Green Card Through a Refugee Asylum Status

If you don’t have relatives in the US, a large amount of money to invest in the national economy, or you doubt whether you can win in the lottery, political asylum can be the most convenient way to obtain a Green Card.

How to get a Green Card through Asylee Status

The one year after obtaining an immigrant status, you can fill out Form I-485. After considering your candidacy, if you are over 14 years old, USCIS will schedule a fingerprint capture. If the procedure passed successfully, GC will be sent to you. In some cases, the commission requires the personal presence of applicants to conduct an interview.

Form G-325A should be in the package of docs. Information from your bio will be described there. It is also necessary to get a report from a civilian surgeon. This document (Form I-693) confirms that you have undergone a medical check. You will be tested by a doctor appointed by USCIS. He will fill out all the fields of the form and seal it in the envelope. It can’t be opened. Send the report with other docs.

A copy of the I-94 form, documents confirming entry into the country with the date of arrival can serve as proof of your status.

In addition, you will need 2 passport photos, copies of identity card, passport pages with non-immigrant visa and admission or parole stamp (if available), birth certificate.

Your spouse and kids under the age of 21 will also be able to get GC if they have refugee status on the basis of your kinship. Each person must fill out a separate Form I-485. Add them all to the general package for sending.

Refugee and asylee statuses: are they the same

Statuses “Refugee” and “Asylee” are closely related. They are appropriated to individuals who are granted shelter in the US. However, a refugee may stay in another country at the moment of application. At the same time, an asylee is a person located in the US.

https://youtu.be/FxXCg0qo5lk

Also, a refugee must become a PR 1 year after entering the country. These requirements are not imposed on the asylees. However, obtaining a Green Card can serve their best interests.

Grounds for obtaining refugee status

If you still haven’t a refugee status and only consider it as a way of obtaining a Green Card, it is necessary to understand whether this option is suitable for you.

Political asylum is a special legal status granted to a person on the basis of a violation of his rights and freedoms at home. You can ask for protection from a foreign state in connection with the following reasons: a threat to life and health, persecution, and discrimination due to nationality, religious views, race, sexual orientation, illegal actions of state bodies (for example, police inaction or its refusal to protect you).

It seems that the list of circumstances helping to obtain the asylum gives great opportunities for moving to the United States. In fact, this is the most difficult way of immigration. After all, it will be necessary to collect irrefutable evidence of rights violation: docs, certificates, expert opinions, the testimony of witnesses. Let’s consider in more detail the grounds for obtaining refugee status and the proofs which you should collect.

Refugee status through political views

The most common reason for escaping to the US is political persecution. Many members of opposition parties and social movements, journalists of independent publications are subjected to such harassment. Evidence may include medical reports about beatings, calls to the police or prosecutor’s office, copies of the records of searches and detentions, decisions to initiate criminal proceedings.

Refugee status through nationality and religion

The grounds for a request for asylum may be discriminatory rules at work, cases of intentional destruction of property or the imposition of national traditions. In case of religious oppression, people complain about bans on rituals and holidays, wearing traditional clothes and hats.
The chances of obtaining refugee status will be much greater if you will prove the fact of discrimination by the criteria of one of the international human rights organizations, for example, Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International.

Refugee status through a sexual orientation

America accepts quite a lot of representatives of the LGBT community. The grounds for requesting asylum can be facts of beating or dismissal from work. But the applicant will have to prove that the native state didn’t protect his interests.

Other circumstances

There are situations when a violation of human rights and freedoms is not obvious and requires the more careful collection of proofs. For example, when there was a threat to life and health but police refused to provide protection. In this case, additional documents to confirm the fact of the refusal to initiate criminal proceedings, evidence of incoming threats will be needed.

Or there may be cases of illegal dismissal from work. It’s about racial, national or sexual grounds and not the lack of professionalism of the employee. Here, among other things, it is better to obtain a written testimony of witnesses confirming the discrimination by the management.

Not only those individuals whose rights are being violated at the moment can apply for asylum but also those who are afraid that being at home, they will be subjected to discrimination in the future.

When is it impossible to get a refugee status

There are categories of persons who will not be granted asylum under no circumstances:

  • members of terrorist groups (or suspected of terrorist activities);
  • citizens who have committed serious crimes;
  • people trying to escape justice in their homeland;
  • those who participated in the persecution of their compatriots;
  • financially secured people able to materially support themselves and their families;
  • those who have the permit for loving in a third country (for example, the state of the European Union).

What papers are required for getting a refugee status

You can never be absolutely sure that you have really good reasons and impressive evidence for applying for protection. Even if all the certificates, testimonies and expert opinions are in your hands, they may be not enough. There is no universal list of the necessary documents. All appeals are considered individually. There is always the possibility that your case will seem inconclusive to the immigration officer.

Like any other immigration process, search for asylum must be carefully planned. It is better not to deal with it independently and to entrust the legal part to professionals. Ignorance of laws, language, and order of documents submission can spoil the whole case at the very beginning.

Therefore, the first step is to contact a licensed immigration lawyer who is fluent in your language. He will assess the current situation, give advice on the collection of papers, prepare you for the interview at the USCIS and also come there, will represent you at the immigration court if you are refused at the first time.

Next, you need to fill out an I-589 form – a questionnaire that outlines the causes of fears associated with returning home. The motives for persecution (political, ethnic) are indicated in it. The instructions for the form indicate the address to which you should send the completed document.

The procedure of fingerprinting and administrative verification follows next. After this, the applicant is invited to an interview with an immigration officer. It’s better to come with a lawyer. You will tell in detail about the situation in your home country, provide documents confirming it. They must be translated into English and certified. Translate not only official papers but also newspaper articles if they somehow prove the fact of violation of human rights and freedoms.

Immigration court

The application is usually considered for several years. If it is accepted, you’ll get the desired status. But sometimes there are failures. Then the case is immediately transferred to the immigration court. Do not be afraid of it. First, while the case is being examined, you can’t be detained or deported. Secondly, the refusal in the immigration office does not affect the judgment in any way.

The case is usually considered from one to three years. At least three meetings take place at which it is necessary to present more comprehensive evidence base, to pass the necessary examinations and to bring witnesses (if possible).

During the trial process, the case can be supplemented, reinforced with facts, but its essence can’t be changed. That is, if ethnic oppression at work was declared, you can’t change your mind and say that you are being persecuted for political views.

In the court, you must be represented by an immigration lawyer. The meeting will not be held without him. Also, a court-certified interpreter is present at the hearing.

We hope that this article was useful and you will achieve the set goal. If you have any additional questions about this topic, do not hesitate to ask in the comments.

USCIS Immigrant Fee

Each form is available for download for free, but you must pay a special fee for each form to be done with the visa center officials. You can call to the customer service and ask about the fees amounts for each uploaded form. Dial 1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.

The USCIS fees change periodically, you may need to verify if the fees are correct by looking through the schedule G-1055 Fee Form Schedule or select “Forms” and check the appropriate fee provided in the form instructions.

What is the fees when you are coming to the US as a permanent resident?

Immigrant visa application processing fees are tiered, as shown below, based on the visa category you apply for.

