After the K-1 Visa: A Guide to the Green Card Process
She’s Arrived! A Husband’s Guide to the Green Card & Adjustment of Status
Congratulations, she’s finally here! This is a momentous occasion, but it also starts a critical 90-day clock. This guide will walk you through the essential next steps to adjust her status and secure your future together in the USA.
After months or even years of a long-distance relationship, your Filipina fiance has finally arrived in the United States on her K-1 visa. This is a time for celebration, but it’s also the start of an important and time-sensitive legal process. The K-1 visa is not the end of the journey; it is the key that unlocks the door to the final steps of the immigration process.
Navigating the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) system can feel daunting, but it’s a manageable series of steps. This guide will provide a clear roadmap for you, the American husband, to help your new wife adjust her status and obtain her Green Card.
The 90-Day Clock is Ticking: The Marriage Requirement
The single most important rule of the K-1 visa is that you **must get married within 90 days of her entry into the United States.** This is a strict, non-negotiable deadline. It cannot be extended for any reason. The 90-day period begins on the date her passport is stamped upon her arrival at the U.S. port of entry. Your first priority should be to plan your wedding ceremony within this window. Once you are legally married, you can proceed with filing for her Adjustment of Status.
The Adjustment of Status (AOS) Application Package
After the wedding, you will file a package of forms with USCIS. It’s crucial to file these together. The main components are:
- Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status: This is the central application for her Green Card.
- Form I-864, Affidavit of Support: This is your legally binding contract showing you can financially support your wife.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: This allows her to get a work permit while her Green Card application is pending.
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document: This is for “Advance Parole,” which allows her to travel outside the U.S. and return without abandoning her application. It is critical she does not leave the U.S. before receiving this permission.
What Happens After You File? The Waiting Period
Once you’ve mailed your comprehensive application package, the waiting period begins. You will receive a series of notices and appointments from USCIS.
Receipt Notices
Within a few weeks, you will receive official receipt notices in the mail. This confirms that USCIS has received your case and has assigned it a case number. This is your proof that you have filed correctly and on time.
The Biometrics Appointment
Your wife will be scheduled for a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center. Here, they will take her fingerprints, photo, and signature for background checks. This is a standard and straightforward part of the process.
Work & Travel Permit
Several months into the process, your wife should receive her Employment Authorization Document (EAD), often as a “combo card” that also includes her Advance Parole travel permission. This allows her to work legally and travel if necessary.
The Interview Notice
The final step before a decision is the interview. You will receive a notice scheduling both of you for an interview at your local USCIS office. This is the government’s chance to verify that your marriage is authentic.
The Green Card Interview and Conditional Residence
The interview is the final hurdle. The purpose is simply to confirm that you have a bona fide marriage and didn’t get married just for immigration benefits. You will be asked questions about your relationship and your life together. Be sure to bring a folder of evidence, such as your marriage certificate, photos together, joint bank account statements, lease agreements, etc.
If your marriage is less than two years old when your Green Card is approved, your wife will receive a **2-year conditional Green Card**. This is a protective measure by USCIS. Ninety days before this card expires, you will need to file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, together as a couple to receive her permanent 10-year Green Card. For more advice on this stage of your life, see our guide to a happy bicultural marriage.
Your Secure Future Together
While the process involves a lot of paperwork, it is a clear path to securing your wife’s permanent residence and starting your life together in the U.S. without immigration worries.
