How It Works · Updated 2026
From an L-1 Visa to a Marriage Green Card
If your company moved you to the U.S. on an L-1 and you married a U.S. citizen, here is how you get a green card, and why your L-1 stays safe.
In short
Yes, you can do this. The L-1 is a special kind of visa that lets you plan to stay in the U.S. permanently while you hold it, so applying for a marriage green card does not put your L-1 in danger. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, you apply from inside the country and do not have to leave. (You may see this called “adjustment of status” on official websites. It just means getting your green card without going back to your home country.) Most cases take 8 to 14 months from filing to green card and cost about $2,955 to $3,005 in government fees for one person if you also get the optional work and travel permits; about $2,065 without them.
This is general information to help you understand your options, not legal advice.
The short version
| Can you get a green card without leaving the U.S.? | Yes, if you are married to a U.S. citizen. You apply from inside the country by filing the green card application (Form I-485). You do not have to go back to your home country. |
| Will applying put your L-1 at risk? | No. The L-1 is one of the few visas that lets you hold the visa and plan to stay permanently at the same time, so asking for a green card does not threaten your L-1, your extensions, or a change to it. |
| Does it matter if your spouse is a citizen or a green card holder? | Yes. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, you can usually apply from inside the U.S. If your spouse only has a green card (not citizenship yet), there is a waiting list and the case often has to be finished at a U.S. embassy abroad. |
| Do you have to leave the U.S.? | If you married a U.S. citizen, no. You apply from inside the country. If you married a green card holder, usually yes, the case is normally finished at a U.S. embassy in your home country. |
| What does it cost? | About $2,955 to $3,005 in government fees for one person, plus a separate medical exam fee you pay to a doctor. That includes the optional work and travel permits. |
| How long does it take? | Usually 8 to 14 months from filing to green card. |
Fees are current as of 2026 (source: the USCIS fee schedule). Always check uscis.gov before you file. The 8 to 14 months is a typical range (source: USCIS processing times).
The short answer
Applying for a marriage green card does not put your L-1, your extensions, or your ability to keep working at risk.
Why your L-1 is safe
Most temporary visas assume you will go home one day. The L-1 is different. It is one of the few visas that lets you hold the visa and, at the same time, work toward staying permanently. Immigration lawyers call this “dual intent.” It is written into the official government rules (that link opens the rule itself, which is written in legal language), and it is the reason the worries below do not apply to you.
Will applying for a green card hurt my L-1 extension or a change to my L-1?
No. The government cannot use your green card application as a reason to deny an L-1 extension or a change your employer files for you. Filing the green card and keeping your L-1 work together.
What about my spouse who is here on an L-2?
An L-2 is the visa for the husband, wife, or children of an L-1 worker. It depends on your L-1 and does not end just because you file a green card. Your L-2 spouse can keep their L-2 status (which is tied to your L-1) or, when they qualify on their own, file their own green card application.
Can I change employers while my green card is being processed?
Yes. A marriage green card is based on your marriage, not your job, so you can change employers, or even stop working for a while, without affecting it. One thing to know: the L-1 itself is tied to the company that moved you to the U.S., so leaving that employer ends your L-1, even though it does not touch your marriage green card. There is also a separate rule that makes people who get their green card through a job wait 180 days before changing employers. That one is only for job-based green cards, not marriage ones, so it does not apply to you.
One thing to keep in mind
Filing for a green card does not automatically extend your L-1. Keep your L-1 valid on its own until the green card is approved. That way, if anything goes wrong with the green card, you still have your L-1 as a backup.
Does it matter if your spouse is a citizen or a green card holder?
Yes, a lot. This is the biggest thing that decides whether you can get your green card without leaving the country.
If you married a U.S. citizen
You are in the group with the fewest restrictions (the law calls it an “immediate relative”). Even if you stayed past your allowed time or worked without permission, you can usually still apply for your green card from inside the U.S. without leaving. This is the most common and most straightforward path.
If you married a green card holder
If you married a U.S. citizen, you can usually finish the whole process inside the United States. If you married someone who has a green card but is not a citizen yet, the rules are stricter for two reasons. First, there is a waiting list for spouses of green card holders, so a spot may not be open right away. Second, if you stayed longer than allowed or worked without permission, you usually cannot fix that from inside the U.S. the way a citizen's spouse can. Because of those two things, many people married to a green card holder finish their case at a U.S. embassy in their home country instead.