Every visa applicant must pay the visa application processing fee for the visa category being applied for.

Description of Service and Fee Amount. All fees are in US currency/ American dollars.

Filing an Immigrant Visa Petition it is when collected by U.S. Embassies and Consulates for USCIS. Fees subject to change.

Immigrant petition for a relative which is Form I-130 costs $420.00.

Orphan (intercountry adoption) immediate relative petition (I-600, I-800) costs $720.00.

Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees are non-refundable, per person. Immediate relative and family preference applications (processed on the basis of an approved I-130, I-600 or I-800 petition). It costs $325.00 for each one petition filed.

Employment-based applications (processed on the basis of an approved I-140 or I-526 petition). The price is $345.00.

Other immigrant visa applications (including approved I-360 self-petitioners, special immigrant visa applicants, returning resident (SB-1) applicants, and all others, except DV program selectees). Price is $205.00.

There is no fee for certain Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applications.

Diversity Visa Lottery fee (per person applying as a DV program selected for a DV category immigrant visa) the price is $330.00 for each completed application. But the entering a lottery is free to all participants around the world. It is a free lottery.

Before being interviewed, each applicant must pay the Diversity Visa Lottery fee. For DV-2017 and DV-2016 applicants, the fee is $330 per person. This fee is nonrefundable, whether a visa is issued or not.

Affidavit of Support Review (only when reviewed domestically) cost is $120.00.

If you are immigrating to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, you must pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee online unless you meet one of the exemptions below.
USCIS uses this fee to process your immigrant visa packet and produce your Permanent Resident Card also better known as a Green Card.

To renew or replace your green card you must pay the fee too. The current filing fee for Form I-90 is $450, which includes a $365 form fee and $85 biometric services fee. This term includes processing fees, replacement fees, application fees and filing fees.

If you are filing Form I-90 because you never received your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), you do not have to pay a filing fee as long as you check these steps:

  1. We mailed the card over 30 days ago;
  2. Green card was returned to us as undeliverable;
  3. You have not moved from the address you provided us.

If you are filing the Form I-90 because your current Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) contains incorrect information due to a Department of Homeland Security error, such as a misspelled name, you do not have to pay a filing fee.

As soon as you receive your immigrant visa packet from a U.S. embassy or consulate, we strongly recommend you to pay the fee after you pick up your immigrant visa and before you depart for the United States.

If you can’t pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, a family member, friend, employer, attorney or accredited representative can pay it for you. If someone pays the fee for you, they will need your Alien Number (A-Number) and Department of State (DOS) Case ID.

You may also pay the fee after you arrive in the United States. If you arrive in the United States and haven’t yet paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee, USCIS will send you a notice requesting payment with instructions on paying your fee. You will not receive your Green Card until you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

Exemptions

The following groups do not have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee:

  • Children who enter the United States under the orphan or Hague adoption programs;
  • Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants;
  • Returning lawful permanent residents (SB-1s); and
  • K-nonimmigrants.

You must pay the fee online. Below are the steps to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

Acceptable methods of payment are:

  1. Filing By Mail: Check or money order (No credit or debit card, no cash);
  2. Filing Online: Credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account.

Withdrawing an Application

If you wish to withdraw your Form I-90, you must submit a written request to the next address:

Potomac Service Center
200 Potomac Center Drive Stop 2425
Arlington, VA 20598-2425 USA.

USCIS will not issue any refunds if you withdraw your application or cancel your request.

Asylee or Refugee Travel Document

Simply put, this is a special travel document, issued only to refugees and allows refugees to return to the United States after traveling outside the United States. Refugee Travel Document can also be provided to permanent residents who have or have refugee or exile status. Without this document, in other words, permission, refugees are not given the opportunity to return to the United States. Also, you need to know that the Refugee Travel Document does not guarantee that as a refugee you will be allowed to enter the United States after your departure, the legality of your return to America will be decided by the Ministry of National Security, it is the process of determining the expediency Your arrival, when you return to the United States, you will need to provide the Refugee Travel Document itself.

Processing time of obtaining the Refugee Travel Document

Many people have a logical question, how long does the Refugee Travel Document work? We answer, Refugee Travel Document is valid for one year and there is no possibility to extend it. The Immigration and Citizenship Service should not update your Refugee Travel Document for refugees.

The refugee must submit an application in accordance with Form I-131, this application ensures receipt of this document. It is worth knowing that if you have a permanent residence, you should, in any case, ensure that you receive the Refugee Travel Document if, of course, you intend to travel outside the United States.

The processing period for your application is usually 3 months, but this period may be either smaller or larger, the length of production depends on the handling of the processing center, the fewer applications, the faster the process of manufacturing, the more applications, the longer the process manufacturing, it all depends on how many applications it needs to process the center in a certain amount of time.

In some cases, deportation takes place. It is worth knowing that it is advisable not to go to your home country if you do not want to lose your refugee status. You should also know that you do not need to use your personal passport when traveling with your Refugee Travel Document.

When traveling outside the United States, you only need to have a refugee travel document issued specifically by the US Government. Traveling with a passport issued by the state from which you were granted asylum and refugee status, it is possible that it could cause loss of your asylum and refugee status. It’s all interesting, however, information about cost is more interesting to many.

Fee and costs of applying for the Refugee Travel Document

  • If your age at the time of filing is 16 years old or older, the cost of applying today is $ 135.
  • In case you apply for a child aged less than 16 years old, the very cost of registration for today is $ 105.
  • If you are between the ages of 14 and 79, you will need to pay an additional fee of $ 85 to provide biometric services.

After submitting your I-485 application form, which is a permanent residence application and your application has not yet been reviewed, it is pending review, you should not pay for your current refugee status in the United States.

As noted above, the Refugee Travel Document is issued to refugees after a refugee has filed an application under Form I-131; this refugee application is provided by the Refugee Travel Document.

There are some parameters that provide accelerated processing of the I-131 form and, accordingly, faster issuance of the Refugee Travel Document.

The USCIS may, in some cases, accelerate the processing of refugee I-131 forms in certain situations that include such criteria and certain situations as:

  • Severe certain financial losses of the company or a specific person;
  • Various emergencies that may occur;
  • Various humanitarian factors;
  • Especially for a non-profit, non-financial organization that promotes the cultural and social interests of the United States of America;
  • A request from the official US state body – the Department of Defense, which provides the interests of the nation;
  • Various other interests, parameters, and factors of the immigration and citizenship service.

Consequences of leaving the United States without obtaining the Refugee Travel Document

Before you leave the United States, you must obtain the Refugee Travel Document before leaving the United States. If you do not receive this document, your departure will adversely affect your immigration history.

For example, any trips outside of the United States may have serious problems for you if you want to have a permanent resident status, in other words, you want to get a green card.

In general, if you want to have an immigrant status, a so-called green card and do not legally leave the United States without prior permission, you may well be unacceptable to the United States after your return, you may not be allowed into the United States.

Apply for Asylum in US

Before you begin the process of preparing the case for applying for political asylum, it will not be superfluous to understand all the stages through which you will need to go through and understand the necessary aspects which are inherent in each stage.

