how to get green card through lawyer

by Prof. Nikko White III 9 min read

Whether or not you have a lawyer, you will go through the same process to get a Green Card, also known as a Permanent Resident Card. #1) Meet eligibility. First, you must meet eligibility requirements to be able to apply for a Green Card.

Full Answer

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

In short, though you are not required to get an attorney, most people are happy with their decision to have done so. (See this survey on Family-Based Green Cards: Are Immigration Lawyers Worth the Cost?) What's So Difficult About Applying for a Green Card? The U.S. immigration system is widely regarded as "broken."

How much do lawyers charge for green card applications?

Here’s what we learned about how many applicants hired lawyers, what they paid for legal help in presenting their application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and what they had to say about their experiences with immigration attorneys. Almost all green-card applicants paid their lawyers a flat fee.

Which is the best law firm for green card holders?

Hands down, Ashoori Law is a firm that you can rely on. As a greencard holder working abroad, It can be quite a struggle to do your own legwork in applying for a travel document especially in these trying times with the pandemic.

Can I apply for a green card without leaving the US?

If you are currently in the United States, an immigrant visa is immediately available to you as an EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 immigrant, and you meet certain other requirements, you may file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to apply for a Green Card without leaving the country.

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Can a lawyer speed up the green card process?

The immigration process can be intimidating and take a long time, but hiring an immigration attorney to support you with your case can speed up the process and help you meet your goals.

Do I need a lawyer to file for a green card?

U.S. Immigration law does not require you to have a lawyer represent you for a green card. If you are already married, then the person who is already a U.S. citizen will petition for their partner. If this is the case, you must fill out three forms for a marriage green card.

Can you buy a green card legally?

Investors can get green cards if they put enough money into U.S. businesses. Foreign nationals who invest at least $1,000,000 into a new business or $500,000 into a business in one of the targeted employment areas can then apply for their green card.

Do law firms sponsor green card?

The Firm may, in its discretion, sponsor its lawyers working in the United States for lawful permanent resident status, also known as “green card” status.

Is it worth getting an immigration lawyer?

Hiring an immigration lawyer adds additional legal fees to your case, but often it comes with numerous benefits. Hiring an immigration lawyer can save you time and stress and increase your chances of success.

What is the easiest way to get a green card?

The simplest way to get a Green Card is through the Green Card Lottery. The U.S. Department of State gives away 55,000 Green Cards through the Diversity Visa Program every year.

What is the fastest way to get U.S. citizenship?

What Is the Easiest Way to Become a US Citizen?Citizenship Through Naturalization.Citizenship Through Marriage.Citizenship Through Parents.Citizenship Through the Military.

Can I buy U.S. citizenship?

US Citizenship by investment EB-5 and E2 are not a citizenship by investment program, However; after getting a Green Card via the EB-5 visa route, investors can apply for USA citizenship after five years of Permanent Residency. This process is known as Naturalization.

Can I get green card if I buy house in USA?

“Will I qualify to receive a green card because I bought a house in the United States?” No. You can't get a green card simply by buying a house in the U.S. In fact, owning real estate doesn't ordinarily give you any visa or other immigration benefits.

Can any job give you a green card?

In theory, almost any U.S. job or company could sponsor a non-citizen for an employment-based visa or green card to immigrate to the United States.

Can a job give me a green card?

As a working professional, you may qualify for a green card by receiving a job offer from a United States employer. This can be one of the best ways to get your green card. The process is straightforward and can be completed quickly.

Do lawyers qualify for H1B?

H-1B Visas (Person in Specialty Occupation): The professional must be hired in a specialty occupation that requires a Bachelor's degree or higher, or its equivalent. Examples of specialty occupations for H-1B visas include engineers, architects, lawyers, physicians, and other professional positions.

How immigration attorneys help deal not only with legal analysis, but paperwork and government bureaucracy

How immigration attorneys help deal not only with legal analysis, but paperwork and government bureaucracy.

What's So Difficult About Applying for a Green Card?

The U.S. immigration system is widely regarded as "broken." 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.

But I Like Doing Things Myself!

A few hours trying to fill out immigration forms, and you might just change your mind. True, the more knowledgeable you are about the process you're about to undertake, and about the work you're paying the lawyer to perform, the better off you'll be.

Do you have an immigration issue that needs solving? Are you trying to get a green card, or avoid deportation?

There are so many lawyers out there, and everyone is going to tell you they are the best. But when you — or a loved one — find yourself trying to remain in the United States, you can’t afford to make any mistakes, or have the wrong lawyer make them for you. So how do you cut through all the static and find the best green card lawyer you can find?

