Lawful Permanent Residency

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You’ve Sent Your Immigration File to USCIS. Now What?

Leave a Comment / Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency

September 17, 2024 Here’s a helpful guide to understanding what happens after your case is filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).   1. Receipt Notice (Form I-797)Shortly after you submit your application or petition, you will receive a Receipt Notice (Form I-797).  This notice serves as proof that USCIS has received your application and it will […]

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The Department of Homeland Security Announces Parole-in-Place Process That Will Offer A Pathway to A Green Card for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens

Leave a Comment / Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage, News, Policy Change

On June 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made a big announcement and introduced a new parole-in-place process for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who meet specific criteria. *IMPORTANT NOTE* – As of the date of this blog post, this process is NOT in effect, and there is NO application process for

The Department of Homeland Security Announces Parole-in-Place Process That Will Offer A Pathway to A Green Card for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage, News, Policy Change, , , , , ,
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K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa and Protection Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Leave a Comment / Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage

In this post, we will explore two special cases in family-based immigration: fiancé(e) visas and protection under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). If you are a U.S. citizen and engaged to a foreign national, you can file a fiancé(e) petition, so your fiancé(e) can get a visa to come to the U.S., also known

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Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage
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Which One Processes Faster? A Fiance(e) Visa or Spouse Visa?

Leave a Comment / Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage

I meet with many people who ask me if they should do a fiance visa or spouse visa if their significant other is not in the U.S. and will process at a U.S. consulate. Generally speaking, the fiance visa will be faster if the goal is to be together in the U.S. as soon as

Which One Processes Faster? A Fiance(e) Visa or Spouse Visa? Read More »

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Why Could Your Case Be Taking So Long? USCIS Processing Delays Remain at Crisis Level

Leave a Comment / Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Policy Change, U.S. Citizenship

Nationwide, you and millions of families, businesses, and individuals applying for immigration benefits are waiting longer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve applications and petitions. Based on previously available USCIS data, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, an average case took about five months to process. In FY2020, an average case

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Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Policy Change, U.S. Citizenship, , , , , ,
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The 3 Agencies Involved in Immigrant Visa Cases: USCIS, NVC, and the U.S. Consulate/Embassy

Leave a Comment / Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency

I want to preface this post by saying that all three of these agencies are involved when a family member or employee is being petitioned for, and that person is not currently in the U.S. and will be processing at a U.S. consulate/embassy abroad. However, there are instances when a person is going through the

The 3 Agencies Involved in Immigrant Visa Cases: USCIS, NVC, and the U.S. Consulate/Embassy Read More »

Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, , , , , , , ,
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COVID-19 Vaccines Will Be Required for Green Card Applicants Starting October 1, 2021

Leave a Comment / Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Policy Change

Starting October 1, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all applicants applying for refugee or lawful permanent residence, with some exceptions. All applicants who receive their medical examination ON OR AFTER October 1, 2021, must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series and provide documentation

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Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Policy Change
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Humanitarian Reinstatement – How An I-130 That Has Been Terminated Due to the Petitioner Passing Away Can Be Saved

Leave a Comment / Family-Based Immigration, Lawful Permanent Residency

One of the sad realities of our immigration system is that it can take a very long time to bring over certain family members. For example, if a U.S. citizen mother petitions to bring her married son to the U.S., it could take over 22 years before that son will be able to come to

Humanitarian Reinstatement – How An I-130 That Has Been Terminated Due to the Petitioner Passing Away Can Be Saved Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Lawful Permanent Residency
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New Policy for the I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions

Leave a Comment / Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage, Policy Change

On November 30, 2018, USCIS published new guidance on interviews at the I-751 stage (you can read more about what the I-751 is here).  This policy went into effect on December 10, 2018, and applies to all I-751s received on or after that date.  The significant change that is occurring is that if the principal

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Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage, Policy Change
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What You Need to Know About the Differences Between Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing

1 Comment / Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency

If you want to become a lawful permanent resident (aka LPR or green card holder), you will either do it through adjustment of status or consular processing. The way you choose depends on where you are when a visa becomes available, your preferences, and your circumstances. If you are already living in the United States,

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Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency
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