The first stage is writing history, filling out form I-589 and collecting all the necessary documents that will serve as evidence in your case.

The second stage is the formation of the case and sending it to the necessary USCIS office. After you have collected the necessary documents and formed the case, it will to be sent to your USCIS regional office.

The third stage is getting an invitation to biometrics. Approximately 10 days after the USCIS receives your case, you will be notified by mail that the case is accepted and you are invited to take biometrics (fingerprints and photos). You will be allocated 14 days, during which you must necessarily appear in the local office (whose address will be in the notification) and hand over fingerprints. If you ignore this invitation, or come later than the deadline, then consideration of your case for granting political asylum can stop.

The fourth stage – after you have passed the procedure of biometrics, there comes a waiting period for a call for an interview. In California, and in other states, immigration offices are very busy, so the queue is stretched for years. The law says that the call for an interview must be within 45 days. In fact, very rarely people wait less than a year, and in California, Los Angeles County, this period is delayed by 5.5 years (statistics for the end of February 2017). The fourth stage will be the call for an interview. For a month (sometimes for 2 weeks) before the appointed date, you will be notified where and when (the place, time and date) the alleged interview with the immigration officer will be indicated.

The fifth stage is the interview itself. The officer will study in detail all the facts described in the form I-589 and in your history, compare them with the evidence you provided, will ask hundreds of questions to verify the reality of what you wrote about in your history.

The sixth stage is approval of a petition. The approval of your case will not be made immediately, but, as a rule, will come by mail within a month after the interview. If it is approving, then you get refugee status in the US and a temporary Green Card, which after a year will become permanent. If the officer made a negative decision, the case automatically goes to court, where the judge will observe everything again, without relying on the decision of the immigration office.

Regarding advices in the formation of the case

  • All your documents must be clearly structured, numbered and stacked according to this numbering.
  • Write the title to the case, where indicate what is going on and why. To each document or group of documents, give your serial number and mark it directly in the folder with the papers.
  • All documents are desirable to be folded into one large folder, dividing them among themselves by special separation plates or in any other way. As a rule, for each group of documents, we select a separate folder, number it and add it to a large one, which already contains all the materials.

From what is the case for political asylum in the US consist of

Any case is a set of certain documents that will make up an overall picture of you, your situation, the situation with members of your organization and the situation in the country as a whole.

In a fully-formed case, such materials should be included:

  1. The first document that should be present in your case is the fully completed and signed form I-589. It is the most important and the main document, because it has clear and strict requirements for filling it. Also, do not forget that you need to attach your passport-style photo to this form (as you did for a visa in the US). If your spouse includes children, then they also need to attach a copy of this form (do not fill out a separate one, but make a copy with your data) by attaching one photo.
  2. The second document is a story written and translated into English. Do not forget that the officer will work directly with the history, so you do not need to fasten it with a stapler or some other way. The officer should be able to freely take the story out of the case and work with each sheet separately.
  3. The third most important document will be Country Condition. This is a very important part of the case, which will allow the officer to understand the state of affairs in your country at the moment and compare the reality of what you described with the fact whether this could happen in the country as a whole. Country Condition or Country Status Report is the publication of official human rights organizations, authoritative human rights organizations, reports from the US Department of State, etc.
  4. The fourth point is references and other evidence. If you have a lot of them, let’s say stories from the police, court decisions, calls for interrogations, medical certificates, certificates from a psychologist, documents from the tax service, etc., it will be expedient to separate each item.
  5. If you have testimonies of witnesses, then they should single out a separate item. Each testimony should be written in a free form, while certified by the name, surname, signature and copy of the passport of the person who gave this testimony.
  6. Photo and video materials are another component of the political asylum case. These materials must prove either your belonging to a certain group or event, or to depict some facts described in the story (photos of beatings, photos of destroying property, photo of threats written on your doors, etc.). Each photo must be signed on the reverse side, explaining what is depicted on it.
  7. Publications in the media. If you have materials that relate to you or your situation and were written about by the mass media, then they should also be attached to the case. More credibility will be authoritative media such as BBC, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Huffington Post, etc. But it is clear that such authoritative sources cover only very resonant cases, therefore, not everything can be found on the pages of these newspapers. Articles and photos from local sources will also work, but there
    will be less confidence in them.

Where do you need to send the case

USCIS Texas Service Center
Attn: Asylum
P.O. Box 851892
Mesquite, TX 75185-1892
If you are in: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Western Pennsylvania*, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wyoming.

USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87589
Lincoln, NE 68501-7589
If you are in: Alaska, Northern California (Any county in California or Nevada not listed above), Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Northern Nevada*, North Dakota, Oregon, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington, or Wisconsin.

USCIS California Service Center
P.O. Box 10881
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0881
If you are in: Arizona, Southern California (California counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Ventura), Guam, Hawaii, or Norther, Nevada.

USCIS Vermont Service Center
Attn: Asylum
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0589
If you are in: Connecticut, Delaware, Main, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Eastern Pennsylvania*, Rhode Island, Vermont.

Phone of National Customer Service Center: 1-800-375-5283
Phone for applicant with impaired hearing: 1-800-767-1833

How long to wait for a decision on your petition

The law says that you should be summoned to the interview within 45 days after the case is accepted by the USCIS. But this is only in the law, in fact everything is different.

Immigration offices are incredibly overloaded, so they cannot cope with the huge flow of applications. According to official statistics in California in March 2017 in the queue was 17,000 cases.

On average, a petition for political asylum in California (Los Angeles County) is waiting for an interview for at least 5 years, in San Francisco the waiting period is 2 years (statistics for the end of 2016). Of course, there are cases of a call in a shorter time, but they are more an exception to the rules than something permanent. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that interviews can be appointed no earlier than 2 years after the application for asylum has been submitted.

What benefits will you have while waiting for an answer

The law says that if you did not receive a call for an interview, or if the decision on your case is not made within 150 days after the documents are received by the USCIS, you have the right to complete and submit work permit documents and then you will already get the social security number SSN.

These two documents will give you the right to officially work in the US, enjoy all the delights of the banking system, feel freer in the United States. Also you can get a state ID and a driver’s license. In essence, you will have many rights and freedoms that are inherent in any US citizen (the feed of the right to vote, purchase of weapons and other exclusive rights inherent only to citizens or permanent residents of the country).

Green Card Priority Dates

As a prospective immigrant person, you are able to find your priority date on Form I-797. It also calls “Notice of Action” form for the petition filed on your behalf. You need to understand that the waiting time of expecting of receiving your immigration visa or adjusting status depends on several factors.

Video — What is Priority date?

Here are the list of it:

  1. The demand for and supply of immigrant visas;
  2. The per-country visa limitations;
  3. The number of visas allocated for your preference category.

Priority Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Cases

For family-sponsored immigrants, the priority date is the date that the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, or in certain instances the Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow or Widower, or Special Immigrant, is properly filed with USCIS.

