What documents do I need for adjustment of status?

Adjustment of Status Checklist

• Form I-485.
• Two passport-style photos.
• I-94 travel document.
• A copy of the approval receipt for your green card from the USCIS.
• A job offer letter, if you are applying for an employment-based green card.
• A marriage certificate, if you are applying for a marriage-based green card.

How much does a lawyer charge for adjustment of status?

Surveys show an average flat fee for the entire adjustment process of around $3,000. Paying an hourly rate is also an option. This allows you to pay for only as much of the lawyer’s time as you actually need. Hourly rates for immigration attorneys usually range from $150 to $500.

Can my wife stay in the US while waiting for green card?

The short answer is: It depends. Some people can stay in the U.S. for the entire period of applying for a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence). With that visa, you can enter the U.S. and become a lawful permanent resident, or green card holder.

How long do you have to be married to gain US citizenship?

Can I stay in the US while waiting for adjustment of status?

When you use AOS, you’ll be able to stay in the United States while your application is processed, even if your visa expires before your green card is approved. The alternative to AOS is consular processing, which is when you apply for a green card from outside the United States.

Can adjustment of status be denied?

Adjustment of status is granted at the discretion of USCIS. If your application for adjustment of status has been denied, you can be subject to deportation (removal) proceedings. Seek the assistance of an experienced U.S. immigration attorney. The attorney can help you decide what to do next.

Can I be deported if married to US citizen?

Can you be deported if you are married to an American citizen? The answer is yes, you can. About 10% of all the people who get deported from the U.S. every year are lawful permanent residents.

How can I change my visa status from B2 to F1?

All other B1 and B2 visitors may apply for a change of nonimmigrant status to F1/M1 student by filing the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Status. However, B visitors should be aware of the 30/60 day rule [see comprehensive article].

How long do you have to stay married to get a green card?

In fact, you have to remain married up until you actually get your U.S. citizenship, and you have to be living with your spouse three years before filing your N-400 application to qualify on this early basis. However, you may still be eligible to file Form N-400 on the basis of five years as a permanent resident.

What is the cost for adjustment of status?

$1,160

How long does it take to get an adjustment of status approved?

about six months

What happens after adjustment of status is approved?

After your adjustment of status (I-485) petition is approved, you (and your dependents who applied with you) need to go to the nearby U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) local office to get your passport stamped. With the exception of children under 14 years of age, passport stamping is required.

Do you lose your green card if you get divorced?

In the event of a divorce, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may review the validity of the marriage. Fortunately, just because you are divorced doesn’t mean your efforts to obtain a green card automatically end. Immigration officials understand that a real marriage can also fall apart.

Can f1 student marry US citizen?

If you are in the U.S. with an F-1 student visa and have married a citizen of the United States, you are eligible to file for a U.S. green card. However, even if your permitted stay has expired, the fact that you entered legally and are marrying a U.S. citizen allows you to apply for adjustment of status.

How long do you have to stay married after getting citizenship?

3 years

Who qualifies for adjustment of status?

You must already be eligible for a U.S. green card (lawful permanent or conditional residence), perhaps through a U.S. employer, a family member who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident , or by having received asylum or refugee status at least one year before.

Can I travel during adjustment of status?

If You Travel While Awaiting an Adjustment Interview You can travel, but must use great care. If you simply get up and go without getting official permission (called “advance parole,” described below), the law says you will have given up (or abandoned, in USCIS terminology) your adjustment of status application.

Do I need a lawyer for adjustment of status?

¿HOW DO I GET AN ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS? To safely complete the steps involved, you will need to hire an Immigration Attorney. The attorney will make certain that each step of the process is successfully completed, thus minimizing any risk along the way.

Can I change my F1 visa status?

You can also change your F-1 status in the U.S. If you prefer changing your status in the U.S., you are required to apply for a change of status to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You are not eligible to change your F-1 status if you have reached the expiration date of your authorized stay.

Can you adjust status on tourist visa?

You can stay in the U.S. while adjusting status, even if your permitted stay expires while USCIS has your application. However, you cannot let your visa expire before you apply for an adjustment of status. You must overlap your visa stay and your petition for an adjustment of status.

Can my wife visit me in the US while I 130 visa is processing?

If your spouse or other family member has filed an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on your behalf, then it may be challenging to convince a consular officer that you do not have “immigrant intent” in the US. Nevertheless, it is possible to visit the US with a pending I-130, and we have seen many clients do it.

How long do you have to stay married to keep citizenship?

There’s yet another benefit to being married to a U.S. citizen: Three years from the date you become a permanent resident, you can apply for U.S. citizenship, so long as you remain married to and living with the citizen. Most green card holders have to wait five years before applying for U.S. citizenship.