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Steps to take when you have a pending green card application
It is no secret that immigration laws have a high level of complexity. This rings true if you hope to get a green card for any of the valid reasons available to you.
Even after you have successfully applied, you still need to follow certain steps to make sure your application remains active.
Stay engaged
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services emphasizes the importance of keeping a current address on file with the agency. While this seems like a simple task, failure to do so could result in missed information that is crucial to your application.
It is not enough to change your address with the U.S. Postal Service. You should update your address with USCIS. You should do this within 10 days of your move. The agency has a change of address information page that allows you to perform this action quickly.
Your green card and your career
Wanting to gain U.S. citizenship can motivate you to get a job and learn more about your new home. Having a green card can facilitate your effort to pass the naturalization requirements.
The advantage of having a green card is that you do not have to wait until you have citizenship to start working in the United States.
Participate in your community
The process of obtaining a green card is easiest when you have another family member who already has U.S. citizenship. With their help, you can petition for legal residency of your own. Once granted, you can apply for your own social security card, as well as follow the requirements to get a driver’s license. Both of these privileges allow you to actively participate in your community.
Finding a job can give you purpose and keep you motivated as you continue through the naturalization process. You can utilize community resources to draft a resume. Strategically list your skills and competencies. Using job search engines, as well as networking with other community members, may enable you to identify potential jobs.
Is it hard to prepare for the naturalization test?
Completing the naturalization test is one of the final steps in your journey to becoming a citizen of the United States of America. As with any test, the more you prepare, the higher your probability of passing.
Knowing some preparation strategies can optimize your studying efforts. With a confident understanding of the testing materials, you can have a winning chance at a satisfactory outcome.
Testing components
The naturalization test will assess your understanding of critical aspects of citizenship. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, you will complete the test in two parts. The English portion of the test will give you an opportunity to show your ability to read, write, speak and comprehend the language. The civics portion of the test will determine your understanding of basic governmental principles, as well as the history of the U.S.
What are joint sponsors?
If you opt for a K-1 fiancé visa, then one of the most important parts is the ability to meet the corresponding income requirement. The sponsor – in this case, the fiancé – must have the financial means to support their spouse.
If you cannot support your significant other in this case, what can you do? You can turn to a joint sponsor. This person is a third party that agrees to sign an affidavit, stating they will support the sponsor.
What is joint sponsorship?
RapidVisa discusses your options when aiming for joint sponsorship, along with discussing what goal this option serves. You can pick certain people to serve as your joint sponsor, but they must meet certain requirements first. They must be at least 18 years old and either have permanent residency or be a citizen of the United States. On top of that, they need a domicile in the country and also meet the minimum income requirements of the K-1 visa.
How do you show your marriage is a bona fide one?
If you are a U.S. citizen and plan to sponsor a non-citizen for legal permanent residency, your marriage is likely to be relevant. After all, U.S. immigration law streamlines the process for those who marry U.S. citizens, often allowing them to apply for immigrant visas and green cards simultaneously.
You want the sponsorship of your husband or wife to go as smoothly as possible. Still, if officers with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services question the legitimacy of your marriage, you may receive a request for evidence or even an outright denial.
Your initial application
When filing your Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, you may want to provide comprehensive documentation to prove your marriage is bona fide. That is, your marriage is for a legitimate reason and not only to help someone obtain a green card.
The following pieces of evidence are likely to be persuasive:
How long does it take to get a green card?
For those who are not born in the United States, obtaining permanent residence may seem overwhelming. Whether you have a close family member who has already achieved permanent residence, or your family member is a U.S. citizen, there are steps you must follow in order to complete the immigration process.
Not only is it helpful to understand these steps and the green card application process, it helps to know just how long the entire process will take.
What is the timeline?
The process of achieving a family-based green card varies depending on the circumstances of your situation. According to Boundless, the following are general timelines for more common situations:
- You currently live in the United States and your spouse is a U.S. citizen: 10-13 months
- You currently live outside the U.S. and your spouse is a U.S. citizen: 11-17 months
How do you immigrate when your sponsor dies?
We hope all goes well with your immigration, but unforeseen circumstances could bring your plans to a standstill. For instance, what happens if your U.S. sponsor/spouse dies before you receive your visa?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services explains how to navigate a principal beneficiary or petitioners’ death. This turn of events does not have to bar you from fulfilling your desires for citizenship.
Widowers and widows
Widows and widowers of U.S. citizens may apply for a green card within two years of their petitioning spouse’s or principal beneficiary’s death. This only applies if the two of you had a legitimate marriage rather than one arranged for a green card. If you and your petitioner or beneficiary separated when she or he died, or if you remarried, you do not qualify to apply for a green card. If you have children younger than 21, they may join you as derivatives.
Why do green card applications commonly get rejected?
As of 2018, 1,096,611 people have received permanent lawful status in America. Many more, including yourself, aspire to join those numbers in lawful residency so you can gain the many benefits that come along with it.
Because of this, an application denial can hit like a sack of bricks. Fortunately, there are ways for you to continue onward in your application process even with a denial due to an error, but the first thing you want to know is how to avoid these errors when moving forward.
Common reasons for rejection
The Department of Homeland Security outlines steps you must take to achieve your green card. This can include a green card through marriage, relatives, work and so on. However, most errors will look the same no matter what type of green card you applied for. The top common ones include:
- Lacking financial resources
What should you know about a waiver application?
When your loved ones are not lawful residents of the U.S., you may want to help them gain citizenship. One of the steps you can take is to file a provisional unlawful presence waiver.
A provisional waiver is one path to the legal presence in the U.S. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says that people have to meet certain requirements and fill out all of the paperwork to receive a waiver. A waiver does not guarantee that your loved one will be able to remain in the country. Instead, it allows you to decrease the amount of time that you and your family members may have to spend apart.
Eligibility
The USCIS only allows you to file a provisional unlawful presence waiver if your family member meets all the guidelines. He or she has to be at least 17 years old. Additionally, this person needs to be in the U.S. when you fill out the paperwork. You may also have to show that you will experience extreme hardship if your loved one is not allowed to become a legal resident. Additionally, your family member may already need to have a pending case for an immigrant visa.
Why does a visa application require your social media?
The process that you must go through to obtain a U.S. visa is constantly undergoing revision and changes. The most recent changes involve a new requirement: for you to provide your social media accounts. This can include profile handles and online names as requested.
The officials of the U.S. Border Control can then review any information that you have posted online as a means of further vetting visa applicants. But what does this requirement mean for you?
Reasons for collection
CNN discusses the collection of social media names on your application for a visa. The official reviewing your application can then use this information to look up information that you have posted online, including opinions, conversations, criticisms, photographs and anything else visible to the public. They use this information to determine whether or not you may pose a threat to national security, or if you seem likely to commit a crime or otherwise cause disturbances. They can refuse to accept your application based on this alone.
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