Priority Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases

For employment-based immigrants, the priority date depends on several positions too. If your preference category requires a labor certification from Department of Labor (DOL), then your priority date is the date the labor certification application is accepted for processing by DOL. To preserve the priority date, you must file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with USCIS within 180 days of the DOL approval date on the labor certification or else the labor certification is no longer valid. If your preference category does not require a DOL labor certification then USCIS accepts Form I-140 for processing to classify the sponsored worker under the requested preference category.

If you are a fourth preference special immigrant, including religious workers then USCIS accepts Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow or Widower or Special Immigrant, for processing.

If you are a fifth preference investor then USCIS accepts Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, for processing.

Checking your case in the visa queue

The Visa Bulletin allows you to check your case status in the immigrant visa queue. The Visa Bulletin provides the most recent date for when a visa number is available for the different categories and countries for family-sponsored, employment-based and diversity green card visas.

Your visa must be available before you can take one of the important final steps in the process of becoming a lawful permanent resident. There is a rule in the law that the exact amount of immigrant can become permanent residents each year. Only limited number of such category visa allow for every year. You have to clearly understand that not everyone can get the visa immediately, especially the immigrant visa cases must be checked careful.

The time of waiting your visa arrives depends on your priority date, preference category and type and the country where the visa will be charged to.

priority-dates
Photo from thenextweb.com

A visa can be available for you when your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date shown for your preference category. Also, if the country of chargeability in the applicable chart in the Visa Bulletin, as described above in the Acceptance of Adjustment of Status Applications section.

There are some situations, when a priority date that is current one month will not be current the next month, or the deadline date will move backwards to an earlier date. This term is also calls visa retrogression. This can occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category than there are visas available for that month.

As usual, visa retrogression can happen when the annual limit for a category or country has been exhausted or is expected to run out soon. When the new fiscal year begins, for the United States it is on October 1st, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available. Usually, but not as a rule, the new supply returns the cut-off dates to where they were before retrogression. This means the balance will be returned to the system and all be done for your comfort.

If you are asking for adjustment of status on a family base and employment-based preference category, you may concurrently file your Form I-485 with the Form I-130 or Form I-140.

This is possible only if:

  1. Your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed in the “Application Final Action Dates” chart in the monthly Visa Bulletin for your preference category and country of chargeability.
  2. The Visa Bulletin chart indicates “C” instead of a specific cut-off date, meaning that your preference category and country of chargeability is current and that you may file Form I-485 regardless of the priority date.
  3. When permitted by USCIS your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed in the “Dates for Filing Applications” chart for your preference category and country of chargeability.
priority-dates
Photo from immigrationservices.us

From the first of October, a new year which is FY2017 will starts. EB2 India has become a new EB3 India now. Previously, it was safe that if you filed your permission and I-140 in EB2I, you will most likely get your EAD within 4–5 years and green card within 5–6 years.

This happened because of the lots of unused green cards from an annual quota of 140,000 which used to flow down to EB2I as a spillover. EB4 and EB5 usage was low. Those unused number of green card applications were spilling over to EB1. But EB1 usage wasn’t optimal either. So those extra green cards from EB4, EB5 and EB1 category used to come to EB2. Since EB2 ROW (Rest of the World) has always been current with their priority dates, those spill overs were applied to Indian and Chinese applicants waiting under EB2 category. EB3 was the ultimate sufferer.

 

Green Card: Renewal, Fee and Cost

The status of a permanent resident, means, the possession of a GC is not permanent. Just like the driver’s license, the green card needs to be updated from time to time. As a rule, green cards are a valid term for 10 years. Therefore, if you still have a green card with no expiration date on the front, you must immediately replace it in order to have a valid document confirming your immigration status in the US. Of course, if you have not applied for a green card replacement and not paying a consular fee, you will not be fined and will not lose permanent resident status.

Still, don’t let the green card to expire and update it on time. Without a valid certification, you will have problems with proving that you are a permanent resident, and this can also influence on your ability to travel or work in the US. This page will give you complete information about how to renew your Green Card and how much does it cost to renew green card.

As an alien, you may need going through Green Card renewal process if you, for example, lost it or someone had stolen it from you, or you just already passed a 10-year period of holding your card. That means your Green Card is expired and you need to apply for a new one as a renewed.

You need to renew your Green Card in case if:

  • card was lost, stolen or destroyed/ damaged
  • card was issued but never received by you
  • card was mutilated
  • card printed with incorrect data
  • name or other biometric information has been legally changed
  • have reached your 14th birthday and are registering as required
  • card is expiring within 6 months or has already expired
  • get a commuter status.

You can check the green card fees and cost of each case and find out the total amount of money you have to pay for your renewal, but also, there are cases which free to pass. Look at the link and find the exact example for your case in the chart, so you can be sure how much you need to pay.

Video – And know is a right time to ask how to apply to renew your Green Card?

It is important to apply and obtain permission to re-enter the US before leaving the country for 12 months or more, in order to avoid losing permanent resident status. Not being able to prove a temporary stay abroad can result in the loss of the Green Card. Nevertheless, in certain cases, if you have been abroad for a long period of time and did not have this permission, you can apply for an SB-1 visa for Green Card holders who wish to return to the United States.

If you are a permanent resident whose 10-year Green Card has expired or will expire within the next 6 months, you may begin the renewal process by:

  • Online E-Filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
  • Filing a paper Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card by mail
  • Pay the renew green card fee

If you are outside the United States and your green card will expire within 6 months (but you will return within 1 year of your departure from the United States and before the card expires), you should start the renewal process as soon as you come back to the United States.

If you are outside of the United States when the card expires and you have not applied for the renewal card prior to your departure, you should contact the nearest U.S. Consulate, USCIS office, or U.S. port of entry before attempting to file Form I-90 for a renewal green card.

A good question too is when to renew a Green Card? You should renew your green card if you are a permanent resident with a Form I-551 valid for 10 years and the card is either expired or will expire within the next 6 months.

Status of your application for renewal process

You have a possibility to get to know about your case status online at My Case Status. Please remember that an e-filed receipt number may not be available through “My Case Status” for the first 72 hours. In case if you have additional questions about this theme, you also can make a call to the USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283. You should be prepared to provide the USCIS staff with specific information about your application:

  • Alien Registration Number
  • Name and date of birth
  • Your receipt number

Be ready that your application can be denied. If that happened to your renewal application soon you will receive the letter which tells you why your application has been denied. You won’t appeal a negative decision. But you have a right to submit a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider with the same office that made the unfavorable decision about your case. By filing such a motion, you will ask the USCIS office to reexamine or reconsider its decision. Preparing to give facts and evidence that can help to prove that the negative decision was incorrect.

Sometimes happens you are having a previous version of the alien registration card, it may be USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151. It means you must replace it with a current Green Card.

Green Card Renewal application Form I-90

Every person who submits a Form I-90, Application to Replace PR Card, can create a USCIS online account to track and manage their case online.
If you submit a paper Form I-90 application, you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account. The advantages of having a USCIS online account are that you can:

  • Check the status of your case
  • Receive notifications and case updates
  • Respond to requests for evidence
  • Manage your contact information, including updating your address

If you are an attorney or accredited representative, creating a USCIS online account will allow you to manage all of your clients’ Form I-90 applications in one place.
USCIS organization will provide further processing on your application even if you choose not to access your USCIS online account. You will continue to receive notifications and updates about your application by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

The USCIS office does not accept forms submitted without the correct biometric services fees now. You need pay the applicable biometric services fees which is 85$ when you filling your Form I 90.

