gradient
 
gradient
   
 

Green Card, Permanent Resident Status, family petitions

Immigrating to the United States can be a time consuming process
requiring the successful completion of numerous steps. The last step
following approval of the immigrant visa petition requires the alien to
file an application for Permanent Resident ("green card") status. A
lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the
privilege of permanently living and working in the United States.
Individuals who maintain Permanent Residency for five years (three years
for the spouses of U.S. citizens) may be eligible to apply for Naturalization (U.S. Citizenship)

If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that
you have a relative who is a citizen of the United States or a relative
who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step
process. An application for an immigrant visa/permanent resident
status can be filed either at a U.S. Consulate (normally located in the
alien's home country) or with the CIS office having jurisdiction over
the alien's residence in the United States.

The first process is called "Consular Processing" while the latter step is called "Adjustment of Status".

Most qualified applicants choose to file an I-485 adjustment application
in the U.S. with the CIS District Office or Service Center.

LIFE Act : Adjustment of Status, Revived Section 245(i)

Adjustment of status refers to the procedure for becoming a lawful
permanent resident without having to leave the United States.

Spouse or child accompanying principal alien. The accompanying spouse or
child of an applicant for adjustment of status may also apply for
adjustment of status. A spouse or child acquired by the principal alien
prior to the approval of the principal's adjustment of status
application may be accorded the derivative priority date and preference
category of the principal alien. The spouse or child may use the
priority date and category when it becomes current. The priority date is
not considered immediately available for these family members.

Immigrant visas are granted only to a spouse and children who accompany or
follow to join the principal beneficiary upon showing proof of immediate
relation to principal and admissibility. Section 203(d) provides that
spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same
status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or
following to join the principal. Whether or not named in the petition,
the child of a family-sponsored first, second, third, or fourth
preference immigrant or the spouse of a family-sponsored third or fourth
preference immigrant, if not otherwise entitled to an immigrant status
and the immediate issuance of a visa, is entitled to derivative status
corresponding to the classification and priority date of the beneficiary
of the petition.

9 FAM 42.53 N6.3 Spouse/Child Acquired After Principal’s Admission
(TL:VISA-61; 6-5-92) Spouse/Child acquired after the principal
alien’s admission to the United States, except a child of a marriage
existing at the time of the principal alien’s admission into the United
States, is not accorded derivative status, and thus is not entitled to
the priority date of the principal alien. The principal alien must file
a second preference petition for such spouse or child.

The INA, however, does not generally accord derivative status for family
members of immediate relatives as it does for preference applicants. A
U.S. citizen must file separate immediate relative petitions for the
spouse, each child, and each parent.

In order to take advantage of the 245(i) grand fathering, individuals
must have an immigrant visa petition or a labor certification
application on file with the Immigration Service or Department of Labor
by April 30, 2001. The "grandfather"clause of Section 245(i) is extended
from January 14, 1998 until April 30, 2001. As a result, any beneficiary
of an immigrant visa petition or labor certification application filed
BEFORE April 30, 2001, (including a spouse or child of the alien
beneficiary if eligible to receive a visa under section 203(d) of the
Act) will be able to apply for adjustment of status under Section 245(i)
if necessary. If the qualifying visa petition or application for labor
certification was filed AFTER January 14, 1998, the alien must have been
physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000. This
requirement does NOT apply with respect to a spouse or child
accompanying or following to join a principal alien.

FAMILY BASED PETITIONS

Family reunification is the leading source of immigration to this country. The United States Congress reflects this family reunification priority in the visa allocation system and in the various forms of relief available to certain aliens based on their family relationship to citizens or to lawful permanent residents of the United States. You can qualify for permanent residency if you have a family member in the United States who is either a citizen or a holder of a green card.

Like the Employment-based categories, both Preference Relatives and Accompanying relatives (derivative status) are affected by quota restrictions. (seeQuota Bulletien) You will need to determine how the quota backlogs will impact on your case prior to filing with the government."Immediate Relatives" ARE NOT SUBJECT TO QUOTA BACKLOGS. (A spouse of a U.S. citizen, an unmarried child (under the age of 21) of a U.S. Citizen parent, or a parent of a U.S. citizen child who is over the age of 21 can immigrate immediately if eligible).

PRIORITY DATE OF RELATIVE PETITIONS: (Quota Visa Bulletin)

The priority date is the date the preference petition (I-130) was filed
– 22 C.F.R. Sec 42.53(a) which under CIS regulations requires receipt of
the filing fee and a signed petition. 8 C.F.R. Sec 204.1(d).

