Green Cards

If you are a US citizen or legal permanent resident, you can submit petitions for your family members and loved ones to join you in the United States. One of the privileges of citizenship is the ability to petition for immediate relatives, like your spouse, unmarried children under 21 years of age, and parents without immigration quota limits. Legal permanent residents may also petition for their relatives, but they must wait for an immigrant visa to become available.

Adjustment of Status

Generally, people who would like to obtain a green card to live and work in the United States must apply for a visa at a US embassy or consulate. However, some immigrants are eligible to apply for their green card, and adjust status to that of a green card holder, while living in America.

Green card applicants wishing to complete the process in the US must file certain forms for adjustment of status based on marriage or other family relationship. The process includes an adjustment of status (green card) interview, medical exam, and background check. Those hoping to work or travel during the period when their green card application is processed require certain permits.

Immigrant Visas

In order to obtain a green card for the family member (beneficiary) of a US citizen (petitioner) where the beneficiary is currently in a foreign country, the US citizen begins the process by submitting a petition to USCIS. Once USCIS approves the initial immediate relative petition, the application package goes to the US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) where each party to the application (petitioner and beneficiary) will be responsible for completing required forms and information. The US petitioner must complete and submit a satisfactory affidavit of support in which the petitioner agrees to be financially responsible for the beneficiary for a period of up to ten years. The beneficiary will be responsible for completing State Department visa forms and obtaining necessary vital records from government officials, such as birth certificates and police certificates. Applicants who retain us as their immigration lawyers will be guided through this process in a clear and comfortable manner.

Parole in Place

In 2013, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formalized a process for considering parole-in-place for spouses, children, and parents of U.S. military personnel who are present in the United States after entry without inspection (EWI). Parole in Place makes it so that immediate family members of service members can adjust their status in the United States without leaving the country or applying for a waiver of ineligibility.