The USCIS can reject your Form I-90 if there won’t be the correct biometric services fee paid already, as was written in the guidance for the filing the Form I-90.

Green Card Renewal Fee Waiver

If you need to apply for Green Card renewal, or changing status, or get a citizenship or other services in USCIS, but you don’t have enough money to pay the fee, you can use I-912 Form, Request for Fee Waiver. This form created for those who have some financial issues and cannot pay for USCIS services by themselves.

You can fill this form on the PC or write by hand. The only one condition which you need to know – as all immigration forms, the I-912 should be filled with black color and, if it’s possible, in block letters.

The full filled I-912 form should be attached to the other immigration form which you will send to the USCIS.

To submit this form are eligible those who:

  • Receive state disability benefits, food stamp, or social financial assistance. (Do not forget to attach proof to the completed form that you and/or your family will receive financial help from the state).
  • Whose family income is at or below the federal poverty line. (If this is your situation, and you do not receive social assistance but are below the poverty line, you should attach proofs in the form of a salary check, the number of family members, and the indication of monthly expenses for housing, food, utilities).
  • Currently in a difficult financial situation (for example, lack of work or other temporary difficulties, because of which you cannot pay the fee for the documents submitted.)

If your application provides biometric services (fingerprints), then the fee for them will also be excluded from the payment of immigration services. That is, you will not need to submit an additional form I-912 or pay this fee separately.

USCIS can reject your Form I-90 if there won’t be the correct biometric services fee paid already, as was written in the guidance for the filing the Form I-90.

How can you pay for renewal Green card

In nowadays exist two ways which will help you to pay for renewal process for your Green card.

You can pay with a check

Bank drafts, cashier’s checks, certified checks, personal checks, and money orders must be drawn on U.S. financial institutions and payable in U.S. funds. If you are paying your fees by check, please be aware of the following:

  • Authorization: By submitting your check, you authorize that USCIS authorities will convert your check into an electronic fund transfer. If the transfer cannot occur for technical reasons, you authorize us to process the copy of your original check through ordinary simple paper check bank procedures.
  • Electronic Deposit of Checks: If you are paying your fees by check, we will convert your check into an electronic fund transfer too. We will use the account information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer from your checking account for the amount of the check. It is an ordinary bank procedure.
  • Insufficient Funds: The electronic fund transfer from your account can occur faster than when you send a paper check to the USCIS office. If your check or other financial instrument is returned as unpayable, USCIS authorities will resubmit the payment one time again to re-check the process of payment. If it is returned as unpayable once again, the second time, USCIS will reject your filing and will charge you a 30$ returned check fee.

Personal checks must be pre-printed with the name of the bank and the account holder (your name). Also, your address and phone number must be pre-printed, typed or written in black ink on the check. All checks must be typed or written in black pen ink.

You can pay with a card

Also, you can make a payment with your card. You may use Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. You may also use pre-paid cards with Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover logos on it. Check what cards you have in your wallet and find if there are a logos named before in the list.

If you choose to make a payment with a credit or gift card, you must pay the entire fee using a single card. Be sure that the credit card or gift card you want to use for a payment has enough money to cover the fee. USCIS will reject your application if the card is declined.

List of steps

To ensure your Form I-90 is accepted for processing:

  • Fill out the form completely and accurately
  • Sign the form with your signature
  • Pay the correct filing fee
  • Submit all evidence and supporting documentation listed in the Form Instructions. Please submit photocopies unless USCIS specifically requests originals.

Acceptable methods of payment:

  • Filing by Mail: Check or money order (No credit or debit card, no cash)
  • Filing Online: Credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account
Reason for Application Form Fee Biometric Services Total
My card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed. $455 $85 $540
My previous card was issued but never received. free free free
My card has been mutilated. $455 $85 $540
My existing card has incorrect data because of DHS error. free free free
My name or other information has been legally changed. $455 $85 $540
My card will expire within six months or has already expired. $455 $85 $540
I have reached my 14th birthday, and my existing card will expire after my 16th birthday. $0 $85 $85
I have reached my 14th birthday and my existing card will expire before my 16th birthday. $455 $85 $540
I am a permanent resident who is taking up commuter status. $455 $85 $540
I am a commuter who is taking up residence in the U.S. $455 $85 $540
I have been automatically converted to permanent residence status. $455 $85 $540
I have a prior edition of the card, or I am applying to replace my card for a reason not specified above. $455 $85 $540

If you have any questions about this theme feel free to comment below and communicate with other people through the web site to help each other.Your point of view is very important for us.

So tell us what you want to know or ask any questions here.

FAQ: DV Lottery Green Card

The USA can be truly called a dream country for some people. More and more people nowadays wish to move to the USA, however, only lucky ones can find a reason to stay there. Once a year everyone has a chance to participate in a DV lottery, or, so called, green card lottery. A green card lottery is a chance to settle in the USA as it gets you a legal right to stay and work in the US.

Which country cannot participate in DV lotteries?
As known for today, DV lottery 2022 eligible countries are all countries except:

  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • Vietnam
  • The Philippines
  • The United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories
  • South Korea
  • Canada
  • China (mainland-born)
  • Peru
  • Pakistan
  • Colombia
  • Nigeria
  • The Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Mexico
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • India

What diploma is needed for a DV lottery application?
Firstly, you should have completed and received a high school diploma when applying for a green card. For an actual submission of the application it is not important, however, if you win one, then you need to submit an evidence. If you’ve chosen to have an apprenticeship after a few years of school, then you need to have “a minimum of two years’ work experience (within the past five years) in a profession which requires at least two years of training”. So, in other words, if you successfully completed your make up courses and have a diploma and a recent work experience, there is no need to go to school for the diploma.

What are the DV lottery photo criteria?

  • Technical requirements: JPEG only; minimum file size is 240 KB; 600x600px; 24-bit in color
  • The photo should be taken no more than 6 months before applying for a green card
  • A person on the photo should look straight only, a face is seen clearly and not covered by hair or any accessories, the facial expression is neutral.
  • No shadows on the photo – this means not only shadows on the face, but also on the background and aside from you
  • No other objects should be in the photo
  • Glasses, scarfs, and hats are not permitted
  • The background must be white/light grey color only
  • Clear resolution is a must – no digital alternations are allowed, so if you want to zoom the picture after you’ve taken it, you will be disqualified due to the incompatible photo submitted

As well, if you have any children after 21 or if you are married, you will need to put a full information about your family member as well. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have an up-to-date passport style photo of your family members too.

Revealing time: DV lottery status check
After the application, make sure you’ve printed out the details on the screen which contain your contact details and unique reference number that you will need later. Results are available mid-May till September so at this time it worth checking an official website with a reference number you’ve taken note of when applying back in October/November. If you see a message that you are invited, congratulations, you are the lucky one!

Is middle name the same as father’s name?
No, they are different things in the US. If you don’t have a middle name (eg Anna Victoria Berg, Victoria is a middle name), just tick a box underneath.