The forms and what they cost
These are the government fees you pay to USCIS (the agency that handles green cards). They are separate from anything you might pay a service or a lawyer.
| What it is for | Form name | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Starts the case and proves the marriage | Form I-130 | $625 online / $675 paper |
| Extra info about the immigrant spouse | Form I-130A | No separate fee |
| The actual green card application | Form I-485 | $1,440 |
| Promise to financially support the spouse | Form I-864 | No separate fee |
| Work permit (optional, filed with the green card) | Form I-765 | $260 |
| Travel permit (optional, filed with the green card) | Form I-131 | $630 |
| Medical exam (paid to the doctor, not USCIS) | Form I-693 | $200–$500 typical |
Altogether that is about $2,955 to $3,005 in government fees for one person if you also get the optional work and travel permits; about $2,065 without them. The work permit and travel permit are optional. Many people file them so they can work and travel while they wait, but you do not have to. Fees are current as of 2026 (source: the USCIS fee schedule). Always check uscis.gov before you file.
What proof helps your case
Show that you live as a couple
- A lease, mortgage, or home you share
- Bank accounts or credit cards in both names
- Each other listed on insurance or retirement accounts
- Mail sent to both of you at the same address
Show the marriage is real
- Photos together over time, with family and friends
- Trips you took together
- Messages and call history across your relationship
- Short letters from people who know you as a couple
When it is worth talking to a lawyer
Most L-1 couples with a straightforward situation file on their own. It is worth getting advice from an immigration attorney if any of these are true:
- You had a problem keeping your status in the past, or a gap you are unsure about.
- You were ever ordered to leave the U.S., were found to have lied to immigration, have a criminal record, or were refused a visa before.
- You entered the U.S. without being checked in at the border.
- Your spouse has a green card but is not a U.S. citizen yet.
A note about 2026
In 2026, the rules got a little stricter. A U.S. government policy update (a May 2026 USCIS memo) reminded officers that getting a green card from inside the country is a decision they make case by case, and that they should look at whether you followed the rules of your visa. People who arrived as students, visitors, or on a few other temporary visas may get more questions about what they planned when they first came. Honest, well-prepared cases for spouses of U.S. citizens are still approved all the time. It just helps to be ready to explain your story and back it up with documents.
Common questions
Can I get a green card if I am on an L-1 and married a U.S. citizen?
Yes. The L-1 is the work visa for an employee a company moves to its U.S. office. If you are in the U.S. on an L-1 and you marry a U.S. citizen, you can apply for your green card from inside the country. You do not have to go back to your home country to do it.
Will applying for a green card hurt my L-1?
No. The L-1 is a special kind of visa that lets you hold the visa and plan to stay in the U.S. permanently at the same time. Because of that, asking for a green card cannot be used as a reason to deny your L-1, your extensions, or a change to your L-1.
Can I change employers while my green card application is being processed?
A marriage green card is based on your marriage, not your job, so changing employers or stopping work does not hurt it. Keep one thing in mind: the L-1 itself is tied to the company that moved you, so leaving that employer ends your L-1, even though it does not affect your marriage green card. The rule that makes some green card applicants wait 180 days before changing jobs only applies to green cards you get through an employer, not through marriage, so it does not apply to you.
Does filing for a green card extend my L-1 automatically?
No. Filing for a green card does not add time to your L-1. You should keep your L-1 valid on its own until your green card is approved, unless you decide to rely on the work permit (a separate form you file with your green card and wait to be approved). Keeping your L-1 active is usually safer, because it avoids any gap in your ability to work and gives you a backup if the green card is denied.
What happens to my spouse on an L-2 visa?
An L-2 is the visa for the husband, wife, or children of an L-1 worker. It depends on your L-1 and does not end just because you file a green card. Your L-2 spouse can stay as your dependent, or file their own green card application once they qualify.
Do I have to leave the U.S. to get the green card?
If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, no. You apply and finish everything from inside the U.S. If your spouse has a green card but is not a citizen yet, the case usually has to be finished at a U.S. embassy in your home country after a waiting period.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The government fees are about $2,955 to $3,005 for one person, plus a separate medical exam fee you pay to a doctor. That includes the optional work and travel permits. Most cases take 8 to 14 months.
The main things to remember
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An L-1 lets you hold the visa and plan to stay permanently at the same time, so applying for a green card will not hurt your L-1, your extensions, or a change to it.
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If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for your green card from inside the U.S. without leaving.
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You can change employers while your green card is waiting. A marriage green card is based on your marriage, not your job. Just remember that leaving the company that moved you ends the L-1 itself, even though it does not affect the green card.
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Filing the green card does not automatically extend your L-1. Keep your L-1 valid as a backup until the green card is approved.
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Government fees are about $2,955 to $3,005 for one person, and the process usually takes 8 to 14 months.
This article is general information to help you understand the process. It is not legal advice. Immigration rules and fees change often, so check the official USCIS website (uscis.gov) before you file, and talk to a licensed immigration attorney about your own situation. Information is current as of 2026.
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