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If your renewal application is denied, you might lose your permanent resident status. It's crucial to understand the reasons for the denial and consult a legal professional to explore your options for appeal or other remedies.

An expired green card doesn't generally invalidate your work authorization. Even so, it's advisable to renew your residency card before its expiration to prevent unwanted complications.

Lawful permanent residents enjoy the privileges of living and working in the United States on a permanent basis. Allowing your green card to expire can have several consequences, including loss of legal status, difficulty traveling, work authorization issues, loss of government benefits, re-entry concerns, and holdups in naturalization.

Yes. However, it's recommended that you do so as soon as possible to avoid legal complications and other potential issues.

Proving the authenticity of your marriage, which is known as demonstrating a bona fide marriage, is crucial in the immigrant visa process. Here's how to approach it:

1. Documentation: Gather documents that showcase the genuine nature of your relationship. These may include joint leases or mortgage agreements, shared utility bills, joint bank account statements, and any other documents that display commingled finances or shared responsibilities.
2. Photographs: Compile a variety of photographs taken throughout your relationship. These should reflect moments throughout the journey of your relationship, such as family gatherings, holidays, vacations, and daily life snapshots.
3. Communication: Present a record of consistent communication, like emails, text messages, phone records, and letters. This record substantiates your ongoing interaction and emotional connection.
4. Affidavits: Obtain affidavits from family members, friends, and acquaintances who can vouch for the legitimacy of your marriage. These statements should detail their observations of your relationship.
5. Joint activities: Outline joint activities, hobbies, and interests you share. This demonstrates that your bond extends beyond the legal aspects of marriage.
6. Social media: Showcase your relationship on social media platforms. Posts, comments, and photos can add an online dimension to your evidence.
7. Evidence of co-habitation: If you live together, provide documentation of shared living arrangements. This could include lease agreements, utility bills, or correspondence addressed to both spouses.
8. Special circumstances: If you have children together, provide their birth certificates or adoption records. If you've faced challenges together, like medical emergencies, include documentation of those experiences.
9. Interview preparation: Be ready for an interview with U.S. citizenship and immigration services. Review your relationship history, as the interviewer may ask questions about your life together.
10. Legal guidance: Work with an immigration attorney experienced in marriage-based immigration cases. They can help organize your evidence, prepare affidavits, and guide you through the process.

Remember, the goal is to provide a comprehensive picture of your relationship. Strong evidence that spans various aspects of your life together could significantly strengthen your case.

Marriage to a U.S. citizen vs. a lawful permanent resident brings distinct immigration pathways. When the sponsoring spouse is a green card holder, you can expect the following:

• Visa number wait: Spouses of green card holders must wait for a visa number to become available;
• Long wait for green card: Due to limited visa numbers, the process can be significantly longer.

If the sponsoring spouse is a U.S. citizen, the process is generally faster and a bit less complex.

Immigrating to the U.S. through a marriage visa will cost up to several thousand dollars in filing fees and other expenses. Form I-130, for example, has a filing fee of $535, while Form I-485 is currently $1,140. Other related expenses may include translations of required documents, medical examinations, and travel costs to attend your interview.

The processing time for a marriage green card varies based on factors such as the applicant's country of origin, the specific U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services center handling the case, and the complexity of the application. On average, the process takes anywhere from 12 to 24 months.

Yes, if the sponsoring spouse is a U.S. citizen, the foreign spouse can apply for a work permit (Form I-765) concurrently with the green card application. This allows them to legally work in the U.S. while the green card application is pending.

Yes, most applicants are required to attend a green card interview as part of the green card application process. The interview is conducted to verify the authenticity of the marriage and ensure the eligibility of the foreign spouse.

As a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to establish the relationship. Once the I-130 is approved, your spouse can proceed with the green card application process.

If the marriage is less than two years old, the foreign spouse receives a conditional green card valid for two years. Within the 90-day period before the card's expiration, the couple must file jointly to remove the conditions and obtain a permanent green card.

A marriage-based green card grants lawful residency in the U.S. to a foreign national married to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The green card allows the holder to live and work permanently in the U.S.

Certainly. Once your conditions are removed and you’ve obtained a permanent green card, you can apply for full U.S. citizenship after meeting the residency requirements.