What if I have several middle names on my birth certificate?
Typically, in the US they put only initial of the middle name on most documents (eg driving license), so just choose the one you use most of the time.

If I have several names, can my middle one be my first name?
No, it can’t. Later you will need to prove your identity, and therefore your first name should always stay first. For example, Mary Lucy Grace Smith can be registered as Mary Grace Smith, but not as Lucy Grace Smith.

What if I am a transgender?
Unless you are a registered transgender and your documents are officially changed, you will need to put your physical gender when doing an application.

I am HIV positive, does this matter?
No, luckily for you this is no longer a ground of inadmissibility.

What if I am an LGBT person?
You are welcome to apply. If you have the same-sex partner, you should include him as a spouse in your application as well.

What if there are several cities with this name in my country?
Don’t worry about this, just fill in the name, please, don’t put any extra information in this field.

What if my city has been renamed recently?
Put the name of the city like in your birth certificate first, then dash and a new name (eg Leningrad – St. Petersburg)

Should it be my mailing address written down?
No, it is just the mail address for correspondence, it can be your friend’s one or your rental postal address.

Should I submit my application from the eligible country only? Is it IP-tracked?
It doesn’t matter where on the globe you are now as soon as you have a stable internet connection to fill in the form.

What if I am married but we don’t live together?
According to your documents, you are still married, therefore, you should tick married. Otherwise, you will be penalized.

What if we live together for several years?
Unfortunately, only legal documents are considered, therefore you are not married according to those.

What if I don’t take my child with me to the USA?
Despite your future plans, you need to put them in the application anyway.

What if my spouse has children from the previous relationship? They are not technically mine, right?
Officially you are some way related to them, therefore you should include his children in your application as well unless they’ve been adopted.

Can I submit several applications?
No, this will not only not increase your chance of winning but remove you from participation. Only one application is accepted from one person

Do I need to check the official website regularly?
It is worthwhile checking the website after results are revealed several times. Sometimes some applications are not accepted further, and the program chooses new winners.

What if I forgot to take note of my reference ID?
Unfortunately, there is no way to restore it for now. Try one more time next year, but be more careful this time.

Can my spouse apply as well?
Yes, there are absolutely no restrictions on that, each person can submit one application.

Are there any hidden fees?
Participation is free and doesn’t require any charges to be paid. However, if you win, you should be prepared to pay fees for the paperwork required and the interview being conducted

How often does the DV lottery happen?
Once a year, starting from mid-October till early November. Always check dates on the US government immigration page in September for more precise information.

What if I applied for an immigrant visa in a different category already? Can I be a participant?
Yes, there are no restrictions on this if you are eligible.

How much time we have to receive a DV visa starting DV lottery reveal dates?
You have one calendar year exactly to do this, from 1st October to 30 September next year to complete the paperwork and health checks and do the interview. After this date, you will need to participate again if you want to receive a green card and the whole process will need to be repeated.

Do I need to know English to submit an application?
For submitting itself it is not a requirement. However, remember, that at the end you need to persuade your interviewer that you will be a good match to an American society, and your chances if you don’t know English are smaller, so it worth starting attending courses as soon as possible after applying.

What if something happens with the main applicant? Can his/her spouse still go or…?
Unfortunately, in this case, your DV application is terminated and the other winner is chosen. It means that nobody from the family listed in the application will be able to go.

Can I do some parts of the application now and some tomorrow?
Unfortunately, there is no safe button in there, so worth checking your internet connection and make a tea prior to the start. All information required is needed to be filled in one go.

If I win and get through the interview, is there any support available to me?
You can always ask for advice, however, there are no subsidies for transport, healthcare and housing expenses. Moreover, you will need to provide an evidence that you are able to pay for them and will not become a public charge in the US once you are there.

Are there any age restrictions?
Technically not, however, in practice due to educational requirements people under 18 are often disqualified from further participation after the interview stage.

What are the next steps?
Winning a green card doesn’t mean that you are going to the US next week. It means a year of hard paperwork, diplomatic interview and about $1000 of cash (hopefully, not wasted ones).

In the end, the decision to let you in or not is from the officer who interviews you, so you need to convince him why you need to go to the US and what skills you can bring to the country. Don’t try to lie – everything you say can be checked and if the truth becomes revealed at the end, you will lose your chance to participate.

Once you approved, you will need to have a full health check conducted. In order not to spend more money here, better to take a note from your GP and translate it into English first in order to get rid of not necessary vaccinations. And only after all the above, you can go to have your fingers scanned to be present on your green card.

Hope this helps you on your way to the dream! Good luck with your application and check what else you need to know before moving to the USA here.

Certificate of the US Citizenship — procedure of obtaining

Since the process of naturalization can take more than a year, you are allowed to apply for three months before the expiration of the due date in the status of permanent resident.

So what you need to do for getting the certificate of US citizenship:

  • You need to send the filled N-400 form to the local immigration office (registration fee – $ 95).
  • You need a card with fingerprints, three photos – the same as for a Green Card, and a copy of the Green Card.
  • The application for a child must be accompanied by a birth certificate, a marriage certificate of the parents and a certificate of the parents’ nationality.
  • You need to successfully pass all the necessary exams.
  • Take the Oath of Allegiance to America.

In New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, applications are mailed to the regional immigration office. In other cities, you can personally apply to the local immigration office

Filling the N-400 immigration form

  • In part 3 of the N-400 questionnaire, it is necessary to list the periods of stay abroad during the waiting period. If you make many trips, indicate the approximate number of trips for each year and the duration of each trip. It is recommended to keep a diary of your trips and keep air tickets and boarding passes.
  • In part 4 (question B), you must specify a list of your employers. If you received a Green Card on the basis of work, then you must submit tax returns so that the immigration office determines if you worked for your sponsor, and if so, for how long. If you did not work for a sponsor or part with him immediately after receiving a residence permit, the immigration service may suspect you of fraud in order to obtain a Green Card.
  • Part 5 contains questions about your marital status. If you received a Green Card on the basis of a marriage with a US citizen, you should be legally married to apply for citizenship three years after receiving a “conditional” permanent status. The Immigration Service will check whether you are married to a US citizen. If not, then you can apply for citizenship in five years, as well as other holders of the Green Card. You must prove that the marriage is factual and is entered into voluntarily. If the immigration service suspects you of marital fraud in order to obtain a residence permit, you are deprived of the right to citizenship and risk losing your permanent resident status.
  • Part 7 clarifies the circumstances that may deprive you of the right to citizenship. You will have to prove that you paid income tax in the US as a permanent resident for five years (three years – in the case of a marriage with a US citizen). All questions of Part 7 relate to the general requirement of moral principles. Some serious offenses, especially violent crimes or other facts of your criminal past, can permanently deprive you of the right to citizenship on the basis of a lack of moral standards.

But less serious crimes can be forgiven if they were committed long ago and since then you have not violated the law. If you must answer “yes” to any question in part 7, contact a lawyer before submitting the application.

