Geygan & Geygan, Ltd. offers expert legal “consular processing” services to assist individuals living outside the United States gain permanent resident status (i.e. green card).
If the individual already resides in the United States and wishes to obtain permanent resident status (i.e. green card), the process is called “adjustment of status.” And, Geygan & Geygan, Ltd. immigration attorneys can help with that process as well.
The Consular Processing Process (How to get your green card while living outside the United States.)
We will gently guide you through the consular processing process while aggressively asserting your rights.
This is the process we follow:
1. We Help You to Determine the Best Basis for Your Immigration
We help you to fully analyze your life and family situation to establish the best basis for your immigration. In other words, the United States has various immigration paths and we help you to choose which path is best for you. For example, most immigrants such as yourself are eligible for a green card because a family member or employer files for a green card on your behalf. Other immigrants better fit into the refugee or asylum track for obtaining a green card. There are other options as well. We will fully analyze your case, answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you to determine the best path for obtaining permanent resident status (i.e. green card).
2. If the Best Path for You is the Family Based Path, We Will File the Immigrant Petition on Your Behalf
The most common immigration path is the family based path. In that case, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative must file a Form I-130 (i.e. Petition for Alien Relative) for you. We handle all of this paperwork so you and your family member don’t have to.
In some cases, an I-130 petition may be filed for an immediate relative (spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen) with a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
Situations where the I-130 petition is required include:
• When the U.S. citizen has been authorized to continuously reside in the consular office’s jurisdiction for at least the previous 6 months
• When members of the military are involved
• Emergency situations
• Situations involving the health or safety of the petitioner
• When it is in the national interests of the United States
3. Then, We Wait for a Decision on Your Petition
The immigration office will notify our office, and your family member who filed the paperwork, of its decision regarding your green card. If the petition is denied, this notice will include denial reasons and any rights to appeal its decision. If denied, with grounds for appeal, we will appeal on your behalf. If the petition for your green card is approved, the immigration office will send the approved petition to the Department of State’s National Visa Center. The petition is held there until an immigrant visa number is available.
4. Wait for Notification from the National Visa Center
The National Visa Center will notify our office when the visa petition is received and again when an immigrant visa number is about to become available. When a visa number is available, we will submit immigrant visa processing fees (i.e. “fee bills”) on your behalf. Then, we will submit required supporting documentation on your behalf.
5. Next, You Go to Your Appointment
Once a visa is available or your priority date is current (i.e. earlier than the cut-off date listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin), the consular office will schedule the applicant for an interview. You attend the interview. The consular office will complete processing of your case and decide if you are eligible for an immigrant visa.
6. After Your Visa is Granted
If you are granted an immigrant visa, the consular office will give you a packet of information. This packet is known as a “Visa Packet.” You should NOT open the visa packet.
You Arrive in the United States
When you arrive in United States, you should give your Visa Packet to the Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry. You will be inspected by a Customs and Border Protection officer and, if found admissible, will be admitted as a permanent resident of the United States. Being a permanent resident (i.e. green card holder) means that you have authority to live and work in the United States permanently. The immigration office will then issue your green card within 30 days of your entry to the United States.
Where to Get Help
Our immigration attorneys at Geygan & Geygan, Ltd. have helped many people just like you to obtain their green card through consular processing.
We focus our practice on immigration law and you can reach us at 513-793-6555 or Thomasjr@geygan.com.
We will gently walk you through the immigration issues and aggressively fight for your legal rights.
Call Geygan & Geygan, Ltd. today: 513-793-6555.