Sherman Oaks Consular Processing Attorney
Assisting Immigrants Living Outside the U.S. Obtain Green Cards
Lawful permanent residency – which is granted in the physical form of a green card – allows an immigrant to indefinitely live and work in the United States. After a certain amount of time has passed and certain conditions are met, a lawful permanent resident can apply for citizenship, if they so desire.
Green cards are challenging to obtain, often by design. Some immigrants will attempt to adjust the status of a temporary, nonimmigrant visa once they are already inside the United States. This can be a useful path to becoming a lawful permanent resident, but the process can be extremely lengthy, the ability to work will likely be restricted, and there are inherent risks of upheaval should you build a life in the United States on your temporary visa only to have your adjustment petition denied.
Others seeking a green card turn to what is called consular processing, the process by which immigrants currently outside the United States seek to become lawful permanent residents. This process, while often more streamlined than adjustment of status procedures, can still be complex and overwhelming. Our Sherman Oaks consular processing lawyer Anaida Zadykyan at Zadykyan Law can guide you through each step and work to ensure your goals are achieved.
If you need assistance with consular processing, call (818) 600-6322 or contact us online to request a free consultation. At Zadykyan Law, we offer services in English, Russian, and Armenian. Call today!
The Basics of Consular Processing
In order to qualify for consular processing, you must currently reside outside the United States and otherwise meet the conditions of eligibility for lawful permanent residency. This means you must be eligible to receive a green card through employment, your family, or some other special circumstance.
Your sponsor will need to petition for a green card on your behalf, the application of which will need to be reviewed and approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is an unavoidable step that will likely take several months or even over a year.
After your petition is approved, you will need to ensure a green card is currently available to you. If yours is a marriage-based green card, it will likely be available immediately, but those in other categories may experience additional wait times.
When your visa is available, you will be contacted by the National Visa Center (NVC) about submitting a green card application via consular processing. You will need to provide documents and fees through Form DS-260.
You will next have to undergo a medical exam. This cannot be done with just any healthcare professional; the exam must be conducted by a USCIS-approved doctor.
If NVC is satisfied with your green card application, they will schedule a mandatory, in-person interview at your local embassy or consulate. The USCIS officer will ask questions about your application and review other materials you provide. In most situations, you will either learn whether your green card is approved at the interview itself or a week or so later.
Finally, you will receive a travel visa and a sealed envelope with your application materials. With this visa, you will have 6 months after the date of your medical exam to travel to the United States with your materials. At an official port of entry, a United States border officer will unseal your envelope, confirm your materials, and grant you entry. The visa will now allow you the ability to travel to and from the country for 12 months. During this period, your official green card granting you lawful permanent residency will be mailed to your United States address.
Continue reading below to learn about the advantages of consular processing.
Call (818) 600-6322 or contact us online to speak with a member of our team on how we can help you with consular processing. We speak Russian & Armenian!
Advantages to Consular Processing
Some clients come to us unsure of why they should consider consular processing over adjustment of status. Often the best strategy comes down to your individual circumstances and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but there are a number of clear advantages to consular processing. Our Sherman Oaks consular processing attorney can assess your situation and explain how the process might impact you in your specific circumstances.
Benefits to pursuing a green card through consular processing include:
- Lower application fees. In many situations, filing fees for adjustment of status applicants more than double those of consular processing applicants.
- Lower wait times on average. Consular processing is generally more efficient than adjustment of status. Processing times for AOS applications often exceed a year or more, while consular processing typically only takes 5-13 months total.
- Reduced odds of disruption. AOS applicants must currently reside in the United States and in most situations face significant restrictions on their ability to work and move in and out of the country. If an AOS application is rejected, any life the applicant has built in the United States will likely have to be heavily adjusted or abandoned. By applying through consular processing, you can continue to live and work in your home country while you wait for a decision without direct, related interruption.
We Can Assist You with Consular Processing
Obtaining a green card through consular processing is an involved process, involving numerous steps, agencies, and documents. It can be easy to become overwhelmed or make an avoidable mistake, especially when trying to go through the procedure remotely in your home country. Our Sherman Oaks immigration attorney at Zadykyan Law can assist you in each phase of the process, communicate with USCIS and NVC, make sure you have all of the documents you need, and prepare you for the in-person interview. We understand the importance of obtaining a green card and will do everything in our power to offer you the full extent of our professional, individualized service.
Why Hire Zadykyan Law?
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Individualized Approach
We take the time to listen, answer your questions and create a tailored strategy to accomplish your goals.
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Compassionate Representation
We care about our clients and go the extra mile to ensure every detail is taken care of throughout the process.
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Affordable & Accessible
We offer free consultations through phone, video, WhatsApp & Zoom for your convenience and safety.
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Flexible
We offer same-day, after-hour, and weekend appointments to meet your busy schedule.
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Trilingual
We serve our clients in English, Russian, and Armenian.