If you try to hide important information in a questionnaire or in an interview or if your data in a citizenship application is different from the data in a Green Card application, this can cast doubt on not only the right to a nationality but also the status of a permanent resident.

Attention! Exemption from “exclusion” when obtaining a Green Card may not be sufficient for citizenship.

If you receive an exemption from “exclusion” on receipt of the Green Card (Chapter 17), you can still be deprived of the right to citizenship; the requirements for obtaining citizenship are very high, and in addition, you may not have moral foundations, even if you have been released. Your way of life from the date of obtaining a residence permit is very important. If you need to get an exemption for getting a Green Card, consult a lawyer before applying for a citizenship.

  • Part 8 contains the question of whether you can swear an oath of allegiance to the United States and fulfill the debt to the country if necessary, including military service. If you can not swear an oath in the army for religious reasons (but not for personal or philosophical beliefs), you may not give this part of the vow. An oath is necessary to obtain citizenship.

The United States does not enforce a compulsory call and does not plan for it in the future. However, men aged 18 to 26 (with Green Cards) must register for military service and submit this registration in an interview for citizenship. You will again be asked for an interview, can you swear an oath of allegiance to the United States. A real oath is given at the ceremony of taking citizenship. The oath implies the rejection of loyalty to the country of which you are currently a citizen.

  • Part 10 asks about unmarried children under the age of 18 in permanent status. Note that in many cases a US citizen parent can apply for a certificate of citizenship for the child.

Interviews and exams on history and English

After 3-9 months the application is filed, you will receive a notice of the date of the interview at the local immigration office. (Spouses can be interviewed together if they express this request in the N-400 questionnaires.) The Immigration Service strives to shorten the time for processing applications for citizenship; other authorized agencies may conduct interviews. However, at present, the rules remain the same.

In the interview, the examiner will review your application and ask if you have any obstacles to the Oath of Allegiance.

The examiner can also ask questions about your receipt of the Green Card if some facts indicate immigration fraud. You must confirm the payment of taxes and the availability of registration for military service (if this applies to you).

US Citizenship Naturalization Test 2018 (OFFICIAL 100 TEST QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)

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Questions are also raised about your lifestyle in America and moral foundations. If you are divorced, then you must prove the fulfillment of the conditions of divorce (providing for the former spouse and child). If additional documents are required, you will be assigned a second interview.

You also need to demonstrate your ability to read and speak English. (This is not required when receiving a Green Card.)

Permanent residents aged 50 or older who have a residence permit for twenty years, or who are 55 years old or over, who have a Green Card for 15 years, are not required to take an English test. Interviews can take place in your native language with the help of an interpreter. People with physical disabilities or mental illnesses can also be exempt from the exam.

The examiner checks the English language skills during the conversation with you. You will also be asked to read and write a few simple sentences. If you have a problem with English, you can attend special classes to achieve a sufficient level of language knowledge for the interview, since you only need knowledge of the basics. In these schools, you can pass a standard exam and bring results to the interview.

Next, the examiner will check your knowledge of the history and state structure of the United States. You can verbally answer the questions of the examiner or pass a standard test in one of the agencies authorized for such work.

People with physical disabilities or mental illnesses are exempt from the exam. Persons who have reached the age of 65 and older, who are permanent residents for 20 years, must answer correctly only to 6 out of 25 questions. Exempt from the English language test can be answered with the help of an interpreter.

It is easy to prepare for the exam: you simply remember 100 questions and answers before the interview (booklets with questions and answers are given to everyone). Also, you can attend classes or take an exam in special examination centers, in the immigration service.

The examiner usually asks 5-10 questions, and if you answered most of them correctly – you passed the exam.

Questions on history certainly include such as:

  • Who was the first president of the United States? (George Washington.)
  • Who was President during the Civil War? (Abraham Lincoln.)
  • When did America declare independence from England? (July 4, 1776)

Questions about the government include:

  • How many states are in the US? (50.)
  • How many senators are there in Congress? (100 – two from each state.)
  • Who is the president and vice president?

If you know the answers to these questions – you know more than many Americans.

If your application for citizenship is rejected because you do not speak English well enough or have answered questions incorrectly, you can re-apply when you are better prepared.

The Oath of Allegiance to America

If the interview was successful, you will be given the date of the oath ceremony together with the other applicants. In some areas, the ceremony takes place a few months after the interview.

Between the interview and the ceremony, you can travel abroad, but you must meet all the requirements, including living in the US and living in the state.

At the ceremony, you will be asked about the trips made since the interview. You must remain a permanent resident of the state, where you applied for citizenship, before the ceremony.

After the vow, you receive a certificate of citizenship “Naturalization Certificate” (“Naturalization Certificate”, questionnaire N-550).

Mission completed — congratulations

5 Important Steps After Your Naturalization

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Immediately after the naturalization, you can apply for a US passport to the passport office. Do not forget to pay taxes! Like permanent residents, US citizens must complete income tax returns no matter where they live and earn money.

10 epic fails while you are applying for a GC (Green Card)

More than one million people annually apply for a GC in the US. This moment is a significant for all families, and for many, it is the first step to “American dream”.

Often the documents which submitted to the USCIS contain errors on the part of the applicants. Because of them, consideration of the issue of issuing a GC may be delayed or even lead to a refusal.

1. You didn’t submit all the necessary documents

Possible loss of time: from 6 months to 2 years
The potential loss of money: $ 500

The application for a GC is not the only form that you fill out and send to the USCIS. The process is not that simple. The application for a GC is a complex of 8-12 official forms plus additional documents.

Together they make an application for a GC. You can apply for a status change for a relative who is already in the US or fills out a GC application for the spouse or parent who lives in another country. In any case, you will have to submit several forms to get a GC eventually.

If you do not submit some form, it will have guaranteed refuse in consideration of the application. In some cases, for example, you can send all required forms to the USCIS at the same time. This is called simultaneous filing, and it helps to shorten the duration of the process for years.

Therefore, it is important to make sure that you not missed any of form or fill they corrected, otherwise you will lose valuable time.

2. Some documents do not have English translate

Possible loss of time: 6 months

When submitting process begin, you hand over a lot of additional papers proving your identity. Such documents as:

  • a birth certificate;
  • marriage certificate;
  • driver’s license;
  • passport;
  • visa;
  • information from a bank account;

If you are not from an English-speaking country, all documents must be translated into English. If you do not translate the documents and do not notarize the translation, it may delay processing the application for up to six months.

3. The documents without a signature

Possible loss of time: 6 months
The potential loss of money: $ 50-100

All time spent on the ideal documents filling will be useless if you do not sign them, and exactly where you need them. This is important: make sure you SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS. Also, make sure you understand correctly what kind of documents are required be a sign and by whom. For a GC application necessary sign, in some places, of “beneficiary” or an “applicant”.

In other cases, the person who sponsors the recipient of the GC is signed, in some place for “petitioner” or “applicant” on different forms. This is difficult to understand, but if you do not understand at all, then USCIS will automatically reject the application. Spend a couple of minutes trying to re-check everything before sending documents to the US government.

