1. Immigration Policy Can Change Suddenly
In today’s climate, USCIS policies and reviewing standards are anything but stable. What’s acceptable today may face more scrutiny tomorrow. Delaying your filing now might mean facing a very different and potentially more difficult adjudication environment down the road.
2. You May Miss Out on Work Authorization—and Travel Flexibility
If you are not currently authorized to work in the U.S., filing your I-485 (adjustment of status) as soon as possible is key. It allows you to apply for both an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP)—typically within 3 to 6 months.
- EAD allows you to legally work in the U.S.
- AP allows you to travel abroad and re-enter without abandoning your green card application.
Without filing the I-485, you can’t obtain either of these. In case of a family emergency or urgent need to travel, not having Advance Parole can leave you stuck—and in some cases, traveling without it could jeopardize your green card process entirely.
3. Naturalization Benefits Offset the Conditional Green Card
If your long-term goal is U.S. citizenship, filing earlier has even more upside. Those who obtain green cards through marriage to a U.S. citizen can apply for naturalization just 3 years after receiving their green card—versus 5 years for other green card holders.
Yes, if your green card is issued within 2 years of your marriage, you’ll need to file an I-751 petition to remove conditions. And yes, I-751 processing can take over 2 years. But if you apply for naturalization at the 3-year mark, both the I-751 and N-400 are usually adjudicated together during your naturalization interview.
And here’s the key: When USCIS adjudicates both applications together, the officer’s primary focus is your eligibility for citizenship—not digging deeply into the marriage again. In many cases, the I-751 becomes more of a procedural step toward approving your N-400.
Bottom line:
If your goal is to work, naturalize, and move forward with your life, filing your marriage-based green card as soon as you’re eligible is often the better path. Waiting for the “perfect” green card timeline might cost you more than it saves.