Green Card Lawyer New York – Berd & Klauss, PLLC
Permanent resident status is also known as being a green card holder. This is one of the most sought after and complicated processes facing many foreign nationals. The first step is determining if one is eligible to receive permanent resident status. There are various categories of individuals who can apply for a green card if they meet the required criteria. Some of these categories are:
- Immediate family members of U.S. citizens and certain preference categories.
- Having specific experience in certain in-demand employment fields.
- Have been under refugee or asylum protection for a specific amount of time.
- Have been a victim of trafficking or other certain types of crime and hold either a T or U Visa.
- Certain victims of abuse.
- Other special green card categories.
When going through the application process the applicant will have to complete several steps and prepare the relevant forms and supporting documents. Most important is the green card application form I-485 and an immigrant petition form.
The specific steps involved when applying for a green card can vary depending on the situation, but most applications follow the following structure:
- Filing an immigrant petition either by a sponsor or applicants eligible to file for themselves.
- After the U.S citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) have approved your petition, the next step is a visa or green card application. This can only be done when there is a visa available for your category. In this intricate process, many seek guidance from a New York Green card lawyer. The visa application is done with the U.S department of state and the green card application with the USCIS.
- Next, biometric data is collected. This involves the provision of signatures, photos, and fingerprints.
- An interview or request for documentation is conducted after the biometrics has been done.
Thereafter, USICS will issue a final decision and issue a green card if all the related requirements are met.
For more information, get in touch with green card lawyer in New York.
Berd & Klauss, PLLC can help you choose the right route before you send anything to USCIS. As your New York green card lawyer, we can review your eligibility and identify the forms your case requires. We can also flag issues that may affect your application, including past immigration problems or records that may require extra documentation.
FAQs
Each one of the green card routes has its own filing rules. Your green card lawyer in NYC at Berd & Klauss, PLLC can review your situation and map out what your case needs before you submit anything to USCIS. We can help you:
- Choose the correct filing category
- Complete the USCIS forms for your green card category requires
- Handle the adjustment of status filings if you can apply from inside the United States
- Prepare work authorization and travel permission requests
- Guide you through the medical exam requirements
- Prepare your Form I-751 filing to remove the conditions from your marriage-based green card
- Review whether international travel could affect your green card
- Explain how criminal history (if you have any) may put your permanent resident status at risk
- Flag past immigration issues that may affect future filings
You may apply for a green card through marriage if:
- You are married to a US citizen or lawful permanent resident
- The marriage is legally valid
- You can prove that the marriage is real (not entered into only for immigration benefits)
Yes. Certain criminal, immigration, or extended travel issues can put permanent resident status at risk.
You may be able to apply through an adjustment of status if you meet the rules. Some applicants must use consular processing instead.