Applying for a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen is one of the quickest ways a qualifying foreign national may obtain a U.S. green card (permanent residency). Unlike many other immigration benefits, you can apply for a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen (aka adjust status to a U.S. permanent resident) even if you have overstayed a visa.
The green card through marriage process entails numerous forms, legal issues, filings, receipts, government correspondence, and finally an interview. The green card marriage application process can take anywhere from approximately 3.5 months to over a year and it often has a lot to do with where the couple resides and which local office is adjudicating the case. In New York City, we have seen a recent trend of processing properly prepared and filed cases in a timely manner. In fact, our recent experience has shown cases being scheduled for interviews in as little as approximately 3.5 months from the date the application has been received by USCIS.
To give you a better idea of just how quickly some cases have been processed in New York City, we have provided to real case examples that our firm recently handled for clients residing in New York City. Please keep in mind that both cases were prepared and filed by an immigration attorney highly experienced with family based immigration law matters.
The applications submitted in these cases were the following: Immigrant Petition, Adjustment of Status, Work Authorization, and Advance Parole. Both couples were residing in New York City and the New York City USCIS office oversaw the adjudication of both applications. The biometrics appointments for both cases were conducted at 201 Varick Street and the interviews for both cases were conducted at 26 Federal Plaza.
Example One
- May 26, 2009: All applications sent via Federal Express for overnight delivery to USCIS
- June 1, 2009: Receipts issued by USCIS for all applications
- June 4, 2009: Notice issued by USCIS providing the place, date, and time for the biometrics appointment
- June 22, 2009: Biometrics appointment
- June 24, 2009: Work Authorization approved
- July 6, 2009: Advance Parole approval approved
- August 5, 2009: Notice for Interview Request issued providing the place, date, and time for interview
- September 9, 2009: Interview for adjustment of status (stamp placed in passport)
- September 9, 2009: Permanent residency approved
- Green Card received in the mail within 2-4 weeks
Example Two
- July 22, 2009: All applications sent via Federal Express for overnight delivery to USCIS
- July 28, 2009: Receipts issued by USCIS for all applications
- July 30, 2009: Notice issued by USCIS providing the place, date, and time for the biometrics appointment
- August 26, 2009: Biometrics appointment
- September 3, 2009: Work Authorization approved
- September 16, 2009: Advance Parole approval approved
- September 24, 2009: Notice for Interview Request issued providing the place, date, and time for interview
- October 27, 2009: Interview for adjustment of status (stamp placed in passport)
- October 27, 2009: Permanent residency approved
- Green Card received in the mail within 2-4 weeks
Please keep in mind that both of these cases were fully prepared and filed by an experienced immigration attorney. Regardless of your situation, competent legal counsel is important through all parts of the green card through marriage application process and therefore it is strongly advised that you work with an attorney experienced in these matters before moving forward. A green card is a highly sought after U.S. immigration benefit and something that should be pursued with great care.
Douglas M. Lightman, Esq. is the principal and founding attorney of Lightman Law Firm LLC, a boutique law firm located in New York City with a focus on U.S. immigration law. The firm focuses on both family immigration and business immigration. Some of the more common services provided by the firm on the family immigration end deal with green card through marriage applications, K-1 fiance visas, K-3 marriage visas, immigrant relative petitions, and other family related matters. On the business end, the firm provides services in connection with employment based green card applications, work visas such as the H1B visa, the L-1 visa for intracompany transferees, the O-1 visa for artists and entertainers, the TN visas for Canadians and Mexicans, and visas for investors and traders. The firm also handles various matters relating to citizenship and naturalization.
Please contact us at the following for more information about Lightman Law Firm: New York Immigration Lawyer.
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