
| Sponsoring spouse, financial co-sponsor (if any), and spouse seeking a green card |
Not sure if you meet the income requirements for a marriage green card? With Boundless, you get an experienced, independent attorney to answer your questions and review your application materials, including the Affidavit of Support. Learn more today!
Work Permit Application Form (I-765)
To complete the work permit application, or Form I-765 (officially called the “Application for Employment Authorization Document,” or EAD), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
I-765 Checklist
| Document Type | Examples of Acceptable Documents | Who Needs It? |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States |
| Proof of pending marriage-based green card application |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States and married to a green card holder (Spouses of U.S. citizens typically file their work permit and green card applications at the same time.) |
| Proof of previous authorization to work in the United States |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States who has been issued a previous work permit |
| Proof of nationality |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States who has not been issued a previous work permit |
| Proof of identity |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States |
*If you are submitting (or have already submitted) a set of two passport-style photos for your green card application and an additional set for your travel permit application, you do not need to submit a third set for your work permit application. You will need to provide only two total sets. If, however, you’re married to a green card holder or if you’re married to a U.S. citizen and file your work permit application after submitting your green card application (which would be unusual), then you will need to provide a new set with your work permit application.
Boundless takes all the required government forms, including the work permit application, and turns them into simple questions you can answer online — typically in under two hours. Ready to start?
Travel Permit Application Form (I-131)
To complete the travel permit application, or Form I-131 (officially called the “Application for Travel Document”), the spouse seeking a green card from within the United States must provide the following documents.
I-131 Checklist
| Document Type | Examples of Acceptable Documents | Who Needs It? |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of identity (must show your name, date of birth, and photo) |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States and married to a green card holder (Spouses of U.S. citizens typically file their work permit and green card applications at the same time.) |
| Proof of present immigration status |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States |
| Proof of pending marriage-based green card application |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States and married to a green card holder (Spouses of U.S. citizens typically file their work permit and green card applications at the same time.) |
| Additional proof of identity |
| Spouse seeking a green card from within the United States |
*If you are submitting (or have already submitted) a set of two passport-style photos for your green card application and an additional set for your travel permit application, you do not need to submit a third set for your work permit application. You will need to provide only two total sets. If, however, you’re married to a green card holder or if you’re married to a U.S. citizen and file your work permit application after submitting your green card application (which would be unusual), then you will need to provide a new set with your work permit application.
With Boundless, you get a professionally assembled green card application package — including the travel permit application — arranged in the precise format the government prefers. Get started now!
Special Considerations
Unavailable documents
If you have trouble locating certain documents, you may be able to obtain official copies. If you cannot access copies, you will need to provide notarized statements from yourself and one or two other people. Boundless has a guide on providing secondary evidence when primary evidence (the documents listed above) is not available.
Documents in a foreign language
If some of your documents are written in a language other than English, you will need to obtain certified English translations and attach these to your documents.
With Boundless, you get the confidence of an independent immigration attorney who will review all of your materials and answer any questions you have — for no additional fee. Learn more about how we can help you.
Related Information
Understanding the Reciprocity Schedule for Non-U.S.-Issued Documents
Common Green Card Forms and What They’re Used for
Marriage Green Cards, Explained
How Is a Fiancé Visa Different from a Marriage-Based Green Card?
How Long Does It Take to Get a Marriage Green Card in the U.S.?
What Are The Costs of a Marriage-Based Green Card?
What Is Required to be Eligible for a Marriage Green Card?
What’s an Affidavit of Support?