Adjustment of Status

The process of obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident status in the United States without having to leave the United States to do so. Adjustment of status should be distinguished from “change of status,” which generally applies to Nonimmigrants moving from one nonimmigrant status to another. Adjustment of status is unavailable to many (but not all) persons who entered the United States without Inspection, or who violated status while in the United States, or on whose behalf an application for Labor Certification or a Preference petition was not filed on or before April 30, 2001.