For most individuals hoping to file for a green card through marriage, USCIS requires evidence that the petitioner and applicant are in a bona fide marriage. In other words, USCIS asks for applicants to provide a variety of documents showing that their relationship is well-established and that it was done in good faith. This article provides the following: 

1. The basic guidelines for Relationship Evidence documents 
2. Some of the warning signs that might cause USCIS officers to be more picky about approving an application
3. Lists of ideas for different types of evidence that may be included
4. Tips for compiling evidence

Basic Guidelines

The following are basic guidelines for all relationship evidence: 

•  USCIS expects a variety of evidence to prove the legitimacy of the relationship. Generally this can be done by providing around 100-200 pieces of relationship evidence, including 15+ different types of evidence.
• All evidence must be in English, otherwise, a certified english translation must be provided. You can find out more about providing certified self-translations here.
• Non-photo evidence must include the names of both individuals in order to be considered by USCIS as evidence 

Please note that variety is generally more effective than quantity, so an application with 150 pages of photos would likely be considered weaker than an application with 90 pages that included 16 different types of evidence. 

Warning Signs

The following circumstances may cause your application to receive greater scrutiny from USCIS: 

• Large age disparity
• Inability of petitioner and beneficiary to speak each other’s language
• Vast difference in cultural and ethnic background
• Family or friends unaware of the marriage
• Marriage arranged by a third party
• Marriage contracted immediately following the beneficiary’s apprehension or receipt of notification to depart the United States
• Discrepancies in statements on questions for which a husband and wife should have common knowledge
• The couple is not currently living together, even if there are valid reasons.
• Beneficiary is a friend of the family
• Petitioner filed previous petitions on behalf of other intending immigrants, especially immigrant spouses
• No proof of shared finances or joint financial responsibility

For couples  in any of the above circumstances, a large quantity of evidence can give USCIS a better insight into the relationship to prove it is real and was not entered into for immigration benefits. 

Suggestions for Different Types of Evidence

The lists below provide ideas for different types of evidence you might include in your application. They are divided into different categories for convenience. Please note that USCIS recognizes that each couple’s circumstances are different, so not everyone will have the same evidence. You are welcome to get creative and add things to your application that are not on this list.

Additionally, none of the items below are technically required. Rather, they are just suggestions to help get you started. That being said, there are certain types of evidence that may raise red flags if not included. In particular, please try to include photos of the couple together, proof of shared address, proof of spending time together,  and proof of shared finances.

1. Evidence of spending time together

When gathering proof of spending time together, it is helpful to focus on evidence that shows the length of the  relationship, and also that shows that the relationship is public, and that friends and family are aware and involved in the couple’s lives. Here are some examples:

• Travel itineraries and lodging bookings from joint vacations or get-aways
• Photos from joint vacations or trips, especially trips abroad to visit relatives
• Cards from loved ones complimenting you on your wedding, anniversary, or other joint life events
• Evidence that the spouses have met or communicated with each other's parents and relatives, including photographs, letters, cards, emails, messages, etc.
• Telephone and instant message records demonstrating that the spouses communicate regularly
• Photographs from the couple’s wedding, honeymoon, get-aways, family meals, holidays, etc. List the date and names of the people in the photographs
• Tickets to events both spouses attended or plan to attend
• Receipts for gifts spouses bought for each other
• Records of social media posts and interactions, including screenshots of Facebook pages, Twitter posts, Instagram posts, etc. 
• Documents showing membership in the same clubs, churches, teams, etc.
• Documents showing that one spouse took the other’s last name
• Proof that a spouse went to visit the other spouse’s family outside of the United States, that is a great indicator of a marriage “in good faith”

2. Evidence of sharing finances

Many married couples combine finances or split expenses in some way. Although it is becoming more common to keep finances more separate, USCIS uses this as a large part of their decision on if a relationship is legitimate. Commingling some finances can help show evidence of a good faith marriage. Use these documents to show evidence of shared finances:

• Bank statements for joint accounts showing both names
• Statements for loans where one spouse is a co-signer for the other spouse
• Voided and canceled checks for joint accounts
• Joint insurance agreements, statements, and cards, including health, life, property, and auto insurance, etc showing both names
• Utility bills showing both names, including, cell phone, trash, cable, internet, electricity, water, gas bills, etc.
• Life insurance policies, wills, and trusts, showing a spouse as a beneficiary
• Documents showing joint ownership of cars, real property, or investments
• All tax returns filed jointly as a married couple showing both names
• Funeral plans or intended burial locations that involve or are close to a spouse
• Copies of bank statements from separate accounts and payment receipts showing that the spouses both contribute to financial responsibilities and payments. For example, bank statements from separate accounts could show that each spouse pays half of rent each month - please be sure to highlight the important transactions, and maybe include an explanation note
• Copies of vehicle titles showing joint ownership
• Venmo, CashApp, or wire transfers between the couple

While commingling finances isn’t technically necessary, USCIS tends to see it as strong evidence that the marriage is legitimate.  Applications that do not include proof of shared finances tend to be treated with higher scrutiny.

