Obtaining Permanent Residence Status While in the U.S.
Foreign nationals in the United States under nonimmigrant visas can often be eligible for permanent residency ("green card") through adjustment of status, or AOS. In certain circumstances, adjustment of status permits a person already in the U.S. to obtain permanent status without having to depart the US and file at a U.S. consulate abroad.
At Robert Brown LLC, our immigration lawyers advise individuals, families and employers about the best ways to obtain permanent legal residence through the adjustment of status process. Headquartered in Cleveland and with offices in Orlando and Raleigh-Durham, we offer nationwide client service backed up by more than five decades of immigration law experience. Contact us to learn how you can benefit from our experience and attention to detail on AOS issues in both family-based and employment-based immigration.
Generally speaking, a foreign national must be in the U.S. under lawful admission and maintain a valid nonimmigrant status at the time of application for adjustment, although current laws provide for specific exceptions to this rule. AOS in most instances is based upon an approved petition reflecting an individual's qualifying family relationship or an employment-based petition.
You Might Qualify for AOS Despite the Lack of Valid Current Status
Nevertheless, the law permits adjustment of status in many other situations, including:
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: spouses, parents and unmarried minor children
- Certain persons who may have entered the U.S. illegally prior to a specified date
- Persons eligible for asylum
- Persons eligible for refugee status
- Favorable results in the diversity visa lottery
Whether your current nonimmigrant status indicates a relatively easy path to AOS or you'll need to obtain adjustment under a recognized exception to the general procedure, our lawyers can advise you about your options for achieving permanent lawful residence in the U.S.
Obstacles to Lawful Permanent Residence
Adjustment of status amounts to a rigorous analysis of a person's eligibility for permanent residence in the U.S. The process essentially involves a complete review of a person's entire history to identify any information that could prevent a foreign national from obtaining the green card.
The review process encompasses multiple steps. In addition to a review of the visa petition, the process includes fingerprints and biometrics, background and security checks, a formal USCIS interview, and a careful search for specific grounds of inadmissibility or removability. While a finding of inadmissibility can prevent a grant of permanent residency, U.S. immigration law is filled with provisions that may forgive or provide waivers for even the most serious immigration violations.
Nationwide Service – Offices in Ohio, Florida and North Carolina
The attorneys of Robert Brown LLC have extensive experience in solving even the most complex adjustment of status problems. Our attorneys, paralegals and support staff have worked extensively with individuals from all backgrounds to help achieve their goal of permanent residence in the U.S. We can work effectively with clients anywhere in the country.
Contact Robert Brown LLC in Cleveland, Orlando or Raleigh-Durham for assistance with the adjustment of status process, so that you can take the exciting step toward permanent residency with confidence.
