The truth is, hiring an immigration lawyer is not compulsory during the process of getting your Green Card. That is, if your papers and documents are all clear and you understand the process. In fact, in many cases, all your lawyer can do is prepare your paperwork and follow up your application with the consulate.
Full Answer
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."
Do Not Sell My Personal Information If you are interested in obtaining a green card in order to live, work, and stay in the United States for more than just a temporary time period, then you probably know that the rules and procedures are complicated. U.S. immigration law is full of exceptions and inconsistencies.
The forms and documents required can be overwhelming, government delays or mix-ups are inevitable, and mistakes by the applicant can have disastrous consequences. In short, though you are not required to get an attorney, most people are happy with their decision to have done so.
It takes lawyers years just to become comfortable with the ins and outs of various types of visas, green cards, and other benefits.
Getting an employer sponsored green card is a 3-step process. First, your employer is required to get an approved Labor Certification from the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Second, your employer must file an immigrant petition on your behalf (Form I-140).
Currently (2021), there is no fee for filing the PERM application with the DOL. However, there is a substantial fee that employers are expected to pay when filing the I-140 petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It's $700 as of early 2021.
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.
There are several ways to go about this.If you are looking for a new job, make it clear that you want to be sponsored at your final interview. ... Set up a formal discussion with your boss after several months at the job. ... Check your company's policy regarding permanent residency. ... Try to qualify for EB1.More items...
This can take anywhere from six months to several years to complete. Obtaining approval of the I-140 petition on behalf of the foreign worker. This step takes an average of approximately four months to complete, but an expediting procedure is available that reduces this to 15 business days.
Our Tips for Asking Sponsorship Related Questions During an InterviewWill I be expected to cover any of the processing fees for the H-1B visa?Will your company hire a lawyer to help with the process?Will your company help obtain visas for my family members as well?Will your company cover my travel expenses?More items...•
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.
The 90-day rule states that non-immigrant visa holders who marry U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents or apply for adjustment of status within 90 days of arriving in the U.S. are automatically presumed to have misrepresented their original nonimmigrant intentions.
You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice. (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page).
Just like with the I-140, USCIS requires a filing fee with the I-485 application. The employer is NOT required to be the one to pay this filing fee.
Talk to your employer about your eligibility. Your employer can call the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office at 1-800-357-2099 to get more information about permanent employment eligibility categories for immigrants.
How to Sponsor an Individual for an H-1B VisaStep 1: Review the Job Description to Ensure It Qualifies as a Specialty Occupation. ... Step 2: Determine the Rate of Pay for the Position. ... Step 3: Notify the U.S. Workforce. ... Step 4: Submit Labor Condition Application (LCA/Form 9035/9035E) to the DOL for Certification.More items...