3. Evidence of living together

Because most married couples live together USCIS sees this as another strong form of relationship evidence. Showing evidence of cohabitation, or living together is a good place to start. Use these documents to show evidence of cohabitation:

• Mortgage or loan papers with both names
• Any and all Lease agreements showing both names
• Bank statements giving the same address for both spouses
• Driver’s licenses or identification documents showing the same address
• Voided or canceled checks showing the same address
• Deed to property indicating both names
• Property insurance agreements, statements, or cards showing the same address
• Health and life insurance statements showing the same address
• Correspondence from friends, family, or businesses showing the same address
• Utility bills showing the same address, including, cell phone, trash, cable, internet, electricity, water, gas bills, etc.
• Affidavits from family, friends, neighbors, and landlords testifying of cohabitation (more on this later)

Cohabitation isn’t necessary for a marriage to be legitimate, but if a couple is not living together, their application is likely to receive greater scrutiny. If a couple is not living together, it may be helpful to include a letter explaining why they are not living together, along with any plans that they have to move in together in the future.

4. Evidence of raising children together

Showing proof of raising children together is fantastic evidence of a legitimate marriage. If a couple shares children, they can consider using these documents as evidence:

• Adoption certificates showing the two spouses as the parents
• Birth certificates showing both spouses as parents
• Documents that show a relationship with children or step-children, including vacation itineraries, photos, school records, affidavits from friends, family, and teachers
• Documents showing the step-parent as the emergency contact for a step-child, including, doctor’s records, school records, etc.
• Medical records showing an ongoing pregnancy
• Photos of the couple with the shared child 
• Evidence of pregnancy - Ultrasound photos, baby announcements, shower invites, etc.

In addition, raising step- or adopted children together can also be very convincing evidence for USCIS, but it is by no means mandatory. 

Affidavits

Affidavits of support from family and friends can also make great relationship evidence.  These are letters that show support for the marriage. This article gives an in-depth explanation of what these letters should include, and includes several sample letters.

Tips for Assembling Your Relationship Evidence

Here are some tips and tricks that can help with assembling relationship evidence. These tips are not required, but they can make it easier to assemble the evidence, and for the USCIS officer to process your application!

• Show Both Names: As much as possible, please make sure that both couple’s names are on all non-photo documents, especially leases, bank statements, travel itineraries, etc. USCIS has to clearly see that both people are connected to each piece of evidence.
• Add Captions to Photos: Adding captions to photos and other documents is not required. It can be helpful, however, especially to help explain evidence that is less clear (such as a flight itinerary with only one person’s name on it because they were traveling to visit the other person).
• Combine Files Before Upload: Applicants are welcome to just upload individual photos and documents to our website if they would like. However, once documents are uploaded, there is limited ability to edit and rearrange them. If you would prefer more control over how your relationship evidence will appear in the final application, you can put all of your photos and documents into a word document or powerpoint, save it as a PDF, and upload that. 
• Upload Files as PDFs: Whenever possible, please be sure to upload documents as PDFs, not as JPEGs. This is especially true for any word-heavy documents (such as letters of support, screenshots of emails, bank statements, etc.) Uploading them as JPEGs will decrease the image quality and make it very difficult to read the information. 

Providing a wide variety of relationship evidence is a great way to strengthen your application and reduce the risk of receiving a Request for Evidence. If you have any questions about gathering relationship evidence, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our live chat. If you would like more in-depth and specific feedback from an attorney on your application, all of our marriage-based green card packages include a full attorney review. You can sign up for one of our application packages here, and we will be happy to help guide you through your application!

Dated: December 5, 2024

Dec 2, 2024 Update: While USCIS previously allowed Form I-485 to be submitted without a complete Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, they changed that rule as of December 2, 2024, and now require that adjustment of status applicants submit the medical exam at the time of submission of Form I-485.

On December 14th, 2022 USCIS informed the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) of their recommendation that green card applicants filing form I-485 file, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, also file Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, along with their application. 

While applicants do have the option to file the I-693 either with the initial application or at a later point as requested by USCIS, this new recommendation to file it with the initial application is given due to USCIS’s expansion of potential interview waivers for family-based application. By including the completed medical examination with the I-485 filing, applicants will reduce the risk of receiving a Request for Evidence for the I-693 if USCIS chooses to waive their interview. 

