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GREEN-CARD

greencard immigration citizenship immigrant visa adjustment of status Law Offices of Christian O. Nwaopara, LLC
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We Will Help You With All Your Green-card Matters.


Under U.S immigration law, there are several ways to become a lawful permanent resident or green-card holder, for instance, through family, employment, or through refugee or asylee status, or humanitarian programs (see below).
     ✔ We will take care of all your paperwork and petition filing, respond to all immigration correspondences on your behalf and accompany you to all your immigration interviews until you receive your greencard.
     ✔ U.S immigration law allows a U.S citizen to file an immigrant visa petition for his or her foreign spouse, sons or daughters, parent(s), brothers or sisters. Similarly, a U.S lawful permanent resident or green-card holder can file an immigrant visa petition for his or her foreign spouse, or unmarried sons or daughters.
     ✔ If you already have your citizenship or greencard, our law firm can help reunite you with your foreign family so that they come and reside permanently with you in the US.
Again, we will take care of all paperwork and petition filing and appear for any necessary representations until they are allowed entry to the U.S and receive their green-cards.


WAYS YOU CAN BECOME A U.S PERMANENT RESIDENT

❶   Family-Based

►  This is the most common way to become a U.S permanent resident.

      Married to a U.S Citizen: If you are married to a U.S citizen, your U.S spouse will file an immigrant petition, which expectedly will lead to permanent residence in the U.S (assuming all other eligibility requirements are met).

      Already a U.S Citizen: If you are already a U.S citizen (and at least 21 years old), you can file an immigrant petition for your relatives under family-based immigration. This will cause them to obtain U.S permanent residence (assuming all other eligibility requirements are met). Your relatives include:
(1) Your parents
(2) Your spouses
(3) Your unmarried children (each child must be less than 21 years old)

  • Also, as a U.S citizen, you can sponsor your qualified relative, such as:
(1) Your unmarried, adult sons and daughters (21 years or above)
(2) Your married sons and daughters, their spouses and their minor children
(3) Your brothers and sisters, their spouses and their minor children

      U.S Permanent Resident: If you are a U.S permanent resident, you can file for:
(1) Your spouse and/or your unmarried children (less than 21 years old)
(2) Your unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or above)

❷  Employment-Based

► EB 1 Visa:
      Priority Workers: For individuals with extraordinary ability in some disciplines [e.g. Arts, Sciences, Education, Business, or Athletics]. Employer sponsorship not required.
      Outstanding Professors & Researchers: Must have at least 3 years of teaching or research in his/her field and must have received international recognition for the work. Sponsorship by the U.S university or research entity required.
      Executives/Managers of Multinational Companies: Must have been employed by the oversea branch of the U.S multinational company as a manager or executive for a minimum of one of the 3 preceding years. Must be coming to the U.S to perform executive or managerial duty. Sponsorship by the U.S company (which must have been in operation for at least 1 year) required.

► EB 2 Visa:
       People with:
(a) Exceptional Ability: Must have exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business (if work is in the national interest).
(b) Advanced Degrees: Must have an advanced degree (Master’s, Ph.D, or Doctorate). In some instances, a bachelor's degree may suffice only if you also have at least 5 years of prior progressive experience in the field/profession.

► EB 3 Visa:
       Skilled Workers: Positions that require at least 2 years training or experience.
       Professionals: Positions that require at least a baccalaureate degree.
       Unskilled Workers: Positions that require less than two years experience or training.

► EB 4 Visa:
       Special Immigrants: Individuals who may qualify for the EB-4 path to greencard include but not limited to:
- Afghan/Iraqi Translator
- Afghan Who Assisted the U.S. Government
- Armed Forces Member
- International Organization Employee
- Iraqi Who Assisted the U.S. Government
- NATO-6 Nonimmigrant
- Physician National Interest Waiver
- Religious Worker

► EB 5 Visa:
       Investors: Must invest at least $500,000 in a "targeted employment area". If investment is not in a targeted employment area, then the investor must invest at least $1,000,000 to be eligible under this path. Additionally, the investor must create 10 or more full-time employment (excluding the investor's family members).

❸   Refugee or Asylum

►  This path to greencard is possible if you can prove that you have been persecuted in your home country or that you are fearful of returning because you will be persecuted either due to your race, religion, your political opinion, your nationality or your membership in a social group.

      Refugee: If you are outside the U.S, you can seek protection as a refugee. Some requirements include:
- Must receive a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) before you can be considered as a refugee.
- Must be interviewed by a USCIS officer abroad to determine if you are eligible for refugee resettlement.
- Note that you may include your spouse, unmarried children (less than 21 years old) in your application.
- In some situations, you may be allowed to include other family members.

  • If your refugee application is granted, you may be admitted to the U.S as a refugee. One year after you enter the U.S, you can apply for your greencard or permanent residence.

      Asylee: If you are already in the U.S, you can seek asylum.
- Submission of your application to U.S immigration or U.S immigration court within one year of arriving to the U.S is required.
- If you have your spouse or any of your ummaried children who are under 21 years old (and they are in the U.S with you), you can include them in your asylum application.
- While this application is pending after 150 days, you can apply for employment authorization to work in the U.S. You can use the employment authorization to work until your asylum application is granted or denied.

  • If your asylum application is granted, you can apply for your greencard one year after the approval of your asylum in the U.S.
- If your spouse, or ummaried children (less than 21 years of age) are outside U.S when you applied for refugee/asylum, then uou must wait until that application is approved to petition to bring them to U.S.
  • If you are admitted to the U.S as a qualifying family member of an asylee, you can apply for your greencard or permanent residence one year after you enter the U.S.

  Please, call our office if you have been persecuted in your home country or if you are afraid of returning to your country. Let us help you! No one deserves what you are going through. Please call 1.800.983.9198.

❹  Others/Humanitarian

► Other Ways:
       Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (known as 'Green Card Lottery')
       K Nonimmigrant (includes fiancĂ©(e))
       Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act
       Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status

► Special Categories of Family:
       Battered Spouse or Child (VAWA)
       Person Born to a Foreign Diplomat in the United States
       Widow(er) of a U.S. Citizen
       V Nonimmigrant

► Other Green-Card Programs:
       Amerasian Child of a U.S. Citizen
       American Indian Born in Canada
       Cuban Native or Citizen
       Haitian Refugee
       Help HAITI Act of 2010
       Informant (S Nonimmigrant)
       Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act
       Lautenberg Parolee
       Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)
       Registry
       Victim of Trafficking (T Nonimmigrant)


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