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Our Experienced Immigration Lawyers Can Help You
Adjust Status to Permanent Resident and Get a Green Card.
Our U.S. immigration attorneys represent individuals and businesses in U.S. immigration matters in all states and many foreign countries. We can connect you with an experienced immigration lawyer. Se habla espanol. Meet with an immigration attorney in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellingham, or Blaine to assist you with your Adjustment of Status.
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status is submitted by an individual wishing to obtain permanent resident status. It is generally filed with supporting evidence and may be filed in conjunction with several other applications or petitions. You may be eligible to apply for adjustment to permanent resident status if you are already in the United States and if one or more of the following categories apply to you.
Family Member
• You are the spouse, parent, unmarried child under age 21, the unmarried son or daughter over age 21, the married son or daughter, or the brother or sister of a United States citizen and have a visa petition approved in your behalf.
• You are the spouse or unmarried son or daughter of any age of a lawful permanent resident and you have a family-based visa petition approved in your behalf.
Employment
• You must have an immigrant visa number available from the State Department unless you are in a category that is exempt fromnumerical limitations. Immediate relatives of United States citizens are exempt from this requirement. Immediate relatives of U.S.citizens are parents, spouses, and unmarried children under 21. (For example, you can apply to adjust to permanent resident statusat the same time that your U.S. citizen daughter files an application for you to become an immigrant.)
• Other immigrant categories that are exempt from numerical limitations and do not need a visa number include special immigrant, juvenile, and special immigrant military petitions.
• For family members of lawful permanent residents, visa numbers are limited by law every year. This means that even if the USCIS approves an immigrant visa petition for you, you may not get an immigrant visa number immediately. In some cases, several yearscould pass between the time USCIS approves your immigrant visa petition and the State Department gives you an immigrant visa number.
Fiance(e)
• You were a fiancé who was admitted to the United States on a K-1 visa and then married the U.S. citizen who applied for the K-1 visa for you. (If you married the U.S. citizen but not within the 90-day time limit, your spouse also must now file a Petition for Alien Relative). Your unmarried, minor children are also eligible for adjustment of status. If you did not marry the U.S. citizen who filed the K-1 petition in your behalf, or if you married another U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you are not eligible to adjust status in the United States.
Asylee
• You are an asylee or refugee who has been in the United States for at least a year after being given asylum or refugee status and still qualify for asylum or refugee status.
Cuban Citizen
• You are a Cuban citizen or native who has been in the U.S. for at least a year after being inspected, admitted, or paroled into the United States. Your spouse and children who are residing with you in the United States may also be eligible for adjustment of status.
U.S. Resident Prior to January 1, 1972
• You have been a continuous resident of the United States since before January 1, 1972. See 8 CFR 249.2(a), under "Jurisdiction."Parent's LPR Status
• Your parent became a lawful permanent resident after you were born. You may be eligible to receive following-to-join benefits if youare the unmarried child under age 21 of the lawful permanent resident. In these cases, you may apply to adjust to permanent resident status at the same time that your parent applies for following-to-join benefits for you.
Spouse's LPR Status
• Your spouse became a lawful permanent resident after you were married. You may be eligible to receive following-to-join benefits. In these cases, you may apply to adjust to permanent resident status at the same time that your spouse applies for following-to-join benefits for you.
Otherwise Eligible
• If "otherwise eligible" to immigrate to the U.S., immediate relatives may adjust status to LPR (get a "green card") in the United States even if they may have done any of the following: a) worked without permission, b) remained in the U.S. past the period of lawful admission (e.g., past the expiration date on your I-94) and filed for adjustmentof status while in an unlawful status because of that, c) failed otherwise to maintain lawful status and with the proper immigration documentation, or d) have been admitted as a visitor without a visa under sections 212(l) or 217 of the Act (which are the 15-day admission under the Guam visa waiver program and the 90-day admission under the Visa Waiver Program, respectively).Please note: If a person came into the U.S. illegally, that person is barred from adjusting their status to LPR (cannot obtain agreen card) even if he or she marries a U.S. citizen or otherwise becomes an immediate relative. An immediate relative must meet the eligibility requirement of being "inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States."
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