USCIS has not provided the methods that they use in determining whether a case’s interview will be waived. 

Information retrieved from AILA Doc No. 22121452

Last Updated: November 10, 2022

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If you’re looking to file a Marriage-Based Green Card application from inside of the US and want to use SimpleCitizen to generate your application, here are a few of the documents you may want to gather in preparation for filling out your questionnaire.

However, this is not a comprehensive list. Depending on the unique circumstances of your case, you may be prompted to add more documents. You should not rely on this list alone when preparing your evidence.

NOTE: USCIS only accepts certain documents from each country for birth certificates, marriage and divorce certificates, military or police documents, etc. You can check your country’s documents here to make sure you have the correct documents accepted by USCIS.

Information:

Note that you will not need to provide physical evidence for the following. Rather, you will just need the required information in order to fill out the questionnaire or government forms.

1. Beneficiary’s Address history for the past 5 years
   • Should include start date, end date, and address information
2. Beneficiary’s most recent address outside of the US for one year or more (if different from above)
3. Beneficiary's employment history for the past 5 years
   • Should include start date, end date, position, company, and company address
4. Petitioner’s Address history for the past 5 years
   • Should include start date, end date, and address information
5. Petitioner’s employment history for the past 5 years
   • Should include start date, end date, position, company, and company address

Documentation:

Note: For your initial application to USCIS you will just be adding high-quality scans. However, you will need to take original documents with you to the USCIS interview for documents such as birth certificates, passports, visas, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, etc. Make sure you have those available and ready for the interview as you are often only given a 2-5 week notice to appear for that interview. 

Identity Documents for the Beneficiary 

1. Beneficiary’s Birth Certificate
2. Beneficiary’s Passport

Visa and Travel Documents for the Beneficiary 

1. Beneficiary’s I-94 travel record (look it up here)
2. Beneficiary’s US Visa 
3. Passport from most recent entry into the US
4. Current passport if different from the passport from entry
5. For J visa holders: All DS-2019s
6. For F visa holders: All I-20s 

Identity Documents for the Petitioner 

1. Petitioner’s Passport, Driver’s License, or form of other photo ID
2. Petitioner’s Birth Certificate 
3. Petitioner’s Permanent Resident Card or Naturalization documentation (if applicable) 

Financial documents for the Petitioner 

Note: These documents, along with proof of US citizenship or permanent residence, should also be included for any Joint Sponsor or any household members whose income is being added to the application. If the beneficiary is eligible to and plans on including their income as well, they should also prepare to add these documents.

1. Most Recent 6 Month of Pay Stubs for any current employer 
2. Employment Verification Letter for any current Employer 
3. Tax Return and W-2s (OR tax transcript) for the most recent tax year (required) 
4. Tax Returns and W-2s (OR tax transcript) for the second and third most recent tax years (total income amount from returns is REQUIRED. Documents themselves are optional)

Note: If a petitioner is self-employed or retired different documents will be requested to prove this income. It is very common to add a joint sponsor if the sponsor is self-employed due to self-employment income being considered less secure and the documentation less clearly being able to prove the income history.

Proof of Relationship Documents: 

1. Marriage Certificate
2. Divorce Certificates for any previous marriages
3. Relationship evidence such as:
   • Joint ownership, lease or tenancy
   • Joint financial responsibilities
   • Joint assets and co-mingling of funds
   • Joint Insurance statements
   • Letters of support from friends & family

Additional relationship documents for Marriage-Based Applications: 

Relationship evidence: You will provide a variety of relationship evidence to prove the validity of your marriage. It can be helpful to add a good variety of different types of evidence (15+ different types of evidence). This evidence commonly totals 100-200 pages of evidence. This evidence should include a variety of evidence types including but not limited to the examples listed below.

1. 20-40 diverse photographs of the couple 
2. Evidence of Joint Financial Responsibility 
3. Evidence of Joint Assets or Co-mingling of Funds 
4. Evidence of Shared Residence 
5. Evidence of Joint Insurances 

Filing a Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

SimpleCitizen is here to help make collecting documentation and filling out USCIS paperwork easier! The best way to get started with SimpleCitizen is to take our quick eligibility quiz at the link below. This will help you find the correct application package for your specific situation.

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Related articles 

Understanding the Different Paths to Permanent Residency for Marriage-Based Applications

Letters of Support from Friends and Family

How to avoid USCIS Requests for Evidence

Top 10 Questions About Getting a Green Card

What is the current annual income and why is it needed?

