The Director of the district office that serves the area where you live will review the petition to determine whether an interview is required. If the director is satisfied based on the written petition that your marriage was not entered into in order to obtain immigration benefits, he/she may waive the interview requirement and approve the petition. Otherwise, you and your spouse will be scheduled for an interview.

If your interview is waived, you will receive the approval notice in the mail. Take your approval notice to the local USCIS office and get an I-551 stamp in your passport for permanent residency.

If your interview is successful, you will get an I-551 stamp in your passport for permanent residency.

Either way, the actual plastic card will arrive in mail within next few months.

If your application is denied, you will be placed in removal proceedings unless you can obtain an alternate legal status. If you are placed in removal proceedings, hire an attorney if you already haven't. Don't skip a court date. Failure to appear results in an automatic order of deportation and could permanently ruin your chances of immigrating. If the immigration judge decides to remove you from the country, you may appeal this decision within 33 days after that decision is made. After your appeal form and a required fee are processed, the appeal will be referred to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Washington, D.C.