Marriage to a U.S. citizen allows you to apply for a green card as an immediate relative. The process usually starts with your spouse filing Form I-130 on your behalf. After that, you may be eligible to adjust status if you are already in the U.S. legally.

If you marry a U.S. citizen, you become eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence, which is a green card. The timeline can vary depending on processing backlogs, but immediate relatives generally have priority in the immigration system.

You will need to prove that your marriage is genuine through documents and possibly an interview. If your marriage is less than two years old at approval, you will first get conditional residence for two years.

After that, you must apply to remove conditions to get a permanent green card.

Marriage gives you a strong immigration pathway, but it requires strict proof of legitimacy. Any signs of fraud can result in denial and penalties.