The current annual income is the projected amount that a sponsor, and when applicable, joint sponsor, will earn that calendar year. Current annual income is calculated before any tax or other deductions and is sometimes referred to as gross income. Tax documents are not used to find the figure for current annual income as they are from a previous year and may not reflect financial changes. The current annual income helps support the claim to USCIS that the sponsor, and when applicable,  joint sponsor, meet the financial requirements. The reported current annual income should match the salary figure listed on the employment verification letter (EVL). 

Calculating current annual income

Salaried employees:

The current annual income will be your total annual salary. This should be stated on your employment verification letter and reflect on your pay stubs. Please note that bonuses or commission should not be included in this figure because they may not always be consistent.

Hourly employees: 

Hourly employees will need to calculate their annual income by multiplying their hourly wage by the average number of hours they work each week. Then, multiply that number by the total number of weeks in a year (52).

Example:

FAQ:

What if I have more than one job?

Sponsors that have more than one job should calculate the current annual income for each job individually and then add them together. The total amount is what the sponsor will enter as their annual income. Please note that you will need to provide an Employment Verification Letter and 6 months of paystubs for each job referenced. 

What if I am self-employed?

If the individual is self-employed and does not work consistent weekly hours, they can estimate their income by calculating their monthly average using their net individual (not business) income for the year so far divided by the number of months in the year that have passed multiplied by months. 

Example: 

My employer only included my hourly wages on my employment verification letter, but not my annual salary. What should I do?

If possible, it is best for your employer to include your annual salary in your employment verification letter. If you are paid hourly, you will want to ask that they include your hourly pay rate and your average hours worked each week. Be sure to add a separate conversion letter that contains the following conversion equation to show USCIS how you calculated your annual income.

Conversion Letter Sample

What is the difference between annual income and total income?

Annual income is the raw income that someone makes before any kind of deductions. Total income (reflected on the 1040 Tax Return and W-2 Form) is the net income that is calculated after all withholdings are accounted for. Please note that when listing your previous tax income history, you will use the total income amount from each tax return. However, for the current annual income, you will want to list your annual income, not your total income.

Last Updated: January 15, 2020

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What are letters of support and why do I need them?

In marriage-based green card cases, USCIS is looking for evidence of a bona fide marriage. A bona fide marriage is another way of saying a real marriage, entered into in good faith. It is important to prove to USCIS that your marriage is genuine since they are on the look out for fraudulent marriages. Essentially, they want to make sure that an applicant married the petitioner for love and not in pursuit of a marriage-based immigration benefit. 

One type of evidence that USCIS allows you to include to help prove that your marriage is legitimate is Letters of Support. Letters of support are statements written by friends and family of the couple that help to demonstrate the validity of the marriage. While letters of support do not replace more concrete evidence such as joint assets or a shared address, they help build up the credibility of the marriage. For that reason, applicants can include some in the Relationship Evidence section of their application to further strengthen their application.  

Who can write a letter of support?

A letter of support can be written by anyone who has known the couple from before marriage to present time. The writer should be familiar with the couple’s relationship. Examples of people who could write a letter of support include:

• Family members
• Friends
• Religious leaders

What should be included in letters of support?

The letter is the writer’s opportunity to explain their experiences with the couple. Each letter of support should be unique. However, there are things that each letter should contain, such as::

• Full name and address of the person writing the letter.
• Date that the letter is being written. 
• Date and place of birth of the writer.
• The writer’s experience with the couple:
  • How long the writer has known the couple.
  • The nature of the relationship between the writer and the couple.
  • How often the writer interacts with the couple.
  • Descriptions of the interactions or activities between the writer and the couple.
• A written statement that says, “I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.”
• A copy of the writer’s I.D. on a separate sheet of paper.
• The wet signature of the writer. 

Examples:

FAQs:

How many letters of support should be included?

Though USCIS has not officially stated how many letters of support should be included, our partner attorneys recommend that each case include around 3-5 letters of support. Each letter should be unique in both content and style of writing. 

Do the letters need to be notarized?

The letters do not need to be notarized. However, it is helpful to include a statement that swears to the validity of the letter such as, “I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.” 

Does the writer need to be a citizen of the United States?

No, the writer does not have to be a U.S. citizen or even living in the United States. 

Does the letter need to be translated into English? 

If the letter is in a language other than English, you will need to include a translation of the letter into English along with the original letter. It does not need to be a certified translation, but the translator should include a signed, written personal statement that they are fluent in both languages and that the translation appropriately reflects the document. Here’s an example of what that could look like: 

Translation Letter Sample:

Date

I (the translator’s full name), certify that I am fluent in English and have translated (list the specific documents here) from (language) into English as completely and accurately as possible. I’ve attached both the copy of the original document and the translation here. 

