Which form is used to petition for a spouse to obtain a green card?

• A. Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
• B. Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
• C. Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
• D. Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)

Answer: (A)

To bring a spouse to live in the U.S. as a permanent resident, you start by establishing the qualifying relationship with a petition filed by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident sponsor. That form is the Petition for Alien Relative. Filing it initiates the process for a green card by proving the sponsor–spouse relationship and beginning the immigrant visa steps. It doesn’t grant permanent residence by itself; after the petition is approved and a visa is available, the spouse then applies for the green card—usually with Form I-485 if they’re in the United States or through consular processing if outside the U.S. The other forms handle different parts of the process: Form I-485 is the actual application to adjust status to permanent resident, Form I-765 is for work authorization, and Form N-400 is for naturalization.