Louisville Green Card Lawyers
A green card is the document that immigrants receive as proof of their permanent resident status. Green cards allow noncitizens to live, work or travel in the U.S., and they are a first step in the direction of citizenship. For all these reasons, they are always in great demand.The lawyers at Vickerstaff Law Office, PSC, in Louisville, have helped many applicants who are already in Kentuckiana to obtain green cards. You must have entered the United States legally, and you must apply before the date on your I-94 card, which was put in your passport when you arrived in the U.S.
Green Cards Through Family Relationships
The most common way to obtain a green card is through family relationships. You might be eligible for a green card if you are a spouse, child or parent of a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen, or if your sibling (brother or sister) is a U.S. citizen.
Green card status is also available through employment, and may sometimes be granted to an individual in deportation proceedings, depending on how long the person has lived in the U.S. and whether there are any family members who would suffer a hardship.
Green cards are also issued through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program to citizens of low-immigration countries.
What Are Adjustment Of Status And Consular Processing?
Applying within the U.S. requires Adjustment of Status. Applying outside the U.S. is a process called Consular Processing. At Kentucky’s Vickerstaff Law Office, PSC, we are happy to assist you with either Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing.
Here in the U.S., we can help obtain the forms you need from USCIS for Adjustment of Status. You must provide photos and documents such as a copy of your visa petition approval or asylum approval, a letter from the employer who petitioned for you (if you’re applying based on employment) saying the job is still open, your birth certificate, copies of certain pages of your passport, and more. What you submit depends on what category you’re applying under.
Our Louisville firm will work with you to make sure that these forms are filled out properly, so you are neither delayed nor refused. Months later, you’ll be asked for fingerprints and interviewed at the local USCIS office. If your application and your answers are acceptable, your green card will be sent to you by mail.
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Cards
Many people pursue lawful permanent resident status through qualifying family-based relationships. The following questions and answers speak to common concerns that arise when seeking a family‑based green card.
Who is considered an immediate relative for a family-based green card?
Immediate relatives include spouses of U.S. citizens, unmarried children under age 21 with a U.S. citizen parent and parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old. The immediate relative category receives special immigration priority, which means visas are typically always available and applicants do not wait for a place in the annual quota system.
How long does the family-sponsored green card process typically take?
Processing times vary based on several factors. Examples include the type of family relationship, the applicant’s location and the current workload of the USCIS or the National Visa Center. Immediate relatives often move through the system more quickly because visas are not capped. Preference category applicants may wait longer due to annual limits and fluctuating Visa Bulletin dates.
What is the difference between Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing?
Adjustment of Status allows eligible applicants already in the United States to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country. Consular Processing requires applicants living abroad, or those who are not eligible to adjust in the United States, to complete their case through a U.S. consulate. Each pathway has distinct requirements, timelines and procedural steps that depend on the applicant’s circumstances.
Can I still apply for a green card through a family member if I entered the U.S. without a visa?
Maybe. Some who entered without inspection may qualify for permanent residence. However, eligibility depends on the specific family relationship and whether statutory exceptions apply. Certain applicants must pursue waivers to address unlawful entry or other grounds of inadmissibility. Others may need to complete the process abroad through a consular interview.
What happens if the family member who sponsored me dies before my green card is approved?
In limited situations, the law allows a case to continue through a process known as humanitarian reinstatement. Eligibility depends on factors like the stage of the current petition, the presence of a qualifying substitute sponsor and the applicant’s ties to the United States. Each individual case benefits from a careful legal review to determine whether reinstatement is possible.
Attorneys Providing Citizenship Through Family Green Cards In Kentucky
Do you wish to obtain permanent resident status in the U.S.? Call the Louisville green card attorneys at Vickerstaff Law Office, PSC, at 502-442-2039, toll-free 888-832-2944 — or describe your immigration law problem using this email form.