Most green card holders wait five years before they can apply for U.S. citizenship. Spouses of U.S. citizens do not have to wait as long. Under the N-400 three year rule, a lawful permanent resident who is married to and living with a U.S. citizen spouse can apply for naturalization […]
Category: Family Based Immigration
Many people assume that only a U.S. citizen can sponsor a family member for a green card. That is not the case. A lawful permanent resident, commonly known as a green card holder, can also file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of certain family members. Filing Form […]
A Form I-485 denial can be one of the most stressful moments in a marriage based green card case. Many applicants believe that marriage to a U.S. citizen automatically protects them from immigration problems. In reality, a marriage certificate is only one part of the case. USCIS must still decide […]
When Form I-130 is approved, many applicants believe the most difficult part of the process is over. While the petition approval is a significant milestone, it does not grant any immigration status by itself. Instead, it moves the case into the next phase, which differs depending on whether the foreign […]
Conditional permanent residents who obtained their green card through a marriage that was less than two years old must eventually file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. This petition allows the conditional resident to transition from a two year conditional green card to a full ten year permanent resident […]