Sincerely, 

Full Name

Physical Mailing Address

Signature

EAD stands for Employment Authorization Document and gives temporary authorization for someone going through the immigration process to work in the United States. An EAD is most often granted by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. The processing time for an EAD application can be unpredictable and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased significantly. To look up processing time for the I-765 you can check here.

USCIS understands that there are circumstances in which individuals are not able to wait for an EAD. Because of this, USCIS allows individuals under select circumstances to apply to expedite their EAD. Please note that expediting an EAD is different than expediting a green card application. In addition, if you EAD expedite is denied it does not impact the normal processing time of the EAD or the green card application.

Who qualifies? 

USCIS has set certain criteria as to who can apply to expedite their EAD. Cases are considered if they meet one or more of the following criteria: 

• Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for action is not the result of the petitioner or applicant’s failure to timely file the benefit request or timely respond to any requests for additional evidence. 
• Emergencies and urgent humanitarian reasons.
• Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural or social interests of the United States. 
• U.S. government interests.
• Clear USCIS error.

Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and may not be approved even if they fit into one of these categories. For additional information on criteria, please visit the USCIS website.

What do I need to do to make an expedite request?

Before applying for an expedite request, the biometrics appointment must be completed and you must have the receipt number for your pending I-765. When submitting the request, you should have evidence to support your reasoning behind needing an expedite. 

How to make an expedite request:

Apply directly through USCIS:

The other option for requesting expedited processing is to contact USCIS directly. You can call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 or by going to the USCIS website and messaging Emma who is the USCIS chat bot and can be found by clicking the “Need Help? Ask Emma” box at the top right of the webpage. 

USCIS will then send you an email with instructions on how to submit the expedite request for the EAD. Please note that these requests are very rarely granted. However, it can be worth a try if you meet one of the above qualifications.

Working with your congressperson:

One way to try to get your case expedited is to reach out to your member of congress. While representatives do not have the power to make a decision on the case, they can bring the case to the attention of USCIS and advocate for their constituent. To apply for an EAD expedite through a congressperson, you must find your state senator or congressional representative. You can reach out to your congressperson via phone or email. Their office will inform you about the process and what kind of information and evidence they will need. This process is often reserved for individuals with extreme need or who are outside of normal USCIS processes.  

Additional Resource:

A helpful resource for those who are trying to expedite their EAD is the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. Please note that this option is typically only available if an applicant's form is outside the normal processing time, so be sure to check the USCIS Processing Times website here to see if this option is right for you.

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman Office) is part of the Department of Homeland Security and acts a liaison between individuals and USCIS. They cannot process or make a decision on a case, but they can help to guide you through select issues after you have requested expedited processing from USCIS. To request assistance from the Ombudsman, you must fill out a DHS Form 7001, Request for Case Assistance. The request can be sent online, through email, or mail. More information on the process can be found here. Their office will inform you about the process and what kind of information and evidence they will need.

Last Updated: October 5, 2022.

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When reviewing your annual income, USCIS will consider not just a sponsor’s current income, but also how long they have been with their current employer and how much they will make throughout the current year. Because of this, if a sponsor has had multiple employers during the current calendar year many people find the most success with USCIS when they report not just their current job’s income, but also their projected income for the calendar year based on both past and current jobs. This projected income should be as accurate as possible and should be supportable with evidence. 

Note: When determining annual income, USCIS only considers an individual’s base salary. Overtime, bonuses, stipends, tips,  commissions, or other irregular sources of income are not guaranteed to be paid and will not be considered by USCIS.

We know this can be complicated so we are here to help give you examples and guide you through the process.

How to calculate a sponsor’s projected annual income

To calculate their annual income the sponsor will list all jobs they have held throughout the current calendar year and determine what their year-to-date earnings were for each of their jobs. If they have multiple current jobs they can all be added in this list of jobs. Then, they will calculate how much they anticipate earning with their current job from their start date to the end of the year.

Let’s show an example to see what this could look like:

Sarah has had 3 different jobs during the current calendar year. 

Job #1: Sarah was at this job from January - April: Her last pay stub showed a year to date income of $7,040.

Job #2:  Sarah was at this job from June - August: Her last pay stub showed a year to date income of $5,600.

Job #3 (Current): Sarah started this job in September. She makes $15 an hour and works an average of 15 hours a week. From the time Sarah started her job to the end of the year there are 17 weeks in the year. Sarah can calculate her projected income at this job by multiplying her weekly average earnings ($15 x 15 hours = $225 weekly) by the 17 weeks she will work at this job in the year. This makes her project income $3,825.

To calculate annual income Sarah will then add those job positions together to calculate her current annual income.

