USA green card: Consult an expert before applying
Many people obtain a USA green card via marriage to a US citizen. The process is a long and cumbersome one, including multiple forms, filings, legal processing, etc. followed by the final interview. This procedure can take anywhere from 3 months to 1 year or more. The duration depends on the location of the couple and the local office that is associated with all the proceedings. In New York, for instance, the process is not as long as in other cities/states.
Let's take a look at a real time example of the procedure you would have to undergo, with the most probable time-lines collected form a leading immigration help agency. Following is a list of the applications that were submitted:
Immigrant Petition Adjustment of Status Work Authorization Advance Parole
The couple mentioned below were living in New York, and the adjudicating authority was the New York City.
June 26, 2009: All applications sent via Federal Express for overnight delivery to USCIS July 1, 2009: Receipts issued by USCIS for all applications July 4, 2009: Notice issued by USCIS providing the place, date, and time for the biometrics appointment July 22, 2009: Biometrics appointment July 24, 2009: Work Authorization approved August 6, 2009: Advance Parole approval approved September 5, 2009: Notice for Interview Request issued providing the place, date, and time for interview October 9, 2009: Interview for adjustment of status (stamp placed in passport) October 9, 2009: Permanent residency approved
The green card was received in 3 weeks.
The major advantage in this case was that an expert immigration attorney had handled this USA green card application case. I am pretty certain that without such help, it would not have been possible to achieve this result within such a short span of time, since there were many documents and legal proceedings involved.
So in the end, I would just like to say that if you or your would-be spouse are going to apply for a USA green card, it's best to take professional help, since you would be certainly taking the much longer route if you are on your own.
Let's take a look at a real time example of the procedure you would have to undergo, with the most probable time-lines collected form a leading immigration help agency. Following is a list of the applications that were submitted:
Immigrant Petition Adjustment of Status Work Authorization Advance Parole
The couple mentioned below were living in New York, and the adjudicating authority was the New York City.
June 26, 2009: All applications sent via Federal Express for overnight delivery to USCIS July 1, 2009: Receipts issued by USCIS for all applications July 4, 2009: Notice issued by USCIS providing the place, date, and time for the biometrics appointment July 22, 2009: Biometrics appointment July 24, 2009: Work Authorization approved August 6, 2009: Advance Parole approval approved September 5, 2009: Notice for Interview Request issued providing the place, date, and time for interview October 9, 2009: Interview for adjustment of status (stamp placed in passport) October 9, 2009: Permanent residency approved
The green card was received in 3 weeks.
The major advantage in this case was that an expert immigration attorney had handled this USA green card application case. I am pretty certain that without such help, it would not have been possible to achieve this result within such a short span of time, since there were many documents and legal proceedings involved.
So in the end, I would just like to say that if you or your would-be spouse are going to apply for a USA green card, it's best to take professional help, since you would be certainly taking the much longer route if you are on your own.