If you haven’t married yet, your fiancé can file for a K-1 visa, which allows you to enter or remain in the U.S. to marry within 90 days. Once you marry, you can apply for a green card through adjustment of status.

If you’re already in the U.S., it may be faster to get married first and then apply for a green card (Form I-485). The K-1 visa is typically for fiancés outside the country. After filing, you can stay in the U.S. legally while your application is processed.

Processing time depends on your local USCIS office, but most marriage-based cases take several months to over a year. You’ll go through a background check and a marriage interview to confirm the relationship is genuine. Once approved, you’ll receive conditional permanent residence if your marriage is under two years old. After that, you can remove conditions and get a full green card.