Marriage-Based Green Card Applications: What Documents Do You Actually Need?

If you’re applying for a green card through your marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you’ve probably already figured out that immigration paperwork is… not exactly romantic. But getting organized with your documents early on can save you a lot of stress down the line—and help you avoid delays that can stretch this process out even longer.

At my firm, I work with couples all the time who are navigating this process—some just married, some together for years—and the most common question I get is: What do we need to pull together?

So let’s break it down. Here’s a closer look at what documents you’ll generally need for a marriage-based green card application, especially if you’re applying from inside the U.S. through a process called adjustment of status. (The specifics can vary if one of you is abroad or there’s a more complicated immigration history, but this will give you a solid foundation.)

1. Proof That Your Marriage Is Real and Legal

USCIS isn’t just checking whether you’re married—they’re evaluating whether your marriage is legitimate, ongoing, and not entered into just for immigration purposes. You’ll need to provide:

• A certified copy of your marriage certificate

• Divorce decrees or death certificates for any prior marriages—for either spouse

• Any documents showing name changes, if applicable

It’s not just about having a marriage license—it’s about showing that your relationship is genuine. Which brings us to…

2. Evidence of a Bona Fide Relationship

This is where you prove that your lives are actually intertwined. There’s no one-size-fits-all checklist here, and don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you need a perfect scrapbook of your relationship. But it does mean showing USCIS that your marriage is more than a formality. Useful examples include:

• A lease or mortgage in both your names

• Joint bank accounts, insurance policies, or credit cards

• Utility bills with both names

• Photos of you together over time, especially with friends and family

• Travel itineraries, tickets, or hotel bookings for trips taken together

• Screenshots of text messages, emails, or social media posts over time

• Letters from people who know you both, attesting to your relationship (we can guide you on what these should look like)

Bottom line: the goal is to paint a picture of a real relationship—not a staged one. I help my clients curate the right mix of documents to reflect their actual life together, not what they think USCIS wants to see.

3. Proof of Immigration Status and Entry

For the spouse applying for the green card (the “beneficiary”), you’ll need to show how you entered the U.S. and what your current immigration status is. This usually includes:

• A copy of your passport biographic page

• Copies of all U.S. visas (expired or current)

• Your I-94 travel record, which shows when and how you entered

• Any past immigration paperwork filed on your behalf, if applicable

It’s important to be thorough here—USCIS will use this to confirm your eligibility to adjust status from within the U.S.

4. Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence

For the sponsoring spouse (the U.S. citizen or green card holder), you’ll need to include documentation proving your status, such as:

• A U.S. passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate, if you’re a citizen

• A green card, if you’re a lawful permanent resident

If your name has changed, make sure to include documents linking your current name to your proof of status.

5. Financial Documents: Showing You Can Support Your Spouse

The government wants to make sure the immigrant spouse won’t become dependent on public benefits, so the U.S. citizen or green card holder must file a Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support). With it, you’ll need:

• Your most recent federal tax return (sometimes the past 3 years)

• W-2s or 1099s

• Recent pay stubs

• A letter from your employer stating your job title, salary, and employment status

If your income isn’t high enough to meet the threshold, don’t panic—a joint sponsor can often help.

6. Passport Photos & Government Forms

You’ll each need two passport-style photos that meet USCIS specs. And you’ll file several forms together as part of your package, including:

• Form I-130 (the petition proving your relationship)

• Form I-485 (for the green card application, if applying from inside the U.S.)

• Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)

• Form I-765 (Work permit request)

• Form I-131 (Travel permit request, if applicable)

• Form I-693 (Medical exam, often submitted later)

7. Anything That Applies Uniquely to You

If your situation involves past visa overstays, immigration violations, criminal records, or prior petitions, you’ll need to include additional documentation—and in some cases, legal waivers. If that’s your situation, please know that you’re not alone, and there are often still pathways forward. It’s just all the more reason to get support from someone who knows the system inside and out.

Let’s Take the Guesswork Out of It

You don’t have to have every document perfectly lined up to get started—that’s my job. I’ll help you figure out what’s needed, what’s missing, and what’s going to make the strongest case possible.

If you and your spouse are ready to take the next step, or you just want to understand whether you qualify for a marriage-based green card, reach out. We can walk through the process together—and I’ll make sure you’re not doing it blindly or alone. Contact me at 402-259-0059 or zach@zandersonlaw.com.