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K-1 to Green Card: I-485 Checklist After the Wedding

Married on a K-1? What to send with Form I-485 for your green card: marriage certificate, K-1 visa, I-94, I-864, medical exam and proof your marriage is real.

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Before you file

  • Marry the U.S. citizen who filed your Form I-129F within 90 days of entering the U.S.
  • Get your official marriage certificate.
  • You do not file a new Form I-130. The approved I-129F is the basis of your case.

Documents to send with Form I-485

Forms and fee

  • Form I-485, signed by the K-1 spouse
  • Form I-864 from the U.S. citizen spouse, with the most recent federal tax return (with W-2s and 1099s) or IRS transcript and proof of current income
  • Medical exam: if you file within a year of your overseas exam, you may only need the vaccination record from a USCIS civil surgeon. Read the current Form I-693 instructions.
  • The filing fee shown on the USCIS form page
  • Optional: Form I-765 for a work permit and Form I-131 for a travel document

Proof of your K-1 entry

  • Copy of the I-129F approval notice (Form I-797)
  • Copy of the K-1 visa in your passport
  • Form I-94 arrival record
  • Passport pages with your entry stamp

Civil documents

  • Marriage certificate
  • Birth certificate
  • Proof that earlier marriages ended, for both of you
  • Two passport-style photos
  • Proof your spouse is a U.S. citizen
  • Certified English translations of documents in other languages

Proof your marriage is real (strongly recommended)

  • Joint lease or proof you live at the same address
  • Joint bank account statements
  • Insurance that lists each other
  • Joint bills
  • Wedding photos and photos together, with captions Make this part now

If you get an interview

Bring

  • Interview notice
  • Passport, I-94 and the green card application receipts
  • Originals of the documents you sent as copies
  • New proof of your life together since you filed
  • Recent dated photos together

What comes next

If you were married less than 2 years when your green card is approved, you get a 2-year card. In the 90 days before it expires, file Form I-751 together. Our I-751 checklist covers it.

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This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current USCIS instructions for your form, or ask an immigration attorney about your own case.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need Form I-130 after a K-1 visa?

No. After you marry the U.S. citizen who filed your I-129F, the K-1 spouse files Form I-485. The approved I-129F is the basis of the case.

Do I need a new medical exam after a K-1?

Often not a full one. If you file Form I-485 within a year of the overseas exam, you may only need the vaccination record from a USCIS civil surgeon. Check the current Form I-693 instructions.

Is Form I-864 required for K-1 adjustment of status?

Yes. The U.S. citizen spouse submits Form I-864 with the I-485, with tax and income documents.

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Official references

Case Album is independent software, not affiliated with USCIS. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Read our editorial standards.

K-1 Visa Checklist: I-129F Documents to Embassy InterviewEvery K-1 fiancé(e) visa document in one checklist: what to file with Form I-129F, what to bring to the embassy interview and how to prove your relationship.I-864 Affidavit of Support Checklist: Documents for SponsorsWhat a sponsor sends with Form I-864: tax return, W-2s, proof of income and status, plus what a joint sponsor, household members and assets need.Marriage Green Card Interview: What to Bring (Full List)The full list of what couples bring to a marriage green card interview: 128 documents, from IDs and civil records to joint bank, lease, insurance and Costco cards.I-751 Checklist: Documents to Remove Conditions on Your Green CardWhat to send with Form I-751 when you file together: green card copy, joint records since the wedding, sworn statements and photos, plus the interview list.K-1 Visa Photo Evidence for Form I-129FHow to organize photos from your visits for a K-1 fiancé(e) visa, and why the two-year meeting rule matters.Relationship Evidence When You Don’t Live TogetherLiving apart? Ideas for showing your relationship to USCIS: visit records, dated photos, messages and support, organized clearly.