Family-sponsored preference visas will issued to eligible immigrants
in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. The
priority date of a preference visa applicant under INA 203(a) or (b)
shall be the filing date of the approved petition that accorded
preference status. A spouse or child of a principal alien acquired prior
to the principal alien's admission shall be entitled to the priority
date of the principal alien, whether or not named in the immigrant visa
application of the principal alien. A child born of a marriage which
existed at the time of a principal alien's admission to the United
States is considered to have been acquired prior to the principal
alien's admission.

FAMILY PETITIONS

Permanent residence based on family relationships falls into two categories. The first is immediate relatives, for which there is no quota or waiting list. Immediate relatives include unmarried children under the age of 21, spouses, and parents of United States citizens.

A child may include a legitimate child; or a step-child, as long as the relationship was created before the child's 18th birthday; or a child legitimated under the law of the child's residence or domicile, or under the law of the father's residence or domicile, as long as the legitimization took place before the child's 18th birthday; or an illegitimate child where the benefit is sought by virtue of the relationship with the natural mother, or the natural father if the father has or had a bona-fide parent child relationship with the person; or a child adopted while under the age of 16 years if the child has been in the legal custody of, and has resided with, the adopting parent for at least 2 years; or a child who is an orphan because of the death, disappearance, abandonment, or desertion by both parents, or where the sole surviving parent is incapable of caring for the child, and the child is under the age of 16.

To file for a spouse, the marriage must be valid under the laws of the country where it was performed and must not be against public policy. A fraudulent or sham marriage that is entered for the main purpose of circumventing the immigration laws does not enable an alien's spouse to get immigration benefits. However, where the marriage was valid at its inception, a petition can be approved even if the parties are not residing together at the time of the interview.

To file for a parent, the US citizen petitioner must be at least 21 years of age.

Other types of family petitions fall under the preference system. There is a limit on persons who can receive permanent residence each year in these categories and, so, the waiting list is often many years long.

The first preference is for unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, over the age of 21. The second preference is for the spouses and unmarried sons and daughters (any age) of lawful permanent residents of the United States. The third preference is for the married sons and daughters of US citizens (any age). The fourth preference is for brothers and sisters of US citizens. The US citizen must be at least 21 years of age to file for a brother or sister.

A petition for permanent residence is filed on immigration form I-130. The US citizen or permanent resident who files the petition is known as the petitioner, while the alien relative who will be getting permanent residence is known as the beneficiary. If the beneficiary is outside the United States, he or she will apply for a permanent visa at a US consul in their home country, or in any other country where they are residing. In this situation, the petitioner must sign the form and send it, with proof of the relationship of the parties and the proper filing fee, to the immigration service office in the United States that handles these types of cases. The form I-130 lists the documents that must be submitted with the petition, as well as the address where the petition must be sent.

The immigration service center approves the petition and sends it to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire. That office will forward the next set of papers to the beneficiary. The beneficiary must then complete these forms and forward them to the US consul that will process the case. In addition, the beneficiary must obtain the needed documents needed to be presented at the final interview. When the consulate has finished its background checks, it will send an appointment letter to the beneficiary to appear at an interview, and to bring the requested documents.

If everything is in order, the beneficiary will receive his or her immigrant visa, as will any accompanying family members. They must enter the United States within six months at which time their passports will be stamped as permanent residents. They will receive work permission, and their permanent resident (green) cards will be mailed to them.

If the alien beneficiary is in the United States, he or she may qualify for adjustment of status with the Immigration Service, without the need of traveling to a US consulate outside the United States. Most persons can qualify for adjustment of status if they filed a petition or application with the Immigration service or US Department of Labor on or before January 14, 1998. (This will be discussed in detail later in the manual). However, often, if they are not legally in the United States they will have to pay a penalty fee to avoid having to return to their home country. Now the penalty fee is $1000.00, aside from the regular filing fees for the application, visa petition, and work permit if needed. Also, a fingerprinting fee is required.

The beneficiary will submit the application for adjustment of status with the petition, which is signed by the petitioner. The beneficiary must also include the necessary documentation, including proof of the relationship of the parties, a medical exam, photos, proof of support, and the required filing fee. In addition, the beneficiary may request a work permit while waiting for a final appointment date. The procedures for each immigration office are different; therefore it is important that you check with the individual office to learn their specific method of processing these cases. (A full list of all immigration & consular offices is included on our web site.) When the preliminary processing of the case is finished, the immigration service will schedule the beneficiary for an interview. During the interview, the petition and application for permanent residence will be reviewed and the parties questioned. If this is a petition based on a marriage, there is a good likelihood that the petitioner and beneficiary will be separated and asked questions outside the presence of each other in order for the immigration examiner to confirm the truth of the marriage. In these cases, it is very important that you take with you to the interview documentary proof that you reside together such as tax returns, leases, ownership of property, insurance policies, etc. Naturally, if a child has been born of the marriage, you should take the child's birth certificate with you. Also, remember that the immigration service wants to see original documents.

