Fact check: What documents are required for a non-US citizen to apply for a green card through marriage?

1. What all sources agree are the nonnegotiable documents you must submit right away

Every source identifies a baseline set of documents that are required in every marriage-based green card filing: proof of the petitioner’s U.S. status (citizen or lawful permanent resident), a valid marriage certificate, the beneficiary’s identity and immigration documents, and a completed set of immigration forms. Sources from 2024–2025 emphasize Form I‑130 as the foundational petition and identity/immigration records such as passports, birth certificates, and any prior immigration paperwork as essential ^{[1] [2] [3] [5]}. These documents form the documentary spine of any case and are presented consistently across analyses.

2. The evolving 2025 USCIS rules that changed what “essential” means

USCIS issued significant procedural and evidentiary changes in 2025 that affect which documents are now treated as critical evidence: mandatory in‑person interviews, stricter proof of bona fide marriage, and required use of updated form editions; these changes were implemented to reduce fraud and standardized a higher evidentiary bar ^{[4] [6] [7]}. Sources dated August 2025 and mid‑2025 report these procedural shifts, which mean applicants must now gather more detailed joint records and ensure forms are the latest editions to avoid rejection or resubmission ^{[4] [8]}.

3. What constitutes proof of a bona fide marriage — wide agreement plus added 2025 detail

All analyses stress that joint financial and household evidence is crucial: joint bank accounts, leases or mortgages, insurance policies listing each spouse, tax returns filed jointly, and photographs or travel records documenting the relationship. The 2025 updates call for more granular documentary threads — detailed timelines, contemporaneous communications, and corroborating affidavits — raising expectations for specificity and depth of evidence compared with pre‑2025 guidance ^{[3] [9] [7]}. Sources uniformly indicate that documentary weight, not merely quantity, now matters more.

4. Forms, fees, and where sources diverge on process sequencing

Sources agree that Form I‑130 (Petition for Alien Relative) is central, and that beneficiaries residing in the U.S. typically file Form I‑485 (Adjustment of Status), while consular processing is used abroad ^{[2] [3]}. The 2025 guidance introduced separate payment structures and explicit processing type selection that some sources emphasize as new traps for applicants ^{[8] [4]}. The estimated total fees cited in one recent guide reached about $3,005 for in‑U.S. adjustment, but other sources focus on procedural costs and did not provide identical totals, reflecting differing publication dates and policy updates ^{[2] [5]}.

5. Where sources disagree or leave gaps — practical consequences for applicants

Discrepancies arise mainly in the level of documentary detail recommended and the fee totals; pre‑August 2025 materials list simpler evidence bundles, while later updates require deeper corroboration and the use of newest forms ^{[6] [7] [4]}. Several analyses note new rules but differ on exact documentary checklists and the timing of interviews, producing potential confusion for applicants about what to assemble first and what can be added later. Applicants face risk of delays or Requests for Evidence if relying on older checklists ^{[1] [8]}.

6. How to reconcile the differences: a conservative, up‑to‑date approach

Given the increased evidentiary standards and mandatory interview practice since mid‑2025, the safest strategy is to use the latest USCIS forms, include comprehensive joint financial and social‑history records, and be prepared for in‑person interviews. Combine core documents (petitioner status proof, marriage certificate, IDs) with expanded corroboration (tax returns, joint accounts, leases, photos, affidavits, communications timeline). Sources published after August 2025 stress these steps most strongly, so prioritize their checklists when assembling your packet ^{[4] [3] [7]}.

7. A concise, dated checklist and closing factual note

Prepare the following, updated and double‑checked against current USCIS instructions: proof of petitioner status, marriage certificate, beneficiary identity/immigration history, Form I‑130 (and I‑485 if in U.S.), latest editions of all forms, joint financial documents, joint residence proof, photographs and travel logs, affidavits, medical exam as required, and exact payment amounts for current filing fees. The requirement to provide more detailed relationship evidence and attend interviews became explicit in 2025, so applicants should rely on post‑August 2025 guidance for final document selection ^{[2] [3] [4]}.