$7,040 + $5,600 + $3,825 = $16,465

Sample Projection Letter

Here is a sample projection letter that can be used to clearly map out this income for USCIS so they can see how this income was calculated. At the bottom of this article there are links to PDF and a Docx versions of this template letter.

In addition to creating a letter that projects their income following the above sample, the sponsor can also add proof of income for all jobs added from the year.

Documentation

USCIS wants to see proof of the reported annual income. Here is what our partner attorneys recommend:

• Last 6 months of pay stubs. If the sponsor has changed jobs during that time it is recommended to add all pay stubs from that time period, even if from a previous employer.
• Final 2 pay stubs from any previous employers the sponsor has had in the calendar year. This is so USCIS can see their YTD earnings from those jobs and verify the annual income.
• Employer Letter from the sponsor's employer on company letterhead. It should state their title, start date, and annual salary. If they are paid hourly it is recommended that they report hourly rate, average weekly hours worked, and what that makes the sponsor's annual income. Many companies have automated processes for generating these letters. Often they can consult with their Human Resources Department to get that letter issued.
• If they have had multiple jobs, include a projected income statement following the template discussed above.

An applicant (also referred to as a "beneficiary") may not be fluent in English and may require the use of an interpreter at the adjustment interview.

At the adjustment interview, the interpreter should:

• Present their valid government-issued identity document
• Complete an interpreter’s oath and privacy release statement
• Translate what the officer and the applicant say word-for-word to the best of their ability without adding the interpreter’s own opinion, commentary, or answer

In general, a disinterested party should be used as the interpreter.

The USCIS officer conducting the interview may exercise discretion, however, to allow a friend or relative of the applicant to act as interpreter. If the officer is fluent in the applicant’s preferred language, the officer may conduct the examination in that language without use of an interpreter. 

USCIS reserves the right to disqualify an interpreter provided by the applicant if the officer believes the integrity of the examination is compromised by the interpreter’s participation or the officer determines the interpreter is not competent to translate.

USCIS applications often require that the applicant submit documentation to support and verify information in their application. All documents submitted as part of an application must be in English, or, if in another language, translated into English. 

The Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) states that any document containing a language other than English must include a full English translation by a certified translator. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Does this mean you need to hire a professional translator, or pay for a third-party translation service online? Not necessarily! The information below outlines which documents need to be translated and who can translate them, as well as explains the translation services offered by SimpleCitizen at no extra cost to customers.

Examples of documents that often require translation include: 

• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Marriage certificates 
• Divorce decrees
• Relationship Evidence
• Adoption certificates 
• Military documents
• Police records
• Court dispositions
• Other evidence 

Who can translate a document?

USCIS requires that your documents be translated by an individual or organization that is competent in both English and the language in which the document is written. 

Some documents, like official government-issued documents required to be included with an application (e.g., birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.), must include an official, certified translation. A company commonly used by SimpleCitizen customers is RushTranslate. However, feel free to shop around to find the certified translation service that best meets your needs, timeline, and budget. 

Other documents, like relationship evidence (hand-written cards, text messages, social media posts, etc.) can be self-translated. This means that the beneficiary or the petitioner of an application may translate a document into English, as long as they include a signed certificate of translation as described below.

Certified self-translation letter requirements and template:

For self-translations, the person translating the document must certify that:

• They are fluent in both languages
• The translation is complete and accurate. 

This can be done through a separate letter attached to the translation. This letter must include the translator’s full name, physical mailing address, signature, and the date the translator wrote the letter. It is recommended that this letter is typed, and not handwritten.

Applicants who need to translate their own documents (i.e, relationship evidence like text messages, cards from friends/family, travel itineraries, etc.) will need to certify that they are fluent in both English and the language the document is written in. Below is an example template of a certified translation letter. This letter can be included with the translation in order for the translator to certify that they are competent to translate the foreign language in the document to English.

Translation Certification Template

I, [translator’s name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in English and [foreign language], and that the attached translation is an accurate translation of the attached document entitled [name of document].

[Translator’s Signature][Translator’s Typed Name][Date][Address]

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Does SimpleCitizen offer translation services?

SimpleCitizen packages include translations of all official, government-issued documents required for your application (birth certificates, marriage certificates, final divorce decrees, police records, etc.) by an authorized translation service with an official certificate of translation. This service is offered with your application package at no additional cost!

Are there any document types that SimpleCitizen cannot translate?

SimpleCitizen’s translation service is able to translate official, government-issued documents that are required for your application. However, our translation service cannot translate relationship evidence (hand-written cards, text messages, social media posts, etc.) Please see the “Who can translate a document?” section above for information about how to self-translate relationship evidence documents!

