Get Help from Our Adjustment of Status Attorney in Washington, DC

Are you living in Washington, DC, and have recently applied for a green card? If so, congratulations on taking the first step towards becoming a lawful permanent resident. However, there is another step to the process, one to secure your immigration status. Failure to take this step could put your status in the United States at risk. If you’ve filed for a green card on your own, you may not know about this requirement.

MyImmigration can help ensure you don’t lose your right to stay in the country despite filing for a green card.

Without an advanced degree in immigration law and years of experience, it’s too easy to make a mistake when submitting your forms to USCIS. The process and its regulations are complex, complicated, and confusing. Don’t attempt to file alone. Let us help you file everything correctly.

What Does Adjustment of Status Mean?

Anyone who is in the United States on a visa, either for employment or something else, and who wants to stay permanently in the country will need to jump through quite a few hoops. To legally reside in the country and enjoy more of the benefits that it offers, you’ll need to obtain a green card. Simply filing for a green card doesn’t extend your visa, and due to the long processing time to acquire a green card, it could expire. However, filing for an adjustment of status “pauses the clock” on your visa’s expiration, allowing you to stay legally in the U.S. while your residency application is under review.

Who Needs to File for an Adjustment of Status?

There are many different scenarios where an immigrant would need to file for an adjustment of status, and there are far too many to outline here fully. To have an idea of how complex and confusing this can be, here are a few examples of when an adjustment of status is necessary.

Employment-Based Green Cards

Immigrants seeking employment-based residency need to work together with their employers.

The employer or business needs to file Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker).
The immigrant employee will file Form I-485 (Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) after Form 1-140 has been approved.

Immediate Relatives of United States Citizens

The parents, spouses, and children of U.S. citizens who’ve applied for a green card are required to file the following forms:

First, the sponsoring family member should file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative).
Then, the immigrant must file Form I-485 (Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).

If the person filing for permanent residency is physically within the United States, both forms can be submitted simultaneously.

K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Holders

Romantic partners who have entered the United States on a K-1 visa must adjust their status to stay in the country while waiting for their green card approval.

First, the U.S. citizen fiancé(e) files Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) to sponsor their foreign romantic partner for the purpose of marriage.
Once the foreign fiancé(e) enters the U.S. and marries the U.S. citizen within 90 days, they can then file Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) and remain legally in the country.

Immigration Requirements Can Be Confusing

With each immigration scenario being different, knowing what to file and when can be difficult to understand. Filing incorrectly will cause delays and could cost you money since USCIS filing fees are non-refundable.

Do you have any of the following questions?

How and when to file for an adjustment of status?
Confused about the differences between Form I-485 and Form I-130?
Have questions about your criminal record and if they’ll cause U.S. immigration problems?
Need help with how to apply for a green card?

An immigration expert at MyImmigration can help to put your mind at ease.

Contact a MyImmigration Washington, DC Adjustment of Status Attorney Today

Don’t put your immigration status at risk. Rather than digging through mountains of information about how and when to file, why not simply contact a Washington, DC, adjustment of status lawyer?