Help with Getting Your Green Card? Speak To an Immigration Lawyer Today!

Green cards, the size of a license or regular identification card, indicates if an individual has lawful permanent residency in the United States. Although green cards have changed in appearance and color throughout the years, it remains one of the most popularly applied visas in the U.S., From 2015 to 2018, the average number of applicants exceeded 800,000 annually, according to ImmigrationHelp.org. The official term used for green cards is I-551 or Permanent Resident Card.

Many non-citizens living abroad pursue a green card to start a new life here. Whether they hoped to lawfully work, flee dangerous conditions, or move with family for new opportunities. Thousands of qualifying immigrants are granted green cards through legal immigration help in Los Angeles. Especially if they were trying to obtain this visa based on:

• Family relationships to a permanent resident
• An employment offer letter
• Investments in corporations and businesses
• A diverse visa lottery system
• Spent more than one year in America as an asylee or refugee
• Qualify as a “special immigrant.”

Applying From Within and Outside the U.S.

Whether you are a spouse or an immediate relative applying, there are a few things that a resident attorney in Los Angeles would advise you on.

Applying for a green card within the country is known as an Adjustment of Status (AOS). Applicants can stay while their applications are getting assessed and processed. If your visa expires before your green card gets approved (or denied), you don’t have to worry about deportation or removal. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants you a grace period until you receive a response. Applicants living outside America can apply for a green card through consular processing at the nearest embassy. Until then, you will remain outside the country until you gain approval.

Each process has a specific timeline and detailed requirements. As you consider which best resonates with you, reach out to our Los Angeles law offices of immigration if you have questions about green cards.

When Can Applicants Expect to Receive Green Cards?

When you get approved for permanent residency, it can take weeks before you physically get the green card. Adjusting your citizenship status alone can take up to three years, but it depends on your case. It can be a slow and stressful process that takes:

• 10-13 months if the applicant is married to a citizen
• 29-38 months if the spouse is a green card holder

On the other hand, green card applicants through consular processing wait between 11-17 months to hear back from the USCIS.

Those entering with an immigrant visa will get a temporary I-551 stamp in their passports. A letter of approval is given to you during or after the interview. Green cards get mailed out shortly afterward.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Green Card

Green cards provide holders with more than a legal right to permanently live and work in the U.S. As you establish generational roots here, you will find that you have a lot more access to benefits than you did before. Read on for an outline of them and limitations below:

• Ability to apply for government jobs that are unreserved for citizens
• Receive limited health and education benefits
• Petition for loved ones to get a green card (spouse/unmarried children)
• Apply for citizenship after five years (three if married to a citizen)
• Keep present citizenship in a native country.
• Travel in and out of the U.S. with ease
• Renew every ten years

While being a green card holder has its benefits, you must be mindful of deadlines, time restrictions, and policy changes. For instance, you can petition for a family member to get a green card. But they must be classified as a preference relative because there is a limit on the number of visas given out annually. It may be years until a visa number is available for them. A green card lawyer in Los Angeles would advise you that having this visa does not secure your ability to stay in the country. You can lose your status if you do not uphold your responsibilities, like:

• Following the law and not committing crimes
• Updating the USCIS with a change of address (or anything deplorable per Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.))

Getting deported or removed can hurt your chances of returning. According to the grounds of inadmissibility per Section 212 of the I.N.A., spending more than six months outside the country or committing a crime overseas can hurt your chances of applying for this visa again and becoming a permanent resident in the future.

Why Do Green Cards Expire Every 10 Years?

After working tirelessly to get a green card, why does the USCIS have a set expiration date?

You might be asking this question or fear what could happen when time runs out. There is no need to worry; this does not mean that you lose your permanent status. Like a driver’s license, you only need to reapply to get a new one. Not renewing is considered a law violation. Avoid letting your green card expire and get it updated on time.

It is important to note that the ten-year expiration date should not be confused with the two-year expiration date printed on the green card. The two-year deadline only applies to conditional residents (those who get their status from an investment or marriage to a citizen). They have 90 days before the expiration date to file either of the forms for permanent resident status:

• Form I-751 – Marriage based cases
• Form I-829 – Investment based cases

Whenever you need legal help for permanent residency, our legal team is ready to take your call. Applying for a green card is a life-changing process. We can ensure you are on the right path to obtaining permanent residency.

An Immigration Lawyer from Grey Law Is Worth the Cost

At Grey Immigration, the values of integrity, honesty, commitment, and results are at the foundation of our firm.

David Grey provides experienced representation to safeguard your rights through the immigration process. Whether it is advice, assistance with visa applications, or resolving an issue that is stalling your citizenship, we are here to help. At Grey Law, we strive to help clients through complex processes for positive results. Our Los Angeles immigration lawyers are well-versed in more than several practice areas:

• Family-Based Immigration
• Employment-Based Immigration
• Naturalization and Citizenship
• Permanent Residency and Green Card
• Deportation and Removal
• Immigrational Appeals
• Non-Immigrant Visas
• Criminal Victim Visa

In the past year, COVID-19 has drastically impacted citizenship. We have been able to adjust and act accordingly based on new restrictions and regulations. Our firm optimizes individual skills to produce superior results for all clients. For a free case review, give us a call at 323-622-1764 or email info@greylaw.com.