Do you want to obtain an adjustment of status? Our staff at the Scheer Immigration Group is here to help you through these legal processes. If you want dedicated legal representation, please call our New Jersey Immigration Lawyers at our Morristown office today.
Consular processing once was the only means of obtaining an immigrant visa. When adjustment of status was created, it became a highly popular method of achieving permanent resident status after entering the United States.
If you have an approved immigrant visa petition and are currently residing in the United States, you may be eligible for an adjustment of status. If you are considering such a step, having an experienced lawyer is essential. At The Law Offices of Susan W. Scheer we have helped thousands of people achieve permanent resident status. To learn more about your eligibility to adjust your status, contact us for an initial consultation.
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Applying for permanent resident status is a detailed, arduous process. We have handled such matters for both employment and family based immigrants. Our firm has earned a sound reputation for excellence by leading clients through the nuances of the package of forms (the I-485 package), and providing them with realistic expectations.
Our lawyers assist family sponsors in obtaining information required to complete processing. This commonly entails proof of family relationship (such as a birth or marriage certificate) and verification of financial stability.
We understand the critical timelines involved in adjusting the immigration status for foreign employees. If you want to help your employee adjust his or her status, contact our office for more details.
Our representation encompasses the preparation necessary to complete the adjustment process. We assist in all correspondence with the National Visa Center (NVC), and address any problems and questions concerning the medical exam, background check, and interview.
Once you have your green card, we put you on a follow-up list and contact you when you are eligible to sponsor relatives. We also inform you when you are eligible to become a U.S. citizen.
Because of the enormous backlog at the USCIS, there will be delays. Nevertheless, our firm keeps all parties educated and informed during the adjustment process. We are always available to answer our clients’ questions and review any documentation with them.
>> How do I obtain an “adjustment of status”?
Consular processing once was the only means of obtaining an immigrant visa. After the Immigration and Nationality Act introduced the Adjustment of Status for Permanent Residence, it became a highly popular method of achieving permanent resident status after entering the United States.
If you have an approved immigrant visa petition and are currently residing in the United States, you may be eligible for an adjustment of status. If you are considering such a step, having an experienced lawyer is essential. Applying for permanent resident status (through what’s called the I-485 package) is a detailed, arduous process.
>> How can I obtain amnesty for being in the country without a visa?
If you have entered without examination or your visa has expired, there is a chance that you may be eligible for 245(i) status. This was a temporary provision of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act that allowed foreign nationals who entered the country illegally, had been out of status, or worked without authorization to apply for adjustment of status without being required to leave the country to do so.
Before it was ultimately rescinded, President Clinton briefly brought back the 245(i) exception for the months of January through April 2001. However, one provision permits “grandfathered” immigrants (i.e. beneficiaries of visa petitions and labor certification applications filed by April 30, 2001) to file section 245(i) adjustment applications. Another provision allows certain employment-based immigrants to file for adjustment of status under the normal procedures set forth in section 245(a), despite periods of unlawful presence in the United States.
If you applied for a visa between January and April of 2001, you would have been protected and may still be able to adjust your status now.
>> I’ve filed for an adjustment of status. Can I work before the process is complete?
Usually you will be issued a work permit 60 days after filing for an adjustment of status. You can take your work permit to the Social Security Office to get a Social Security Number, and take both your work permit and SSN to the DMV and get a driver’s license.
>> I’m seeking an adjustment of status but don’t intend to work in the U.S. Do I have to apply for a work permit, too?
Sometimes a non-citizen will marry a U.S. citizen and apply for a green card without any intention to work in the U.S. He or she might plan to be a stay-at-home parent, for example. It’s probably still a good idea to apply for a work permit, however, and to file this along with the rest of the adjustment paperwork. The work permit is an excellent form of photo identification, and it’s a great way of getting a Social Security Number during your adjustment process, instead of waiting for your final green card approval. That Social Security Number also allows you to get a driver’s license, and insurance. You might also later change your mind and decide to seek work. If you file after you secure your green card, you’ll pay a filing fee, but if you apply for a working permit during the adjustment process, there is no fee.
Contact Susan Scheer to talk to an immigration lawyer about adjustment of status.
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“Simply the best immigration attorney there is period. I will be forever grateful for everything she did for me when I went through the immigration process . From start to finish a consummate professional in every sense of the word.i have recommended Susan to everyone that has had to go through any immigration matter.”
– Sparky Lyle
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