If everything is in order, your application will be granted, and proof of your permanent residence will be stamped in your passport. The resident (green) card will be mailed to you within 3-6 months. However, since you are a permanent resident from that date, you can travel outside the United States and you are permitted to be lawfully hired while waiting for your card to come.

If you are not approved for permanent residence because of the commission of a crime or because of some other ground of inadmissibility, you might still be able to get a waiver. If the petition is denied, and you wish to appeal, you would file your appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals on immigration form I-290 B. If your application for adjustment is denied, you could renew your application at a hearing before an immigration judge.

CHILD PROTECTION ACT

On August 6, 2002 President Bush signed the Child Status Protection Act.
This new law addresses the problem of minor children losing their
eligibility for certain immigration benefits as a result of BCIS
processing delays. (when children of U.S. citizens turn 21 years of age,
they "age-out" of their immediate relative status to the status of
family-first preference: the Fl category.) Public Law (P.L. 107-208), 08/06/02.

The new act provides that the determination of whether an unmarried
alien son or daughter of a US citizen is considered an "immediate
relative child" (under 21 years of age) will be based on the age of the
alien at the time the Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) is filed
on his or her behalf, rather than on the date the petition is
adjudicated, as is the case under current law.

The new law also provides similar determinations in the case of
permanent resident parents who subsequently naturalize after having
filed petitions for their sons or daughters and citizen parents who file
petitions for married sons or daughters where such sons or daughters
later divorce. In the first situation, the age determination will be
made at the time of the parents' naturalization. In the latter, the
alien beneficiary's age will be determined as of the date of his or her
divorce.

For the children of legal permanent residents, or those who are
accompanying or following to join on a petition for an immigrant visa,
their eligibility will be determined based on the date that a visa
becomes available to them, but only if they seek to acquire permanent
resident status within one year of such availability.

In addition, the new law provides age-out protection to alien children
who accompany or follow to join parents who have filed for asylum or
refugee status.

Finally, the new law provides that the family-sponsored petition of an
unmarried alien son or daughter whose permanent resident parent
subsequently becomes a naturalized US citizen will be converted to a
petition for an unmarried son or daughter of a US citizen, unless the
son or daughter elects otherwise.

Because certain aliens are subject to quota restrictions, the law
provides for an orderly waiting list, based on the date that the first
official step was taken to immigrate the alien. For family based
applicants, this is the date the BCIS first accepted the immigrant
preference petition filed on the alien's behalf. For employment based
applicants, this date is the earlier of the date a labor certification
was filed on the alien's behalf, or the date an immigrant preference
petition was filed, if no labor certification is required. This date is
known as the alien's priority date. A priority date is not "perfected"
until the immigrant preference petition is actually approved. Once a
preference petition beneficiary receives a priority date, he or she may
be able to retain it even if the preference classification changes. For
example, employment based immigrants are entitled to retain their EB
priority dates even if they change jobs or move switch classifications.
Similarly, family based beneficiaries are allowed to retain their
priority dates if they automatically convert from one classification to
another though marriage, age, or the naturalization of the petitioner.

Visa Bulletin: This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers. Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. .

"Immediate Relatives" ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS (quota backlogs) OF INA 201. So, a spouse of a U.S. citizen, an unmarried child (under the age of 21) of a U.S. Citizen parent, or a parent of a U.S. citizen child who is over the age of 21 can immigrate immediately if eligible. The INA, however, does not generally accord derivative status for family members of immediate relatives as it does for preference applicants. A U.S. citizen must file separate immediate relative petitions for the spouse, each child, and each parent.

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES: Section 203 of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of immigrant visas as follows:

First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:

A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

Derivative status for family members: Dependents may enter upon showing proof of immediate relation to principal and admissibility. Immigrant visas are given only to spouse and children who accompany or follow to join the principal beneficiary. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. Whether or not named in the petition, the child of a family-sponsored first, second, third, or fourth preference immigrant or the spouse of a family-sponsored third or fourth preference immigrant, if not otherwise entitled to an immigrant status and the immediate issuance of a visa, is entitled to derivative status corresponding to the classification and priority date of the beneficiary of the petition.

In the case of a petition according an alien status under INA 203(a)(1) or (3) or status as an unmarried son or daughter under INA 203(a)(2), the petitioner must be a "parent" as defined in INA 101(b)(2) and 22 CFR 40.1. In the case of a petition to accord an alien status under INA 203(a)(4) filed on or after January 1, 1977, the petitioner must be at least twenty-one years of age.


33 N. LaSalle Street
Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60602

(312) 380-6376

1098 S. Milwaukee Avenue
Suite 306
Wheeling, Illinois 60090

(847) 282-4723

 

.