USCIS extends some filing deadlines

USCIS extends some filing deadlines

USCIS announced on July 25, 2022 that USCIS would extend certain filing deadlines to allow applicants to cope with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. If a USCIS request or notice was sent between March 1, 2020, and October 23, 2022, USCIS will accept a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date stated in those requests or notices before taking any action.

Read more ...
What are the filing fees to apply for special immigrant juvenile status?

What are the filing fees to apply for special immigrant juvenile status?

If you are applying for special immigrant juvenile status, you are exempt from paying the fee for Form I-360, Petition for Special Immigrant. Even though there is no filing fee for your Form I-360 to petition for special immigrant juvenile status, there is a filing fee if you file Form I-485 to apply for a green card. If you cannot afford to pay this fee, you may be able to waive the fee.

Read more ...
What are the steps to apply for an immigrant visa for my adult child?

What are the steps to apply for an immigrant visa for my adult child?

To apply for an immigrant visa for your child over 21 years old who resides outside the U.S., you must be either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can apply for your children over 21, including married and unmarried children. If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you can apply for your unmarried children over 21.

Read more ...
Do I have to leave the U.S. while my I-601A waiver is pending?

Do I have to leave the U.S. while my I-601A waiver is pending?

With the I-601A provisional waiver, you will not have to depart the U.S. while your application is pending. If your I-601A is approved, you will be able to leave the U.S. and attend an immigrant visa interview abroad. At that stage, you will have peace of mind knowing that you have the approved waiver in your hands, and you will be able to return to the U.S. to be reunited with your family soon.   

Read more ...
What is the difference between consular processing and adjustment of status?

What is the difference between consular processing and adjustment of status?

If you are outside of the United States, you may apply at a U.S. consulate abroad for an immigrant visa in order to come to the United States and be admitted as a permanent resident. This process is called consular processing. If you are already inside the United States and you entered the U.S. legally (with a visa), you might be able to apply for permanent resident status without having to return to your home country to complete processing. This process is called adjustment of status. 

Read more ...
What is the difference between filing a K1 visa and Form I-130?

What is the difference between filing a K1 visa and Form I-130?

Whether you apply for a K1 fiancé(e) visa or a spousal visa mostly depends on the U.S. petitioner’s immigration status and whether you are married. Only a U.S. citizen’s fiancé(e) can apply for a K-1 fiancé(e) visa; a lawful permanent resident’s fiancé(e) cannot apply for a K-1 visa. If you have seen each other in person in the last two years but are not able to get married in the near future, you might want to apply for a K-1 fiancé(e) visa so your fiancé(e) can come to the U.S. sooner. If you are already married, you can apply for a spousal visa.

Read more ...
How can I expedite my family immigration application?

How can I expedite my family immigration application?

USCIS considers all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis. USCIS may require additional documentation to support such requests and has the sole discretion to decide whether to accommodate a request. Unfortunately, the need to obtain employment authorization by itself, without evidence of other compelling factors, does not warrant expedited treatment.

Read more ...
Do I have to leave the U.S. while my I-601A waiver is pending?

Do I have to leave the U.S. while my I-601A waiver is pending?

With the I-601A provisional waiver, you can rest assured that you will not have to depart the U.S. while your application is pending. If your I-601A is approved, you will be able to leave the U.S. and attend an immigrant visa interview abroad. At that stage, you will have peace of mind knowing that you have the approved waiver in your hands, and you will be able to return to the U.S. to be reunited with your family soon.   

Read more ...
I am applying for a green card through marriage. Should our friends and family write us letters of support?

I am applying for a green card through marriage. Should our friends and family write us letters of support?

Letters from friends and family members attesting to the genuineness of your marriage can help your green card application. When USCIS receives a marriage green card application, one of USCIS’s primary goals is to determine which applications are fraudulent and which are genuine. People who enter into fake marriages solely for the purpose of obtaining a green card usually do not want to tell their friends and family that they are married.

Read more ...
How can I get my approved I-130 transferred to the NVC?

How can I get my approved I-130 transferred to the NVC?

If you leave the U.S. while your Form I-485 application to adjust status is pending and before you received an advance parole document, you will be deemed to have abandoned your Form I-485 application. You cannot simply return to the U.S. However, USCIS can still continue to process your Form I-130. You can use the consular processing procedure to receive an immigrant visa outside the U.S. After USCIS approves your Form I-130, you must file Form I-824 to transfer your immigration application to the National Visa Center.

Read more ...
I’m applying for a green card for my wife. How many years of tax returns do I need to provide?

I’m applying for a green card for my wife. How many years of tax returns do I need to provide?

When a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident submits a petition to apply for a foreign family member, the petitioner must demonstrate that he/she has sufficient financial support to support the family member’s living expenses in the U.S. The purpose of this rule is to ensure the foreign family member will not become a public charge in the U.S. The petitioner must submit a complete tax return for the most recent year. The petitioner can provide the most recent three years’ of tax returns, but only the most recent year’s tax return is required. 

Read more ...