USCIS is considering changes that would allow certain immediate relatives (the spouse, children or parents of a U.S. citizen) who can demonstrate extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen spouse or parent to receive a provisional waiver of the unlawful presence bars before leaving the United States.
My friend filed a petition for an adult child (over 21 years old) six years ago and just received notification this year that there's a visa number available for the child. Meanwhile, the child has traveled to study and obtained a permanent residence in Canada. However, the child still wants to join his mother to the United States. Will the US give the child a GC if all the requirements are met?
Sure. The fact that he is in Canada is not an impediment.
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Rajiv gave us a very clear picuture of our legal situation for GC and helped us a lot. He is very direct and precise. His firm also gave us documents which was very useful. If someone wants a legal opnion or an attorney Rajiv is the right guy !!
My wife got her green card in 2006 but since 2008 she has been staying continuously overseas. In 2009 she applied and received SB-1 visa but she was not able to return to US before it expired.In 2009 our daughter was born overseas. Just recently I have become a US citizen through the naturalization process. I am planning to bring all my family members to US in April 2012. What are our options?
Apply for their green card and shoot for a K-3 visa simultaneously.
I am a US citizen turning 21 next month. Can I sponsor my dad to get a green card even if I am not holding his last name?
Yes you can. Having the same last name is not required.
My US citizen father is filing an I-130 for me; will my husband automatically be accepted at the same time as me if I get accepted?
Your father does not have to file a separate application for your husband. In the various papers you get from the consulate and the National Visa Center, you can indicate that he is getting his green card with you.
I want to know how I can come back to US. I came US 2006 like a guest, stayed about 5 years & left US. But my family still there, ex-wife, two daughters older 20 year old & younger 17. When my daughter turns 21 year old can she apply for family reunification, especially for me?
One of the ways could be for your daughter to apply for your green card when she turns 21. The problem is, if you were unlawfully present in USA for more than a year, you may be barred from entering USA for 10 years.
I am a legal permanent resident for 14 years; I would like to know what I need to do to ask for my brother to become a permanent resident or green card. He’s here in U.S visiting me with his visa. He is 27 years old and not sure if I am eligible to request it.
You cannot petition for brother until you become a US Citizen. And, even after that, it takes over 10 years to get a green card. See family category 4 in the current visa bulletin: http://www.immigration.com/visa-bulletin
My mother just got recently approved to migrate to the US as LPR. I am a USC. Now I was wondering how soon my mom can submit a petition for my brother who is unmarried and over 21. I am assuming it would be faster for my LPR mother to petition my brother than me.
It will be faster for her to petition and she can do so as soon as she wants. I would suggest she should apply when she moves to USA. If you wish, you can also start a petition for your brother. He can wait in more than one category.
I am a US citizen can I apply for green card for her while she is in US and can she stay here while the application is in process?
The answer to both your questions is - yes. But you MUST speak with a lawyer to understand all the nuances of her case.
What is the age the child can apply for a parent's green card?
A child can only apply for a parent's green card upon reaching the age of 21.
During FY 2009 and FY 2010, usage of family-based visas has been exceptionally low, especially among spouses and children of green card holders (the F-2A preference category). In FY 2009, approximately 10,000 family-based visas were unused and, by statute, were reallocated for use by employment-based immigrants in FY 2010.
I got married last month ! My husband is a GC holder and next year is going to become Citizen , I have my GC (I-140- Approved) with a priority date of September 2019 on EB3 . What are my best options here ? Do I wait for him to become a citizen and then apply for my GC through his citizenship ? Or shall I apply GC now through his GC status, before he becomes a citizen ? Or shall I wait for mine ? Will my pending GC still be valid if I apply through my spouse ?
You should apply through as many green card categories as are available to you. The family-based green card can be upgraded once he becomes a US citizen. You will be able to get and keep the green card through whichever category comes through first.
Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments and blog on immigration.com
I'm on F1 visa and just got married to a US citizen, I'm looking forward to file green card papers..is there something like some states(MD or Kentucky) have the fastest processing time, what is the normal time limit from filing to the interview and receiving green card?
Follow the instructions on the form. Place of filing in immigration matters follows your residence. It is not open to choice. USCIS processing times should be here: http://www.immigration.com/processing-times-and-status-check
I got my green card back in 2003, I traveled to the U.S. in search of a better life. Since my grandmother was sick I had to comeback to my home country in 2008. I've been out of the U.S. for more than a year. My grandmother is fine now and I'd like to comeback to the U.S. My green card expires in 2014, so it's still valid now. Will I be allowed to comeback to the U.S.?
Generally speaking, a visit outside USA lasting more than one year terminates your green card (no matter what the card says).
I filled the petition for my son when I was GC holder.My son got married 10 days before I got citizenship.Now his petition is denied.USCIS want me to file I-130 again. Please tell me I have to file I-130 or there is any other way.
As far as I know, there is no way out of this except a new filing.
I came on an F1 visa but dropped out due to financial difficulties, I have been working without a work permit, my husband who is a US citizen,has been unemployed for the last two years due to a car accident,so we had to use my income for the I-864 now they USCIS want me to verify my employment eligibility, how can we deal with this problem?
You may be best served by getting a co-sponsor for the affidavit of support.
I am a U.S citizen and I want to apply GC for my mother. She has a multiple visa for U.S. If she comes here and then I apply for her do they need a medical for her in here or not?
Medical examinations are needed even if you file from here.
My parents got GC and I could not get it since I was 21. I am now in the US on H-1B. My mom applied for me when she was a permanent resident under the unmarried son/daughter category. In 2009 I got a letter from USCIS that my visa is available since my priority date was Sept 2001 but in 2009 I was already married and my mom became a citizen after we got married. My question is - can I file for new I-130 and request them to allow me to use the old priority date (Sept 2001)? What are the chances of them allowing me to do that?
As far as I know your PD cannot be reused because you lost it through becoming ineligible for the visa category.
My sister just got her green card last year. Can she petition her siblings ages 22 and 24? how long does the processing take?
Only US citizens can petition for their siblings.
I am a citizen here and would like to apply GC for my brother's family in India. My question is brother and family have 10 yr visiting visa and they keep travelling here every 2 yrs. Once I apply for their green card, can they still continue to visit here with their visitor visa? When would their visitor visa gets invalid.
Travel on a NIV while GC is pending is very uncertain. CBP can refuse entry.
I am a US Citizen through naturalization. I have applied for GC for both my parents and they are here. I applied I130 and I485 concurrently. I recd the notice letters and my parents got thier finger printing done on 03/22/2010. My Mother's I-94 is expiring on May 25, 2010. Do I need to apply for an I-94 extension since their 485 is still pending or can she stay till GC is approved without a new I-94 extenstion. Both my parents have a 10 year valid B2 visa till 2016. Please advise if I need to apply for a I-94 visa extension.
This comment for Law Offices of Rajiv Khanna should be written 3 years ago. Sorry for the delay. My case was one of the most complicated and long-shot cases, regarding the fact that I was a diplomat in USA and my wife, as a diplomat Spouse (A-1 dependant) found a unique opportunity to work as a Senior Developer in a big company. After company's decision to sponsor my wife for GC, we didn't want to go with company law department, but instead decided to apply to Mr. Khanna and his staff to lead and guide us through the process. The reason for our choice was positive recommendations and all those admires happened to be true that my wife was able to get her GC in 6 months. Because of my diplomatic position, we were advised to hold my case and activate it when I was back home. We left US in 2008, activated my file by 2009, and as of 2011 my wife, our 3 y/o son and myself turned back to USA as permanent residents, thanks to Mr. Khanna and his proffessional staff which followed every detail and filing efforts precisely. We will definitely ask their assistance for our naturalization process.