Due to HIPAA regulation, SimpleCitizen is also unable to translate vaccination records and other medical documents for the Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record). However, if your vaccination records are not in English, please note that they will need a certified, official translation in order to submit them for the medical exam.  Reputable online translation services like RushTranslate are great resources for translating your vaccination records!

Please click here for more information about the Form I-693 and medical exam for your green card application.

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Last Updated: March 13, 2025.

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Overview

If you recently married a U.S. Citizen or U.S. green card holder, chances are you are considering whether or not you should change your name, and how to do so. While changing your name can be a tedious task, doing so through the USCIS is quite simple--it just takes a little time. If your name has been legally changed, it should be updated with USCIS immediately in order to comply with USCIS requirements. Make sure that if you do decide to change your name, you add changing it with USCIS to your to-do list. It is very important that your green card or naturalization documentation correctly reflect your legal name.
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Some individuals may need to change their name for other reasons such as name misspelling, originally using a fictitious name, clerical error, etc. For more information on these types of cases, see the USCIS guide here.

Step 1: Determine if Changing Your Name is Right for You 

Whether or not you or your spouse change your last name following marriage is a personal decision. While conventional, changing your last name to match that of your spouse is not required in the United States. In fact, there are a number of name-changing variations that are starting to become increasingly popular, such as using a hyphenated last name that includes the surname of both you and your spouse. 

Regardless of how you choose to change your name, doing so presents a number of benefits and challenges. Here is a brief summary of some of the pros and cons associated with changing your name:

Pros

• Proving that you are married can be much easier when traveling
• Can offer additional ease when children are involved
• Easier to prove that you are married when one of you is admitted to a hospital

Cons

• Time Consuming
• Can be difficult for working professionals who have built a career using their previous name
• Can take a long time for replacement immigration documentation to arrive
• Replacing documentation can be expensive

Step 2: When to Change Your Name

The answer to when you should change your name following marriage varies from person to person. While many recommend waiting to change your name until you apply for Citizenship/Naturalization, name changes can be done earlier in the immigration process. For example, name changes can happen when initially filing for your marriage-based green card. Additionally, those who decide to change their name after they have already been granted their green card or Citizenship (Form N-400), can file to have their name changed by filing for a card replacement. This is done using either Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Residence Card) or Form N-565 (Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document), depending on which step the application is in in the immigration process. However, something to consider is that it can be quite expensive to get a replacement card with it costing up to $540 to replace a green card and up to $555 to replace a naturalization certificate. 

So all things considered, there is no single time during the immigration process that an immigrant is supposed to change their name. Rather, there are multiple times when changing one’s name is possible. When deciding which time would work best, there are a number of things you should consider such as timing, and cost. The details of the potential “times” or ways you can change your name are detailed in the section below. 

Remember that regardless of what stage in the immigration process you are in, your immigration documentation should reflect your legal name. For that reason, you should avoid changing your legal name until you are prepared to change it on your immigration documentation as well, and vice versa.

Step 3: Change your Name 

First, an individual’s name must be legally changed under applicable state law. The legal process and the required fees for changing your name will differ slightly depending on the state you are living in, so make sure you are familiar with your specific state’s requirements. After legally making this change under state law, you are then eligible to apply for a green card or naturalization under your new legal name, or apply to replace your old green card or old naturalization certificate. 

Note that when submitting evidence of a legal name change, a photocopy of your name change document is not sufficient. The document you submit must be officially registered with the proper civil authority. You will need to request a registered copy of your name change document if you do not already have one. This should be in addition to the original registered copy you keep for your personal records. 

Changing Your Name While Filing For Your Green Card 

When filing for a marriage-based green card, you are able to change your name simultaneously, as long as you have sufficient proof of your marriage. To do this, you would simply need to file under your new married name and include your previous maiden name in the section designated for “previous names ”. This means you will list your new married name as your legal name on all the forms you fill out. Remember to be consistent as any inconsistencies can increase the likelihood of your application being delayed or rejected. You will also need to include a copy of your marriage certificate with your application as evidence of your union. Because you are originally filing for Permanent Residency with your new name, no additional costs are incurred with this option, apart from any filing fees associated with your state’s name changing process.

Changing Your Name After Being Granted a Green Card

Many applicants do not change their name before applying for permanent residency. If they wish to change their name after applying, they can do so by filling out Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. It can be used for a number of purposes, including changing the name on a current green card. 

Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) who change their name due to marriage (or because of other circumstances) are able to travel using their original U.S. green card in their prior name as long as they bring proof of their name progression. Proof could include a marriage certificate, or other court documents showing a legal name change.

Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Residence Card 

Specific Instructions: 

For item numbers 3.a. - 3.c. provide your full legal name in the spaces provided. If formally legalized by your state, this would be your new married name.  