Here are 8 Tips to Help You Find the Best Green Card Lawyer

Be wary of overblown promises and unethical advice We all want to believe in the best outcomes for ourselves or our families. It seems easy to go with the lawyer that says what you want to hear the most. But can the lawyer actually deliver? Make sure you aren’t just going with the person that is making unrealistic promises to you.

Does Harlan York know about Green Card Lawyers? Read a review from a happy client

I first met Mr. York in 2011 and prior to that I had other immigration attorney's for my case. I waited around for 15+ years with different attorney's to resolve my case - which Mr. York's and his team (Lauren and Riki) took 2 1/2 years to resolve.

UPDATE: THE RISK OF FIGHTING DEPORTATION HAS BEEN RAISED

On July 5, 2018, USCIS released guidance about Notices to Appear (NTA). An NTA is the document that Immigration authorities use to initiate removal (deportation) cases. NTAs demand that immigrants must appear before the US Immigration Court.

Why you need a lawyer to get a Green Card through Marriage

People always ask me, “Do I need a lawyer to get a green card through marriage?”

Do lawyers help with application?

In addition to assisting with the application forms, a lawyer can help you gather the necessary documents and prepare for the interview.

Do immigration lawyers charge flat fees?

Immigration attorneys normally charge a “flat,” or fixed, fee rather than billing by the hour. In fact, our survey showed that 96% of our readers paid their lawyers a flat fee to handle their adjustment-of-status applications. Most immigration applicants prefer fixed legal fees, because they know from the start exactly what it will cost. And in standard cases, lawyers are able to predict approximately how much time they will need to spend.

How to get a green card without a sponsor?

There are also ways to get a green card without a US company sponsor. Two of these ways are: (1) the EB1A visa; and (2) the National Interest Waiver. Through both of these options, you do not need a job offer and you do not need a company to file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf. Instead, you apply for the immigrant visa on your own behalf.

How to sponsor foreign workers for green card?

To sponsor foreign workers for a green card, a US employer must get a Labor Certification through the Department of Labor. Getting an approved Labor Certification requires your employer to show that they were unable to find a qualified US worker to fill the position that they are hiring you for.

How to get an EB1A visa?

To get an EB1A visa: You must have an extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business, education, or athletics. You must seek to enter the United States to continue working in your field of extraordinary ability. Your entry to the United States must substantially benefit the United States.

What are the requirements for an EB1A visa?

There are 3 requirements for getting an EB1A visa: 1. You must demonstrate that you have an extraordinary ability in a particular field in the arts, sciences, business, education, or athletics. 2. You seek to enter the United States to continue to work in the field of your extraordinary ability. 3.

What are the benefits of self petitioning for a green card?

1. You do not need a job offer from a US company. Many qualified professionals have a lot of difficulty securing a job offer from a US company.

How long does it take to get a labor certification?

The Labor Certification is issued by the Department of Labor and the process can take anywhere from 3 to 7 months. By apply for a green card through self petition, you can avoid the wait time it takes to get an approved labor certification.

Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

ALERT: There are an exceptionally high number of employment-based visas available this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022).

Eligibility for Adjustment of Status

An immigrant visa is immediately available to you at the time you file your Form I-485 and at the time USCIS makes a final decision on your application. (For information on visa availability, see Visa Availability and Priority Dates, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts, and the Department of State website to view the Visa Bulletin );

Bars to Adjustment

Depending on how you entered the United States or if you committed a particular act or violation of immigration law, you may be barred from adjusting status. You are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status if one or more bars to adjustment listed in section 245 (c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) apply to you.

Grounds of Inadmissibility

To qualify for a Green Card, you must be admissible to the United States. Reasons why you may be inadmissible are listed in the INA 212 (a) and are called grounds of inadmissibility.

How to Apply

If you are currently in the United States, an immigrant visa is immediately available to you as an EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 immigrant, and you meet certain other requirements, you may file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to apply for a Green Card without leaving the country.

What to Submit (Principal Applicant)

As the named Form I-140 beneficiary, you are the applicant of the Form I-485 and supplements. As the applicant, you should submit the following documentation and evidence to apply for a Green Card as an employment-based immigrant who is already in the United States:

Family Members

If you are the spouse or unmarried child under 21 years of age of an employment-based principal applicant, you may apply for a Green Card as a derivative applicant. For more information on derivatives and eligibility for adjustment of status, please see USCIS Policy Manual Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 6, Section C, Subsection C - Derivatives .

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