How long adjustment of status

This is to ensure that the marriage is genuine and not merely entered into for the purpose of obtaining a green card.

The typical adjustment of status interview lasts about 20 minutes. However, you might wait in the waiting room much longer than that before the USCIS officer calls you in. Be sure to have a full meal beforehand, as you are not allowed to bring food into the building. The USCIS officer who calls you in to his or her desk will begin by swearing you in asking you to stand and raise your right hand and promise to tell the truth and checking your photo identification.

Then the officer will look at your file, asking you questions off your forms in some cases such as your address and place of birth , simply to confirm that you are the person in the application and that your personal information hasn't changed.

The officer will also ask to see the documents that you brought along, to verify their validity and make sure you are still eligible for the green card. If, for example, you were applying to immigrate as the unmarried son or daughter or a U. A similar result might occur if you had recently been convicted of a crime. If your green card application is employment-based, you can expect to be questioned about your job, your qualifications, and your employer.

Family-based green card applicants will typically be questioned about their sponsor and relationship with the sponsor. The officer will want to confirm that the immigrant and sponsor have a genuine relationship and that the sponsor has not sponsored someone merely to enable them to get a green card. If you are applying based on marriage, the officer will also ask questions about your how you met, your relationship, and your marriage. In addition to assembling everything on that list, make sure to bring along:.

The officer will want to know if there are any changes in your life since the application for adjustment of status that could affect your status, so bring any documentation to back up these changes original and copy for the file.

Examples include the birth certificate of any recently born children, evidence of the family petitioner's new employer, and so forth. You can have your attorney accompany you. Your visa category depends on the type of green card application family, employment, etc. You may be asked to have an adjustment of status interview. Bring all of your original documents to the interview.

An officer will put you under oath to ask questions about your green card application. You can track your adjustment of status application status during your green card process.

The adjustment of status application requires a Form I You will need to thoroughly read through the document and fill out all the necessary questions. You will need to present required material and evidence to support your green card application. In general, the following will be required along with your Form I Additional information and supporting evidence will be required when completing and filing Form I depending on your adjustment of status category.

For example, to apply for family preference, you must have proof that you maintained lawful residency in the United States since your arrival. Form I fees vary depending on age and status. Remember that you must pay your immigrant petition form in addition to the adjustment of status fees. The Form I processing time for green cards does depend on your current status, your country, and the amount of people applying for a particular green card. Your immigration attorney will be able to clarify your individual time frame.

The I timeline may take a long time. The process for applying for an adjustment of status can be a long process and requires avid attention to detail.

Having an attorney to help gather evidence, conduct thorough reviews of documents, assess individualized timelines, and support you can make all the difference in applying for your adjustment of status.

The adjustment of status timeline varies and may take years. The experienced immigration lawyers of Chicago are seasoned in green card applications and can direct you each step throughout the entire process. The attorneys at Scott D.

Our attorneys have over seven decades of combined experience in immigration law. Contact us today to start your adjustment of status application. Iraqi Nationals with Final Removal Orders. An immigration lawyer responds to a humanitarian crisis. New policy memo from the Executive Office of Immigration Review. Step 2 : Have your sponsor file the appropriate petition for your green card category:.

The timeline for this can vary between several months to well over a year , depending on your individual circumstances.

Step 4 : Once USCIS grants your petition, you can check for up-to-date visa availability for your green card category. This will vary depending on your circumstances, green card category, and country of origin. Step 5 : Once a visa is available, file your adjustment of status application Form I Step 6 : After receiving your I form, USCIS will mail you a date, time, and location to take your fingerprints and eye scan also known as a biometrics appointment.

Step 7 : Based on the information provided in the I form and the background checks conducted by USCIS, you may or may not be required to attend an in-person interview. If you are called for an interview, the officer will place you under oath and ask you questions about your application.

In some cases you might also be called for a follow-up interview. Step 9 : You will eventually receive a decision either granting or denying your application. If your application is granted, you will receive an approval notice in the mail, followed a little later by your physical green card.

Boundless stays with you until the green card finish line, helping you keep on top of interview preparation, follow-on forms, and every other important milestone along your immigration journey. Learn more , or check your eligibility for free. You can check for updates on your green card application by entering your case number on the USCIS website.

This will provide you with information and updates throughout your green card application, including when the green card has been approved.

With Boundless, you get the peace of mind that comes with having an independent immigration attorney who answers your confidential questions and reviews your entire green card application — for no additional fee. Ready to start?

Learn more about what you get with Boundless, or check your eligibility now. The exciting day arrives and you receive your green card in the mail. You can now work and live freely across the United States, travel overseas and return, and benefit from a pathway to eventual U. If you changed your status through marriage, and were recently married, you might receive a conditional green card good for two years.

To be eligible for citizenship, you must pay your taxes, not be convicted of a crime, and not leave the United States for extended periods without a reentry permit.