Item number 4 on the form provides a space where you can indicate that your name has legally changed since the issuance of your green card/ Permanent Resident Card. Select the appropriate box (“Yes”), and then continue to Item Numbers 5.a. - 5.c. 

For Item Numbers 5.a. - 5.c., you should provide your name exactly as it is printed on your Permanent Resident Card (green card), even if it has changed since that card was issued. This means that assuming you used your maiden name on your original green card, you would list that maiden name in this section.

Don’t forget to include all the required documentation and filing fees with your application. 

Cost: Unlike some of the other options, changing the name on your green card has some associated filing fees. These include a filing fee of $455 and a biometrics fee of $85, for a total filing cost of $540. 

Required Information and Documents 

• Legal Name
• Date of Birth
• Mailing Address
• Copy of your current green card
• Filing fee
• Name exactly as it appears on your Permanent Resident Card (green card)
• Registered copy of Marriage certificate and/or other court-issued document showing that your name was legally changed
  • Legal name change documents must have been registered with the proper civil authority.

Submitting: Can be submitted online or by mail to the USCIS. For more information on how to file and submit Form I-90, see the USCIS website here

Status Updates: Once you fill out your Form I-90 you will be able to access your online account. If you file online, you will create an online account yourself. However, if you file on paper, USCIS will scan the documents online and create your online account for you. After USCIS creates your online account they will send you instructions on how you can access your USCIS online account and see status updates.

Wait Time:  Currently, the average estimated wait time for Form I-90 to be processed is approximately 6 -11 months.

More Information: If your request for a name change is approved, you will be sent a new green card. However, if USCIS wants more information from you, you may need to go to a USCIS office for an interview or provide additional documentation.  

Changing your Name When Filing for Citizenship/Naturalization 

Any green card holder that qualifies for U.S. Citizenship is able to legally change their name to any name they wish, assuming it meets a few specific requirements. If that Legal Permanent Resident (green card holder) wishes to wait 3 or 5 years until they qualify for U.S. Citizenship, they can change their name when they apply for U.S. Citizenship. Doing so concurrently with their N-400 application does not incur any additional costs, allows them to apply for a United States passport with their new married name on it, and will result in their married name appearing on their Naturalization Certificate as well.

Form N-400, Application for Naturalization 

Instructions: Part 2, Question 3 of the form is specifically meant for you to change your name

The name-change service is only available at USCIS offices that offer swearing-in (oath) ceremonies in a courtroom, presided over by a judge. Only a judge has the authority to grant your name change at the swearing-in ceremony, a USCIS officer does not. Additionally, not all offices offer this service. Some regions only have ceremonies presided over by a judge a few times per year. If you live in these regions, it will likely result in your Citizenship application taking longer than others. 

Occasionally the swearing-in-ceremonies are held at a USCIS office--sometimes right after the naturalization interview. When the ceremony occurs after the naturalization interview, the request for a name change on Form N-400 cannot be acted upon. In this case, the applicant would need to follow the name-change procedures specific to their state’s law and apply for a name change after their Naturalization/Citizenship has been granted. The instructions for this process are detailed below. 

Changing your Name After Citizenship has Been Granted 

If you decide to change your name after your Citizenship/ Naturalization Certificate has already been granted, there is a way to do that too! However, it does require the payment of an application fee as well as any other costs associated with changing your name on your U.S. passport, and any other official documents. To request a name change on your U.S. Naturalization Certificate you simply fill out and submit Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.

N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document

Instructions: Anyone applying for a new document due to a name change will be required to fill out Part 5 on the form. You must also include your original document, as well as a copy of your marriage certificate and a copy of evidence that your name has legally been changed to the new married name. 

Required Information and Documentation: 

• 2 identical passport-style photographs
• Your original document or certificate (note that a copy of this document is not acceptable since you are applying for a name change. You must submit the original).
• Evidence of marital status change (copy of marriage certificate)
• Evidence of legal name change

Wait Times: Currently, the average national wait time for Form N-565 acceptance is 6-8 months. You can stay up-to-date on the USCIS processing times by checking the USCIS website here. 

More Information:  For more information on how to file and submit Form N-565, see the USCIS website here

Conclusion 

In conclusion, changing your name is a long, tedious, often expensive process! Changing your name through USCIS is just one of the many steps that need to be taken.  Remember not to change your name legally until you are ready to change it on your immigration documentation so that you can align with USCIS regulations. 

If you are applying for your green card or citizenship soon, SimpleCitizen can help! Find out how to get the help of the professionals at a fraction of the cost here.

Additional Resources

How to Renew Your Green Card

What Happens After Filing Form I-90 

What is Class of Admission on Form I-90

How to Become a US Citizen