4. Incorrect payment of the fee for submitting forms

Possible loss of time: 2-4 months

Many people wrongly pay GC fees for processing applications for a GC. On each form of USCIS instructions are prescribed how much to pay for processing this particular form or application. For an application for a GC, prepare to shell out more than $ 1,000 to the account of the US government. If you pay $ 100-300 – this indicates as an error. USCIS will return you your application along with the invoice to the correct amount, and you will automatically be moved to the end of the queue, which cannot fail to disappoint.

5. You missed important deadlines

Possible loss of time: 6 months
Another possible aftermath: Refusal to accept an application

After your arrival in the United States and the beginning of the GC application process, the clock starts counting down several important deadlines that you are required to know about. Do not forget about the validity of your visa, the date of processing the application, the dates of the interview and, finally, the deadline for renewal after 2 years.

If you miss these dates, your application can be rejected. The US government is very strict about deadlines and suggests that if a person does not fulfill them, he does not want to get a legal residence permit. Make sure that you correctly understand the deadlines on the application, as well as where you need to be at this time, so as not to miss an important meeting and get a GC.

6. Fake personal data

Possible loss of time: 6 months – 1 year
Another possible aftermath: a lifetime ban on entering the USA

Fake personal data, even if it is an accident, can be counted as giving false information in the questionnaire. If the US government suspects you of this, you will ONLY be banned from entering and can force you to leave the US forever. Always have at hand all the dates, places, data on convictions and other important details when filling out forms. So you will avoid mistakes in your data and the subsequent ban on entering the US.

7. Fraud catch you

Possible loss of time: 6 months – 2 year
The potential loss of money: $500-5000

Annually thousands of people trying to get benefits from immigrants. For example — attorney. Highly important to realize that if everything sounds unreal cool, there had some chances that you’ve been cheated. Stay away from the sites, which asking your credit card data and do not give you any guarantee. Avoid untruthful attorney who asked about prepaid before completed your case.

Do most of the work yourself before trusting someone personal immigration documents. If you make a mistake and contact with fraud, you may lose the chance to obtain a residence permit for good.

8. You didn’t ask for help with documents

Possible loss of time: 6 months

If you are trying to do something complicated without someone help, there is a high probability that you will go wrong. When you learn to play chess, mistakes are good, you will grow on them and avoid them in the next game. But immigration is not a game; here mistakes are expensive. Do not waste valuable time and money trying to do everything yourself.

Filling immigration documents frightens even those who speak fluent English. Many organizations and resources can help you with the process. Use them to avoid mistakes. Each year, USCIS rejects more than 100,000 applications because of errors that could be avoided.

Having received the right help, you can easily avoid these mistakes and save many months or even years of expectations. Do not ask for help can be one of the most expensive misses.

9. You do not fit the requirements for apply

Possible loss of time: 6 months

If you apply for a GC, but do not suit the conditions, your application will be denied. This is elementary, but it is sometimes difficult to understand how and when to apply. If you apply for a GC too early, too late or something like that, you will lose many months of valuable time. The USCIS service has developed special tools that you can use to understand. Even if you did everything by yourself, it is sometimes useful to consult an immigration lawyer to make sure that you did not miss anything important.

10. Problems with financial requirements

Possible loss of time: 2-4 months

When you are applying for a GC, you need to have a financial sponsor. This person submits Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support.

There are several requirements for a financial sponsor: he must be a US citizen, he must reside in the US and his income must meet the criteria in Form I-864R, where a subsistence minimum is prescribed to provide a letter of guarantee.

If your sponsor does not earn enough, he can invite another person to act as a co-sponsor, if together their income meets the requirements of the US government.
But if one more person is added as a sponsor, then the income criteria are also increased. In general, in connection with the form of I-864, you can make many errors, so it is highly important that you carefully read the criteria for this papers.

Hope our article save your time, and you will avoid the most common mistakes while getting a Green Card. If you have questions — don’t hesitate — contact us or write comments below!

8 facts about immigration to the US that you did not know

1. The number of immigrants increased

In July 2017, the number of migrants who arrived legally and illegally in the United States reached a record 43.7 million people. This is an increase of 500 thousand from 2015, by 3.8 million since 2010 and by 12.6 million since 2000.

2. Every eighth US resident is a foreigner

The share of migrants in the US population for 2016 is 13.5%, that is, one in eight of the country’s inhabitants. This is the highest percentage for 106 years. As early as 1980, only one of the 16 residents of the States was a foreigner.

3. For five years – 8 million new migrants

From 2010 to 2016 in the US settled 8.1 million people.

4. More minor immigrants

In 2016, 16.6 million migrant-children in the United States arrived with their parents, while in the country there were 60.4 million newcomers with children, that is, one-fifth of the population.

5. Mexicans – the largest group of migrants in the USA

Mexican immigrants (legal and illegal) became the largest foreign population of the States in 2016. Only from 2010 to 2016 from Mexico came 1.1 million people: the eighth of all newcomers.

However, taking into account the reverse migration and natural mortality, the total number of Mexicans in the United States has not changed in six years.

6. India – new immigration leader

  • India (654,202 people)
  • China (550 022 people)
  • Dominican Republic (206,134 people)
  • El Salvador (172,973 people)
  • Cuba (166,939 people)
  • Philippines (164,077 people)
  • Honduras (128,478 people)
  • Viet Nam (112,218 people)
  • Venezuela (106,185 people)
  • Guatemala (104 883 people)
  • Nigeria (87,565 people)
  • Pakistan (83,271 people)
  • Haiti (81,074 people)
  • Bangladesh (80 949 people)
  • Jamaica (76 532 people)
  • Ethiopia (71,332 people)
  • Brazil (69,982 people)
  • Colombia (68,032 people)
  • Iraq (61 787 people)
  • Burma (60 294 people)
  • Nepal (59,592 people)
  • Saudi Arabia (54,843 people)

7. Texas – the most desirable state for migrants

  • Texas – 587,890 people.
  • Florida – 578 468 people.
  • California – 527,236 people.
  • New York – 238 503 people.
  • New Jersey – 171 504 people.
  • Massachusetts – 134 318 people.
  • Washington – 134 132 people.
  • Pennsylvania – 131,845 people.
  • Virginia – 120,050 people.
  • Maryland – 118,175 people.
  • Georgia – 95,353 people.
  • Nevada – 78 341 people.
  • Arizona – 78,220 people.
  • Michigan – 74,533 people.
  • Minnesota – 73 953 people.
  • North Carolina – 70 503 people.

8. The largest increase in the number of migrants is in North Dakota

  • North Dakota (+ 49%)
  • West Virginia (+ 40%)
  • South Dakota (+ 39%)
  • Delaware (+ 24%)
  • Nebraska (+ 20%)
  • Minnesota (+ 20%)
  • Wyoming (+ 19%)
  • Pennsylvania (+ 18%)
  • Alaska (+ 16%)
  • Indiana (+ 16%)
  • Florida (+ 16%)
  • Nevada (+ 15%)
  • Iowa (+ 15%)
  • Maryland (+ 15%)
  • Massachusetts (+ 14%)
  • Texas (+ 14%)
  • Utah (+ 13%)
  • Wisconsin (+ 13%)
  • Virginia (+ 13%)