Consular Processing
The application process for a green card varies depending on whether you’re already in the United States, or still in your home country. If you’re applying from your home country, your application will go through consular processing, which simply means that it will be handled by your local U.S. embassy or consulate.
The process is different from Adjustment of Status (AOS), which is used when applying for a green card from inside the United States. With consular processing, you’ll have to wait in your home country until your U.S. immigrant visa is approved.
Both consular processing and AOS have their own timelines, application forms, supporting documents, and costs, but the overall green card eligibility requirements are identical.
Consular processing can take anywhere from 12-24 months depending on the country of origin and other factors. This time frame does not take into account the time it may take to process a waiver of inadmissibility or the problems surrounding COVID-19.
Family-based immigrant visas are divided into preference systems and priority dates. This refers to one of the various categories under which an individual qualifies for U.S. residency, and must wait for a visa to become available.
1st Preference:
Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. This category refers to the adult children of U.S. citizens or those who have reached the age of 21 years before an immigrant visa has been issued to them.
2nd Preference:
A spouse and children under the age of 21 of U.S. permanent residents and unmarried sons and daughters over the age of 21 of U. S. permanent residents.
3rd Preference:
Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
4th Preference:
Siblings of adult U.S. citizens.
First
The qualifying relative must file an immigrant petition called an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. The petitioner must include biographical documents with the application, showing proof of their relationship to the alien. The I-130 petition must be approved by the USCIS before proceeding to the next stage.
Second
A visa number, through the State Department must be available in order to adjust status. By law, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) limits the number of immigrant visas that may be issued to foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to the United States. Family-sponsored preference categories are limited to a minimum of 226,000 visas per year. Employment-based preference categories are limited to a minimum of 140,000 visas per year. It is for this reason that the Visa Bulletin exists. The Visa Bulletin is a useful tool to help individuals determine when a visa will become available to them. The Department of State and Department of Homeland Security publish the Visa Bulletin on a monthly basis estimating immigrant visas available.
Third
If a foreign national is already living in the United States, they may apply to adjust their status to permanent resident status after a visa number becomes available. If the individual resides abroad, they must file the DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application with the Department of State.
Fourth
The applicant must appear for a scheduled interview with a Consular Officer at the US Consulate that is
located in the applicant’s home country. There he or she will be vetted for inadmissibility issues such as
crimes, terrorism, overstays in the U.S. and health issues. If approved, an immigrant visa will be put in
their passport and they will be allowed to be admitted to the United States.
Let us help you navigate through this difficult process. Schedule a consultation today.
What is a priority date?
A priority date is generally the date when a qualifying relative properly filed the immigrant visa petition on behalf of a foreign national with USCIS.
Certain documentation must be submitted with the petition to prove the legal status of the petitioner, and that the stated relationship exists between the petitioner and their relative such as proof of citizenship or permanent residence, copies of a marriage certificate, or birth certificate if the petition is for a child or parent.
When the visa petition is approved, USCIS will notify the person who filed the visa petition (the petitioner). USCIS will then forward the approved visa petition to the Department of State's National Visa Center where it will remain until an immigrant visa number is available. The NVC will notify the beneficiary of the application when the visa petition is received and again when an immigrant visa number is available. Alien Registration Cards (Green Cards) are issued for ten-year periods. From the date of filing the I-130 application, it generally takes approximately 12-24 months to be approved.