Get the complete marriage green card checklist of supporting documents if the foreign spouse is abroad – all required immigration forms and evidence of good faith marriage in SelfLawyer’s guide.
Marriage Green Card Checklist
The forms and documents you need to apply for a green card through marriage, if foreign spouse is abroad (not in the U.S.)
We have covered a completely different guide that entails all the necessary forms and documents required to file a marriage based green card, if you’re the spouse of a U.S. citizen, or a lawfully permanent resident, present in the U.S.
We made this particular guide to help you gather all the necessary forms and documents required to apply for a marriage based green card, if you’re the spouse of a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent resident, in a foreign country (not in the U.S.).
These are all the USCIS forms and their supporting documents which you’ll require:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (mandatory)
- Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary (mandatory)
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (mandatory)
- Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (mandatory)
- Form DS-261, Online Choice of Address and Agent (optional)
The documents required for a marriage green card application include the following:
- Marriage certificate
- Proof of sponsor’s US citizenship or lawful permanent residence
- Evidence of termination of any prior marriage(s)
- Proof of income
- Proof of assets
- Official IRS transcripts
- Birth certificate
- Foreign passport
- Foreign photo ID
- Two identical color passport-style photographs (both spouses)
- Copy of visa(s)
- U.S. credit score proof (if any)
- U.S. health insurance proof (if any)
- Public benefits usage proof (if any)
- I-94 record(s)
- Immunization or vaccination records
- Bankruptcy records (if any)
- Educational records
- Evidence of marriage
- Criminal records (if any)
- Military records (if any)
Detailed description of each immigration form and supporting documents is provided in the tables below.
1. Form I-130, “Petition for Alien Relative” (mandatory)
The form’s purpose:
- It is the 1st step towards reserving your relative’s immigrant visa.
- To establish a valid relationship between a U.S. citizen, or permanent resident and a foreign family member, to help them gain a green card.
- In regards to marriage visas, this petition serves as a proof that your marriage is legally valid.
Who Needs to Sign it:
- Only a U.S. citizen, or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) can file an I-130 petition.
- U.S. citizens can file this petition for their spouses, children, parents and siblings.
- A green card holder can file the same for their spouses and unmarried children.
Form I-130 documents checklist:
Provide photocopies only
| Document type | Examples of supporting documents | Who needs to provide it? |
| Evidence of U.S. Citizenship |
| Sponsoring spouse if he/she is a U.S. citizen |
| Evidence of Lawful Permanent Residence |
| Sponsoring spouse if he/she is a lawful permanent resident |
| Evidence of a lawful marriage |
| Both spouses |
| Evidence of termination of any prior marriage(s), if any |
| Both spouses |
| Passport-style color photographs |
| Both spouses |
| Proof of good faith marriage |
| Both spouses |
2. Form I-130A, “Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary” (mandatory)
The form’s purpose:
- If you are a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) sponsoring an eligible relative for immigration, you must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS.
- If the eligible relative is your spouse, you must also file the additional Form I-130A.
- Both of these forms must be filed at the same time.
Who Needs to Sign it?
- Form I-130A is to be completed by the sponsored immigrant.
- Since the applicant spouse is abroad, the Form I-130A can be completed by the applicant beneficiary’s spouse on the applicant’s behalf but does not have to be signed by the latter.
Form I-130A documents checklist:
Same as Form I-130. You do not need to provide any additional supporting documents with Form I-130A. Make sure you submit all required documents with Form I-130.
3. Form I-864, “Affidavit of Support” (mandatory)
The form’s purpose:
- To show that the intending immigrant (foreign spouse) has proper financial support and will not rely on the U.S. government for receiving public benefits (“public charge”).
Who Needs to Sign it?
- It must be signed by sponsor(s), who meet the following requirements:
- U.S. citizen(s), or green card holder(s), and
- should have an income of 125% over the poverty guidelines.
Form I-864 documents checklist:
Provide photocopies only
| Document type | Examples of supporting documents | Who needs to provide it? |
| Tax records | Provide records for the most recent tax year. However, it’s recommended to provide records for the last 3 tax years:
| Sponsor (petitioner) |
| Evidence of Joint Asset Value |
| Sponsor (petitioner) and spouse seeking green card. |
4. Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (mandatory)
The form’s purpose:
- This form is the 1st step in the application process to becoming a permanent resident of the U.S.
- It is an online visa application, which is handled by the National Visa Center (NVC).
Speaking of the National Visa Center, it is a branch of the United States Department of State, which processes all the green card applications for people living outside the United States and applying through their local U.S. embassy or consulate.
Who Needs to Sign it?
- Anyone applying for a marriage-based green card, from outside the U.S must file this online form.
Form DS-260 documents checklist
Provide photocopies only
| Document type | Examples of supporting documents | Who needs to provide it? |
| Proof of Nationality | Confirmation that Form DS-260 has been filled online
| Applicant spouse |
| Marriage Records | Current marital status.
| Applicant Spouse |
| Other Documents (if any) |
| Applicant spouse |
5. Form DS-261, Online Choice of Address and Agent (optional)
The form’s purpose:
- Just like the Form DS-260, this too is an online form, which must be completed and submitted through the National Visa Center.
- This is a comparatively easier form that tells the U.S. govt how to communicate with you, during your green card application process.
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