Becoming a lawful permanent resident with a Green Card that demonstrates your ability to live and work in the United States is a dream that takes some people years to achieve. While there are many different ways to obtain a Green Card, none of them are easy, and some require significant effort, knowledge, and persistence.
The team at Odunlami Law wants to help everyone achieve their immigration goals for themselves and their loved ones. We can work with you to help obtain a Green Card for yourself or a family member, guiding you through every stage of the process and investigating to resolve any problems that arise or to follow up on unusual delays. As a team of immigrants who have also helped our families come to the U.S., we understand the frustration and challenges you face, and we want to help you avoid some of the problems that we endured on this journey.
Eligibility for a Green Card
For many people, a family relationship or employer sponsorship provides the connection needed to be eligible for a Green Card. However, U.S. immigration policies offer other options for obtaining lawful permanent resident status, and our team can help you take advantage of the best opportunities available to you.
You may be eligible for a Green Card if you:
- Are the spouse or unmarried child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Have a parent or child who is a U.S. citizen
- Are sibling of a U.S. citizen
- Are the victim of abuse from a family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Are the victim of human trafficking or certain other crimes
- Are seeking asylum due to persecution in your home country
- Have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by parents
- Meet other special criteria
Immigration law provides relief in certain cases to allow individuals to enter or remain in the U.S., and over time, individuals who demonstrate appropriate conduct while in the U.S. may be eligible to adjust their status to permanent resident and obtain a Green Card. When you work with an experienced attorney, your legal advisor can help you avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your status.
The Journey Looks Different for Each Person
At Odunlami Law, we each have our own unique immigration success story to tell, and yours will be unique to you as well. Some people enter the U.S. on a temporary visa such as a K-1 visa for fiancés or a student visa, and then apply for different visas or seek an adjustment of status to eventually obtain a Green Card. Others have a family member file a petition for immigration on their behalf while they wait outside the U.S.
The process usually involves filing an immigration petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When a green card applicant is already in the U.S. and meets certain requirements, they can concurrently file an application to adjust their status to permanent resident. In many cases, however, it is necessary to wait until USCIS approves a petition for immigration before an applicant can move on to the next step.
For a Green Card applicant who is waiting outside the U.S., immigration authorities will send information to the National Visa Center, and the applicant will complete the process at the embassy or consulate in their home country. Applicants in the U.S. will have their applications processed in the U.S.
The Wait for a Visa
U.S. laws limit the number of certain types of immigrant visas that can be granted each year, and the limits are further divided by country of origin. For that reason, some applicants may have to wait many years for a visa in their category to become available. Other applicants, such as spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens, are not subject to visa quotas, so their wait is not as long.
Any applicant may be subject to an unnecessary wait, however, if their application materials are lacking information or if immigration authorities have a question. If USCIS sends a request for additional information and no one responds, or if information seems suspicious, the immigration process could be delayed significantly or completely stopped. When you work with Odunlami Law, we ensure that your materials are complete and questions are answered in a way that satisfies agency standards. We closely follow the progress of your application to respond quickly if more information is needed or a problem arises.
Odunlami Law Works to Help Obtain Green Cards in All Types of Situations
We and our families have been able to take advantage of the immigration process to get our Green Cards and become citizens, and we want to help as many others as possible enjoy these same benefits. The team at Odunlami Law is dedicated to your success.
To learn more about how we can help you or a family member become a lawful permanent resident with a Green Card, contact us now.
Family Immigration for LGBTQIA+ Couples
U.S. immigration law provides equal rights for married couples and their children regardless of gender. However, proving the legitimacy of an LGBTQIA+ marriage can sometime pose challenges, particularly for couples married in another country.
The team at Odunlami Law is experienced in handling the unique immigration issues faced by LBGTQIA+ families, and we work to ensure that your application materials meet the rigorous requirements.
