How to Apply for a Change of Status From a Visitor Visa to a Marriage Green Card

Can I Change My B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa to a Marriage Green Card?

Applicants who meet certain conditions can qualify to change their immigration status from a visitor visa to a green card. First, you must be eligible for a green card. You can apply for a green card if you meet certain requirements, such as employer sponsorship or familial relationships with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. While many different family members qualify, immediate relatives have special priority. For example, spouses fall under the category of immediate relatives. 

There are two different paths for spouses to receive a green card. If the spouse is not located in the United States, they can apply for consular processing. If the spouse is already located in the United States, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows them to apply for adjustment of status.

Who Qualifies for an Adjustment of Status to a Marriage Green Card?

To apply for adjustment of status as the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you must meet two requirements:

• Must be located in the United States when you apply 

• Must have entered the United States lawfully

For most people, this means you entered the United States with proper travel documents and a valid visa. You also made contact with a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) immigration officer and the officer recognized your entry. Spouses who entered through the visa waiver program can adjust their status only if they’re married to U.S. citizens. If you are now in unlawful presence, but your entry was lawful, you still qualify. 

What Is the 90-Day Rule?

You need to be present in the United States to submit an adjustment of status application. However, it is important to recognize that B-1 or B-2 visa holders who use adjustment of status to apply for a green card may seem suspicious. 

When you use a B-1 or B-2 visa to enter the United States, you have a nonimmigrant status because you declared that you intend to return home within a certain period. However, if you stay in the United States and apply for a green card, it may seem that you inaccurately represented your original intention to leave. As a result, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer could reject your green card application and remove your visa if they decide you purposefully lied. 

It is important to use the 90-day rule to avoid this potential issue. USCIS officers assume that temporary visa holders who apply for a green card within 90 days of arriving in the United States purposefully misrepresented their intentions to leave. USCIS officers decide whether or not you were dishonest about your intentions, so you may be able to prove that you were honest. However, it is safer to prevent this potential issue by waiting at least 91 days after arriving in the United States to file for a green card application.

How Do I Adjust Status From a B-1/B-2 Visa to a Marriage Green Card?

When you’re sure you won’t be affected by the 90-day rule, you can apply for adjustment of status to obtain a marriage green card. Since your spouse already arrived via a B-1 or B-2 visa, they won’t be obtaining an immigrant visa but instead changing their current status. The process will be slightly different depending on whether your spouse is a U.S. permanent resident or U.S. citizen. 

If I Married a U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder)

If you married a U.S. permanent resident and hope to get a marriage green card through adjustment of status, your spouse should file Form I-130. Form I-130 is the family sponsorship form and is officially named “Petition for Alien Relative.” After your spouse files this form, you must wait to receive a visa number to apply for a marriage-based green card. However, your next steps depend on whether you get your visa number before or after your B-1 or B-2 visa expires. 

Before Your Visa Expires

If you receive your visa number before your visa expires, you can stay in the United States to file your green card application. You will fill out Form I-485, which is officially named “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.” After USCIS approves your application, you will receive your physical card. The entire process, beginning when USCIS received your Form I-130, will take about 29 to 38 months. 

After Your Visa Expires

If you receive your visa number after your visa expires, you have to leave the United States to file your green card application through consular processing. You will use the process for spouses married to green card holders but living in their home country. After USCIS approves your green card application, you will receive the physical card. The entire process, since USCIS received your Form I-130, will likely take 23 to 32 months. 

You will have to leave the United States unless you can extend your B-1 or B-2 visa or get another type of temporary visa to remain legally. If you can do so, you can follow the process for spouses married to green card holders and living in the United States. 

If your spouse becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization while waiting for your visa number, you can switch your process to the process for people who married a U.S. citizen. You can do this even if you have already started your application process. 

If I Married a U.S. Citizen

However, if you married a U.S. citizen and hope to get a green card through adjustment of status, you and your spouse will have a somewhat similar process when following the steps to obtain a marriage green card. You and your spouse should try to file the following forms at the same time. Although you can file them separately, that is unusual. 

Your spouse, who is a U.S. citizen, should sign and file Form I-130, which is officially named “Petition for Alien Relative.” You, as the B-1 or B-2 visa holder, need to file Form I-485. Form I-485 is the green card application and is officially named “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.” You will likely receive your green card 10 to 13 months after USCIS receives your application package if you married your U.S. citizen spouse “in good faith.” “In good faith” means that you did not marry them just to receive a green card, and you will have to prove this to the U.S. government.

You also have the option to return to your home country to file your green card application through consular processing. Your local U.S. consulate or embassy will review your application. There will be lower application fees and a longer processing time to receive your green card if you use consular processing. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Adjustment of Status From B-1/B-2 Visas to Marriage Green Cards

Adjusting your visa status can be complicated. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ), including application processing times, working in the U.S. while waiting, and other general application tips. 

How Long Does Adjusting Status to a Marriage Green Card Take?

Immigration application processing times can vary widely. The time it takes to adjust status to a marriage green card can vary depending on whether your spouse is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and whether you reside in your home country or the United States. On average, it will take 10 to 38 months to receive your green card. Here are some common times depending on your circumstances:

• Married to a U.S. citizen and living inside the U.S.: 10 to 13 months

• Married to a U.S. citizen and living outside the U.S.: 11 to 17 months

• Married to a green card holder and living inside the U.S.: 29 to 38 months

• Married to a green card holder and living outside the U.S.: 23 to 32 months. 

Can I Work While Waiting on a Decision on My Adjustment of Status Application?

You can work while waiting for your decision if you meet certain requirements. For example, if you came to the United States through a work visa, you could continue to work if the visa is still valid. If you came to the United States on a different visa, you might be able to get a work permit. You should file Form I-765, officially named “Application for Employment Authorization,” to receive a work permit. If USCIS approves your application, you can legally get a job. 

What Are Some Tips To Keep in Mind While Considering Adjustment of Status to a Marriage Green Card?

As you are considering adjusting status to a marriage green card, keep in mind that you can request an extension for your B-1 or B-2 visa. If you have a six-month visitor visa, you can request an additional six months to stay in the country. You should file for an extension or adjustment of status before your current visitor visa expires. It is important to ensure you don’t overstay your visa and become unlawfully present. 

You can also consider using a K-1 visa instead of a B-1 or B-2 visa if you have not yet married your spouse, but you will be traveling to the United States for your wedding. The K-1 visa is for foreign citizens who want to travel to the United States to marry their U.S. citizen fiancé. It allows you to apply for a green card after marriage without leaving the United States. In addition, the K-1 visa can help prevent further suspicion about your intentions when applying for adjustment of status.