Understanding Immediate Relative (IR-1) And Conditional Resident (CR-1) Visas For Spouses of U.S. Citizens
A U.S. citizen is eligible to sponsor a spouse to immigrate to the United States as long as certain criteria are met. The type of visa that is issued and the resulting permanent resident status differs based on the length of the marriage at the time that the beneficiary spouse is issued a visa or […]
What is Selective Service and Who Must Register?
In the United States, the Selective Service System plays a vital role in preparedness for national emergencies by maintaining a list of potential military draftees. While mandatory military conscription has not been in effect since the Vietnam War, the requirement for men, including lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”), to register with the Selective Service remains a […]
A Child Born Outside The U.S. To A Lawful Permanent Resident May Not Need A Visa To Enter the United States
If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) of the U.S. and you had a child born outside of the U.S., your child is not required to have an immigrant visa to travel with you to the United States if: The child was born during the LPR mother’s temporary visit abroad; The child’s admission to […]
How Can a Lawful Permanent Resident Green Card Holder Become a U.S. Citizen?
A Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) or “Green Card Holder” can become a U.S. citizen through naturalization if they generally meet certain requirements. LPR Status/ Green Card Holder Status. You must be an LPR/ Green Card Holder at the time of filing for naturalization. You must have also maintained their LPR/ Green Card Holder status without […]
Why Did My Priority Date Jump Backwards in the Visa Bulletin?
For many people who are immigrating to the United States, the Department of State (“DOS”) Visa Bulletin is the most important document to watch each month. The Visa Bulletin helps immigrant visa applicants understand their place in line for a visa. Although checking the Visa Bulletin is an essential step in understanding an applicant’s place […]
The Visa Waiting Time for Spouses and Unmarried Children Under the Age of 21 of Lawful Permanent Residents
Family-based immigration is an important aspect of the United States immigration system, which allows citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor their immediate relatives to immigrate to the United States. One of the family-based immigrant visa categories is the Family-Based Second Preference immigrant visa category, commonly abbreviated as F2A and F2B categories. The F2A category […]
USCIS Updates its Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants
Effective December 12, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) updated the USCIS Policy Manual to allow it to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called “Green Cards”) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization to become U.S. citizens. This update is expected to help naturalization applicants who experience […]
Should I Apply for a Reentry Permit if I Need to Travel Outside the United States?
If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) and need to travel outside the U.S for a temporary trip abroad, you generally do not need to apply for any special document to return to the United States. Your valid Form I-551, more commonly known as a “Green Card”, is usually the only document you need […]
USCIS to Replace Sticker That Extends Validity of Green Cards
Starting in January 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). The new document will be a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action (“Notice”). An LPR must file […]
What do I need to show to reenter the U.S. after being outside for a long time because of COVID-19?
We have covered several issues in our series on how to protect your lawful permanent resident status and green card if you have been outside the United States and have been unable to return because of COVID-19. COVID-19 Reference Guide If you are able to reenter within 1 year of your last date of departure […]