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Applicants inside the U.S. who are eligible may file for adjustment of status, while those abroad use consular processing; marriages less than two years old at approval generally result in a conditional green card requiring Form I-751 to remove conditions.
There are two main ways to obtain a family-based green card once a visa is available. Adjustment of status is for eligible applicants already in the United States, who file with USCIS without leaving the country. Consular processing is for applicants outside the U.S., who complete the process at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Which route applies depends on your location and eligibility.
If a marriage is less than two years old when the immigrant is granted permanent residence, the green card is typically conditional and valid for two years. The couple must later file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, generally in the 90 days before the card expires, to obtain a 10-year green card. Failing to file the I-751 on time can result in loss of permanent resident status.
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