Get Legal Status in the U.S.
Many people see the USA as the place to make something of themselves and carve a brighter future. One way to ensure you’ll reap the benefits afforded by staying in the country is through an adjustment of status. This process gives individuals a green card and a lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. Our Ventura adjustment of status attorney can help you attain this legal status!
El Camino Inmigracion is here to help our clients achieve their American dream! We happily serve our neighbors across the Ventura area. If you’re ready to take the next step along the path to citizenship, call our Ventura immigration office today.
Why Do I Need an Adjustment of Status Attorney in California?
With many migrants applying for immigration, only a few qualify to adjust their status. If you apply without being eligible, there may be serious consequences, such as deportation. This makes it paramount to discuss your case with a qualified immigration attorney before taking action.
By hiring our Ventura adjustment of status attorney, you have professionals ensuring that every t is crossed and every i is dotted. Our attention to detail, combined with our legal knowledge and experience dealing with the courts, make our immigration services invaluable for those who want a green card.
What are you waiting for? Get your permanent resident status ASAP! Pick up that phone and call our Ventura immigration attorney to schedule a consultation!
What is an Adjustment of Status?
Adjustment of status is a process to obtain LPR for people living in the United States. The other way to get a green card is through consular processing, which involves visiting the embassy or consulate in your home country.
What Are the Benefits of Adjustment of Status?
The primary advantage of being qualified for an adjustment of status (AOS) is lawful permanent residence in the United States. This also takes you one step closer to becoming a United States citizen.
AOS candidates are entitled to additional benefits while their Form I-485 petitions are processed. They will enjoy three significant benefits:
- Legal stay in the U.S.
- Job permission
- Advance parole
Legal Stay
Aliens with pending AOS petitions are permitted to remain legally in the United States while their adjustment applications are handled. You may allow your previous nonimmigrant status to expire while your AOS application is processed. However, this isn’t usually recommended.
Employment Authorization Document
In addition to applying for AOS, applicants may apply for an employment authorization document (EAD), generally known as a work permit. As long as their I-485s are processed, individuals with EADs can work for any firm or business in the United States.
Advance Parole
An immigrant may request advance parole when applying for adjustment of status. Accepted advance parole allows a foreign national to travel outside the United States. At the same time, their AOS application is being processed without having to abandon their application, forfeit any AOS-related benefits, or apply for a nonimmigrant visa to re-enter the country.
What is the Application Process for Adjustment of Status?
While every case is unique, the general process looks like this:
The immigrant who wants legal status must submit Form I-485 to USCIS.
When immediate relatives meet the eligibility requirements, they may apply to USCIS. Close relatives may file concurrently, which means they must submit Form I-485 and Form I-130 together. The following forms are typically included with family-based adjustment applications:
- I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
- I-693 ( Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record)
- I-864 (Affidavit of Support)
- I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
- I-130A (Biographic Information; if a relative is a spouse)
- I-131 (Application for Travel Document; optional)
- I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization; optional)
After you submit your application, USCIS will call you to schedule a biometric screening. This is a quick appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center to have your photo, signature, and fingerprints taken. USCIS uses biometric data to conduct the required criminal background check.
A few months later, you will certainly be required to attend a USCIS interview. You will nearly always be obliged to bring a relative with you. Certain people may not be required to attend a USCIS interview.
They will provide you with the interview date, time, and location. USCIS uses the adjustment of status interview to verify the information you and your petitioner supplied on the application. It also allows them to determine whether any changes in your life have left you ineligible. This is a brief interview that will run between 20 and 30 minutes.
The complete adjustment procedure could take anywhere from 8 to 14 months for most applicants.
To avoid any immigration issues, enlist the help of El Camino Inmigracion. Call us now for sound legal advice!
Who is Eligible for Adjustment of Status?
To be eligible for adjustment of status, the applicant must meet the following three requirements:
Physical presence in the United States
You must be present in the United States to complete the adjustment of status application process.
Lawful Entry
This generally implies you entered the United States with proper papers and were questioned by a US immigration official who acknowledged your entry. If you arrived with a valid visa that had since expired, you might still enter legally. Those on parole are also eligible for a change in status.
Immediately Available Visa
Immediate relatives of US citizens may file an I-130 petition for adjustment of status. A visa is always available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. On the other hand, candidates for family preference must guarantee that a visa is available. Their visa category must be “current” in the visa bulletin before completing Form I-485.
It is also critical that an immigrant’s eligibility is maintained throughout the adjustment of status process. Changes in conditions can have serious immigration consequences. As a result, adjustment is often reserved for:
- Relatives,
- Spouses who entered as K-1 fiancés,
- Asylees,
- Refugees, or
- Individuals who arrived on an employment-based visa (e.g., H-1B) were sponsored for a green card by their company.
Call our Ventura Adjustment of Status Attorney Today!
Permanent residence provides immigrants with many benefits. If you don’t want to jeopardize your chances, then you need someone to help you through each step of the process. The legal services of an adjustment of status lawyer make the process of acquiring a green card as simple as possible. Call El Camino Inmigracion to schedule an appointment with our California immigration lawyer.
El Camino Inmigracion provides legal services for all types of immigration cases, including:
