Atlanta Adjustment of Status Attorney Helping with Your Green Card Application

In order to live and work in the United States without a time limit, an immigrant must go through the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process to obtain a Green Card and become a Lawful Permanent Resident. If you are in the United States on a visa, you may stay in the U.S. while your AOS application is processed, even if your visa expires during that time. To be eligible for AOS if you are in the United States already, you may qualify to adjust your status in the USA if you entered the country with a valid visa.

If you are eligible, you may apply for a Green Card under a few different conditions. You may apply as the family member of a U.S. citizen or as the employee of or investor in a U.S. business, as the victim of certain human rights violations, as a refugee or asylee, or in other special circumstances dependent upon your individual situation. The Adjustment of Status process can be lengthy and complicated. An accomplished Adjustment of Status lawyer from Sessoms Law Office, LLC can guide you through the immigration system and help you get to the best possible outcome for your AOS case.

Contact our Atlanta office today at 678-853-7402.

What if I Am Not in the United States?

If you are not in the United States at the time that you want to initiate the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process, you will go through slightly different steps to apply, but the eligibility requirements are exactly the same. Instead of applying for your Green Card through the United States Citizenship and Immigration System (USCIS) using the AOS process, you will go through what is called the “consular process” at your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy. Under this process, you will not be able to enter the United States until your Green Card is issued.

What Are the Steps of the Adjustment of Status Process?

When you are applying for your Green Card, the first step in cases of family, employment, or humanitarian eligibility is for the person sponsoring you to file a petition with the USCIS. In some cases, you may be able to file instead of a sponsor. If your petition is approved by USCIS and there is a visa number available to you, you will then file with USCIS for a Green card application or with the U.S. Department of State for a visa. Next, you will go to a biometrics appointment to provide your fingerprints, a photo, and your signature. The final step may be to go to an interview at your local USCIS office. After the interview, a decision will be made by USCIS to approve or deny your application. While it is rarely possible to appeal a decision by the USCIS, you may be able to ask that your case be reopened or reconsidered if you did not reach your desired outcome the first time.

How Long Does it Take for an Adjustment of Status to Be Approved?

While the exact timeline for your AOS case will depend on your specific situation, the process is likely to be lengthy. For example, getting approval for Adjustment of Status through marriage can take approximately 10–13 months if you are the spouse a U.S. citizen. If you are the spouse of a Green Card holder, the process can take 29–38 months. Each local USCIS office has varying processing times. It is possible to check how long your local office might take to process your application on the USCIS website.

While it usually takes quite a while to process AOS applications, the process can be made even slower by errors or omissions in the paperwork or filing the application. A knowledgeable and experienced Adjustment of Status attorney can help to ensure that all is done right the first time and that your application is processed in a timely manner. Call Sessoms Law Group, LLC today at 678-853-7402 to get started on your Adjustment of Status application.

Can I Apply for Adjustment of Status with Any Type of Visa?

Only certain types of visas make you eligible to apply for adjustment of status without a family connection or other extenuating circumstances. Visas that are intended to be temporary cannot be used in AOS applications, because your intent in getting the visa was not to immigrate permanently to the U.S. but to remain in the country temporarily for a specific purpose. If you are not sure if your visa qualifies, contact an experienced immigration lawyer from Sessoms Law Group today to have your questions answered.