The immigration process is complex and if a person would like to request an adjustment of status, they may need additional information. An adjustment of status allows a foreign national to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, meaning they will receive a green card.
Adjustment of status
There are several types of requests for adjustment of status. A family immigration request is based on family relationships with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, like a spouse, children, siblings or parents.
An immigrant may also request a change in status because of their employment. This applies in situations where an immigrant is already in the U.S. with a non-immigrant visa and then is approved based on employment.
Immigrants who have been approved for asylum or as a refugee may also apply for an adjustment of status and there are some approved humanitarian programs that will allow an immigrant to request an adjustment of status.
Request process
After determining eligibility, the person requesting the adjustment of status will need to file an immigration petition. In some cases, the request will need to be submitted by the immigrant’s family member or employer.
When the petition is approved, the applicant will be given a priority date which is the date used to note their place in line for a visa number. Once the visa number is available, they can file to adjust their status, complete a biometrics appointment and attend an interview, if required. Then, the applicant will receive a notice if they are approved and will receive a green card in the mail.
