A "Green Card" awards you official immigration status and makes you a permanent resident of the United States. Permanent residency allows you to live and work in the United States for the rest of your life. One of the easiest ways to obtain a green card is to marry a US citizen. As long as the immigrant has entered the country legally, obtaining a Green Card by marriage is a relatively simple process, taking anywhere from 6-15 months to complete. To begin the process, fill out an application form, and attend an interview at a local US Immigration Office. Approval of a conditional Green Card is usually awarded at the conclusion of the interview. The conditional Green Card is valid for a two-year period, and will need to be converted to a permanent Green Card during this time. Couples fill out an I-751 form to request this conversion.