Green Card Genius
Green Card Resources
Plain-English guides for every step of the marriage-based green card process.
Essential Reading
2026 Guides
Our most important guides for your green card journey.
CostHow Much Does a Marriage Green Card Cost? (2026)
2026 fees broken down by pathway. Concurrent AOS totals about $2,955 to $3,005 in USCIS fees including EAD and Advance Parole; Consular Processing $1,305 to $1,355 in government fees. Plus the medical exam.
PathwaysAdjustment of Status Guide (2026)
Marriage-based AOS in 2026: six steps, ~$2,955 to $3,005 in USCIS fees, 8 to 14 month timeline, evidence checklist, mistakes, edge cases, and FAQs. Sourced to USCIS.
PathwaysConsular Processing Guide (2026)
Marriage-based CP in 2026: six steps from I-130 to NVC to embassy interview to entry. ~$1,305 in government fees, 12 to 24 month timeline, civil documents, and FAQs. Sourced to USCIS and DOS.
Marriage EvidenceHow to Prove Your Marriage Is Real (2026)
How USCIS evaluates a bona fide marriage in 2026: the five-tier evidence hierarchy from 8 CFR 204.2, red flags, the Stokes interview, FDNS referrals, and edge cases. Sourced to USCIS and federal statute.
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By Country
Your spouse's home country
Country-specific documents, timelines, and common pitfalls.
Mexico
CURP, civil registry records, cartilla militar, and the Ciudad Juárez consulate.
Philippines
PSA documents, SLEC medical, Manila embassy, and NBI clearance.
India
Birth certificates, police clearance, name discrepancies, and the Delhi and Mumbai consulates.
Dominican Republic
Acta Inextensa civil documents, the 2025 unified format, Santo Domingo panel physicians, and 221(g) refusals.
China
The notarial certificate system (公证书), one-child-era birth-record gaps, the Guangzhou panel physicians, and 221(g) refusals.
Nigeria
NPC documents, the two-visit Lagos Document Review, the Fraud Prevention Unit, DNA testing, and administrative-processing timelines.
Ghana
Births and Deaths Registry documents, customary marriage registration, the police criminal check, day-names, the Accra panel physicians, and DNA testing.
Vietnam
Civil documents, the Judicial Record Card No. 2, Ho Chi Minh City panel physicians, and 221(g) refusals.
Colombia
The Registro Civil copia del folio, the Cancillería apostille and translation, the free police antecedentes, and the Bogotá panel physicians.
Jamaica
RGD birth and marriage certificates, the JCF police certificate, Kingston interview logistics, and 221(g) refusals.
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