Generally, yes. You can continue working and traveling with your expired conditional green card and the extension letter you receive from USCIS upon filing Form I-751.

In some cases, USCIS may schedule an interview to verify the authenticity of your marriage. However, not all applicants are required to attend an interview.

Processing times vary but tend to take several months. USCIS provides estimates on its website, which can give you, as a green card holder, a better idea of the timeline.

If your application is denied, you may be placed in removal proceedings. You have the right to appeal the decision within 30 days.

You can still apply if your marriage ended in divorce or annulment. To do so successfully, though, you'll need to prove that your marriage was entered into in good faith initially.

If you plan to file Form I-751 with your sponsor or spouse, you must do so within 90 days of your conditional green card's expiration. For example, if you were issued a conditional green card that expires on June 1, 2023, you'd be able to file on April 1, as that's within the 90-day window of the expiration of the two-year green card.

However, if you're submitting an I-751 petition independently, you may file it at any time. It’s best to start the process as soon as possible to ensure that you have all the necessary supporting documents on hand or to give yourself ample time to prove that a good-faith marriage ended for valid reasons.

Limited circumstances may allow you to apply for an adjustment of status if you have overstayed your visa. In many cases, however, overstaying can result in consequences that have a negative effect on your eligibility. Speaking with an immigration lawyer about your immigrant status will help you make the most beneficial choices for your case.

Yes. If they meet eligibility requirements, your current spouse and unmarried children below the age of 21 may be listed as derivative beneficiaries on your application for adjustment of status.

For many, an interview for adjustment of status is required for the purpose of verifying an applicant's information and assessing their eligibility. If you must attend an interview, make sure to bring all necessary documents. You may also want to speak with an attorney before going.

Upon receiving a denial for adjustment of status, the story may not be over. You may be able to apply for an appeal or reconsideration of your application, depending on the reasons your application was denied. Speaking with an adjustment of a status lawyer is crucial for success.

Potentially, yes. After filing Form I-485, you may be eligible to seek permission to work by filing Form I-765 if your application has been pending for over 180 days. If you need to travel outside the country, you can seek permission, which is known as advance parole. To obtain advance parole, you must fill out Form I-131.

The documents you need for your AOS application depend on the circumstances of your case. However, most applicants, regardless of their situation, need identification documents, employment verification documents, proof of relationship, and the results of their medical examination. Before heading to your appointment, speak with an attorney to ensure you have the documents you need.

It varies from case to case. Generally, it takes several months but can take up to a year. The USCIS caseload, the specific factors of your case, and other factors play a role in how long it takes.

No. Individuals who have entered the United States on a tourist visa cannot generally apply for an adjustment of status. AOS is only available to those who have procured an eligible sponsor, such as a family member or an employer.

Immediate relative-category visas for spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 are unlimited. What’s more, these relatives have a path to obtaining permanent residency or even U.S. citizenship using the adjustment-of-status process once they enter the country.

Family preference visas are for relatives ineligible for immediate relative visas, such as married children or children over the age of 21, as well as more distant relatives, like brothers or sisters. The U.S. immigration system caps the number of family-based preference visas granted each year. Additionally, the processing times for these types of visas can take longer, depending on various factors.

Under U.S. immigration laws, certain visa categories have caps on the number of visas granted. The Visa Bulletin is published by the U.S. Department of State to inform applicants and their legal advisors about the availability of visas and the expected processing times. The bulletin also shows the priority dates that determine when a visa holder can file for permanent resident status or request consular processing.

The time to process family-based immigration petitions will vary. A petition with no issues in an unlimited visa category might take several months to process. But when an applicant has issues like a history of domestic violence or other problems, it could take years.

U.S. citizens of any age can file petitions for their spouses or children. However, petitioners must be 21 years or older to petition for a visa for a parent or sibling.

No. A U.S. citizen or LPR of any age can file a petition. However, the government requires an Affidavit of Support with the petition, and the person who signs this document must be at least 18.

Yes. Once you have entered the country legally on a family-based visa, you can apply for permanent residence in the U.S. You must meet certain standards, such as maintaining your immigrant visa status for at least five years and residing in the U.S. for at least two and a half years. But once you meet these requirements, you can apply for an adjustment of status from a visa holder to a permanent U.S. resident.