how long should a lawyer take to prepare green card

by Dr. Dayne Macejkovic 8 min read

How long does it take to get a green card after filing?

The law itself is torturously difficult to understand. It takes lawyers years just to become comfortable with the ins and outs of various types of visas, green cards, and other benefits.

How long does it take to become a good immigration lawyer?

Jul 31, 2019 · The time estimates often vary from field office to field office and petition type. For example, in California, the time estimate for an I-485 application is 10 to 31.5 months, but in Memphis it’s 5.5 to 21 months, and in Nashville it’s 10 to 16.5 months. Employment-based petitions are processed sequentially (in the order received).

Do I need an immigration lawyer to get a green card?

Apr 07, 2020 · While you may not be able to expedite the application process, understanding what is required of you and how long it could take can be beneficial. It can take anywhere from seven to thirty-three months for your green card application to be processed.

How do I renew my green card?

John Carter. According to official USCIS information, green card renewal can take between 11.5 to 13 months. The time it takes varies according to a number of factors, including: Whether you have properly completed all forms; Whether you have properly submitted all supporting documents; The scheduling of your biometric appointment; and.

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Can a lawyer speed up the green card process?

While an immigration attorney cannot per say “speed up” your case, the immigration attorney is knowledgeable in immigration law and will know the best strategy and options for your case. Undeniably, this avoids any unreasonable delay by anyone lacking specialized knowledge in this area of law.

How long does it take to prepare a green card application?

Depending on the office where you apply for your Green Card, it can take anything from 7 months to 33 months if you are fortunate. Some USCIS offices are busier than others and some consulates or embassies abroad may take longer to help you.Mar 15, 2022

Should I bring attorney to my green card interview?

Though the interview does not require your immigration and naturalization attorney to be present, there are benefits of having a lawyer at citizenship interview. The experienced attorneys at Scott D. Pollock & Associates P.C. are able to help you study, prepare, and protect you during your citizenship interview.

How long does it take to get green card after interview 2020?

Technically, the USCIS has to provide you with a decision on your naturalization application within 120 days of your naturalization interview. In a green card application, the USCIS is supposed to provide you with an official notification of their decision within 30 days of your interview.Mar 15, 2022

How can I get a green card fast?

If you're a close relative to a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, they can petition for you to obtain legal permanent residency. This option is the fastest and most popular path to getting a green card. U.S. citizens are permitted to petition for immediate relatives, including: Spouses.Oct 20, 2021

Why does it take so long to get a green card?

The bottom line is, the supply of visas often fails to meet the demand, and waiting lists develop in most visa-preference categories. The waits are especially long for people attempting to immigrate from China, Mexico, India, and the Philippines, due to the high demand from those countries.

Does USCIS know everything about you?

Did they get caught lying? The simple answer, of course, is that it is impossible to know whether USCIS knows if an applicant for a green card or for naturalization is lying to them. The safe assumption is that they DO know everything about you and that, if you lie in the interview, you will be caught.

How do I prepare for USCIS green card interview?

Green Card Interview TipsBe honest and open. Think of the interview as an opportunity to give the officer a window into your life as a couple, not as an obligation to portray the ideal marriage. ... Speak your mind. Some interviewing officers will ask very personal questions. ... Practice, practice, practice. ... Have fun!

How can I pass my green card interview?

7 Tips To Pass Your Immigration InterviewArrive on time. ... Wait for your Attorney. ... Dress appropriately. ... Listen to the Questions Asked and Respond Appropriately. ... Bring an Interpreter. ... Bring a set of original documents and a duplicate set of copies. ... More is better than less.

Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2021?

This backlog is largely due to the USCIS office closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Form I-131 (“Application for Travel Document – Advance Parole”): Applications for advance parole saw a large increase in processing times, from 4.6 months in FY 2020 to 7.7 months in FY 2021.

How do I know if my green card is approved?

You can check your case status by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. You will need your receipt number when you call in. This is useful if you do not have access to a computer to check your green card status.Jul 6, 2021

What is the current wait time for green card?

In most cases, it takes about two years for a green card to become available, and the entire process takes around three years.

Becoming a permanent resident of the United States is always a lengthy process. However, there are several common application pitfalls that can draw it out further

The process of becoming a lawful permanent resident of the United States can be expensive, stressful, and drawn-out. Unfortunately, there is little to no way around this reality. While you may not be able to expedite the application process, understanding what is required of you and how long it could take can be beneficial.

How Quickly Can I Get a Green Card?

In general, you can’t speed up the application process time. However, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you have your application processed as quickly as possible. Listed below are a few steps that can reduce the amount of time.

How Long Will it Take to Receive My Green Card After it is Approved?

It takes a long time to have a green card application approved. After it is, it will still take a few more weeks to have it mailed to your residence. In the meanwhile, you will be provided with a letter or a passport stamp indicating that you are a lawful permanent resident.

What causes delays in green card processing?

There are numerous other matters that can cause variations in processing times. Receipt of requests for evidence (RFEs), can slow the processing times. Putting aside retrogression, enormous variations in processing times are evident at the various service centers and local USCIS offices. While most employment-based green card cases for professionals are ruled upon at the service centers, some are sent to the local USCIS offices for interview. This can cause additional months of delay.

How long does it take to file a Perm case?

The case can only be filed after the 30 days. Thus, the time required for preparation of a PERM case is a combination of this quiet period, a 30-day State Workforce Agency (SWA) job order requirement, a number of recruitment requirements, a job posting, and the need to obtain a prevailing wage determination.

How long does it take to get a Perm?

Department of Labor (DOL) estimates processing times of up to 60 days. Historically, PERM processing timeframes have ranged from a few days to more than six months. If there is an audit by the DOL, there would be an extended delay.

