Legal permanent resident status, also known as a green card status, enables individuals to reside and work in the United States permanently. It offers many of the same rights and benefits as citizenship, and serves as a path to naturalization.
If you are an immigrant or the sponsor, there are many things to consider, and support and guidance are essential. Contact a skilled green card lawyer for more information about applying for legal permanent resident (LPR) status in Union City.
Those eligible to apply must meet the requirements under one of the immigrant categories, which include:
Sponsorship is a requirement for most, and the sponsor must file the petition, except in a few circumstances. The process from application to approval can take from several months to many years.
Processing times can be found on the USCIS’s website, but they are only estimates and not a reliable fixed time frame. The category, country of origin, and complexities of the case all contribute to the length of time it takes to process an application. A knowledgeable attorney can help through the process of applying for legal permanent resident status in Union City.
The application process involves several steps, depending on the category you apply for and the availability of resources. The first step is to establish eligibility for the person you wish to sponsor through an immigrant petition, and then apply for permanent residency or a green card.
If the individual is an immediate relative, has been inspected, admitted, or paroled, and they are in the U.S., then they may be able to adjust status without having to leave the U.S. through USCIS. If the individual is abroad, then the petition must go through the National Visa Center (NVC) before an interview is scheduled at a foreign embassy or consulate.
If you are sponsoring a family member, you must file a Form I-130 with USCIS. An approval confirms your relationship, but that is not a guarantee of visa approval. Depending on the relationship, you may need to wait for an immigrant visa number based on your priority date (date which the application is filed with USCIC) and category filed under. Immediate relatives, spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens are not subject to priority date delays as other close relatives are. Priority date delays can be tracked on the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.
If the applicant is pursuing an employment-based visa, use the alternate Form I-140 to confirm eligibility. Once the agency approves, proceed to the next step and submit the Green Card Application.
If the immediate relative is currently inside the U.S., after a valid entry, you must also file Form I-485 at the same time you file a I-130 with the USCIS to Adjust Status. Petitioning from outside the U.S. requires an approved I-130 and then require a Form DS-260, the Immigrant Visa Application, once the National Visa Center acknowledges receipt of the approved I-130.
After submission is complete, the next step is to wait for notification of the biometrics appointment and interview in the U.S. or abroad, depending on the situation, followed by a decision on approval or denial of the application. Applying for LPR status in Union City or abroad requires organization, gathering the necessary documents, and completing the steps outlined in the regulations.
The journey through the immigration process is a confusing and frustrating process. There are many steps that may not appear obvious, and the slightest error can derail the entire process. In some cases, these errors cannot be fixed, and the relatives will be prevented from immigrating or, worse, placed in deportation proceedings. Speak to a compassionate lawyer at the Law Office of Lloyd E. Bennett Esq., P.C., for more information about applying for legal permanent resident (LPR) status in Union City. Call us today and get started on your case.
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