What is the medical exam required for a US citizen?

It is necessary to have a medical exam, which means waiting for a doctor’s appointment and test results. It is also necessary to document immigration status history, provide birth and marriage records, and biographical information.

How long does it take to renew a green card?

According to official USCIS information, green card renewal can take between 11.5 to 13 months. The time it takes varies according to a number of factors, including: Whether you have properly completed all forms; Whether you have properly submitted all supporting documents; The scheduling of your biometric appointment; and.

How long does it take for a green card to expire?

Federal law requires you to renew your green card before it expires. This article only discusses the standard issued green cards that expire after 10 years. If you were issued a conditional green card, you need to remove conditions by filing the following forms:

What happens if my green card expires?

If your green card expires, you do not lose your permanent resident status. Your green card is only a source of identification. You show your green card to prove you are: a lawful permanent resident. authorized to live and work in the United States.

How long is a reentry permit valid?

In general, a reentry permit issued to a lawful permanent resident is valid for two years after its issue date. If you have been outside the United States for more than four of the last five years, your reentry permit will only be valid for one year. This one year permit may be extended to two years if you can show:

How long can you stay outside the US with a green card?

If you were outside the U.S. for more than one year when your green card expired presents more of a challenge for you. Under U.S. immigration law, a permanent resident who has been outside the United States for more than one year is considered to have abandoned his or her permanent resident status. Thus, unless you fall within one ...

What form do I use to get a reentry permit?

If before leaving the U.S. you filed Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document) and obtained a reentry permit (Form I-327), you can use this valid unexpired reentry permit to gain entry into the United States upon your return.

Where can I get my reentry permit?

But your reentry permit can be sent to a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or a foreign Office of the Department of Homeland Security for you to pick up if you make the request on your I-131 application.

How long does it take to get a green card?

How Long Does it Take to Get Your Green Card in the Mail? Immigrants who are approved for a green card before traveling to the United States should receive their green card in the mail within 30 – 90 days of entering the country. USCIS has up to 120 days to mail the green card, but it’s pretty rare to see a case that takes longer than 90 days.

What to do if you have not received your green card?

If you have not received your green card in a timely manner (90 – 120 days for immigrants who recently entered the United States, or 60 days for immigrants applying for adjustment of status), the first step is to call the USCIS Contact Center .

What to do if you have an incorrect birth certificate?

your name is misspelled, or your birthdate is wrong), you’ll need to attach evidence to prove that the information is incorrect, such as a birth certificate or government-issued ID. You’ll also need to mail back the green card so USCIS can verify the error.

How Long Does it Take USCIS to Make a Decision?

The time it takes the USCIS to make a decision on your application depends on a lot of factors. Just two of them are what type of application you are making and where you are making your application from, as some processing centers are faster than others.

Why is it Taking USCIS So Long to Make a Decision?

As you can see above, there are a few reasons the USCIS can take long to make a decision. If you are concerned or unsure about your case’s status and want to know precisely why the USCIS is taking so long, check the status of your case and most recent updates online on the my USCIS Case Status Search page.

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Labor Certification – Perm

  • All labor certifications are filed under the PERM process. Under PERM, all cases must be pre-advertised. There is a 30-day “quiet period” following the completion of recruitment efforts. The case can only be filed after the 30 days. Thus, the time required for preparation of a PERM case is a combination of this quiet period, a 30-day State Workforce Agency (SWA) job order requireme…
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After Labor Approval – I-140 Petition

  • Following the labor certification approval, the case moves to the stages of the employer petition (I-140) and the adjustment of status (I-485). It would also be possible to select consular processing instead of I-485. This is when the time estimate becomes quite uncertain. First, there is the I-140 petition. The time it takes to prepare this for filing can depend upon the availability o…
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Adjustment of Status – I-485 Application

  • Once the labor certification is approved, the general procedures allow for concurrent filing of the I-140 and I-485. However, the I-485 cannot be filed unless the priority date is current for the particular case. The I-485 can take some time to prepare, depending upon how much work was done in advance. It is necessary to have a medical exam, which means waiting for a doctor’s ap…
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Possible Delays in Filing Due to Lack of Visa Numbers

  • So, a person may have an approved labor certification, and even an approved I-140, but not be able to move forward to the I-485 stage. This problem is severe for people from all countries in the employment-based, third preference (EB3) category, and for those from India and China in EB2. Following labor certification approval, the employer can file the I-140 petition and even obta…
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Possible Delays in Adjudication Due to Retrogression

  • If a visa number is available and a case is filed, it is still not immune to delays caused by a lack of visa numbers known as retrogression. For an I-485 to be approved there must be a visa number available on the date of the I-485 approval. Thus, if a case is filed while visa numbers are available, and then the cutoff dates move backward, or retrogress, while it is pending, the case w…
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Consular Processing

  • If one elects to take the route of consular processing, instead of adjustment of status, the analysis is similar. In this event, the I-140 is filed after the labor certification approval. It is then necessary to wait for the I-140 approval to move forward. The processing time ultimately depends upon how quickly the case moves through to an appointment at the particular consulate. This is generally …
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Other Variations

  • There are numerous other matters that can cause variations in processing times. Receipt of requests for evidence (RFEs), can slow the processing times. Putting aside retrogression, enormous variations in processing times are evident at the various service centers and local USCIS offices. While most employment-based green card cases for professionals are ruled upo…
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Conclusion

  • So, the simple question regarding how long the green card case will take is not so simple after all! We urge MurthyDotComreaders to continue to educate themselves on the immigration process, to better understand what is going on with their cases and, in many instances, what is taking so long. Copyright © MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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