Tip: Save this important letter. It contains your digit receipt number. You can use this receipt number to check your case status. A poorly prepared petition can also delay the approval process and even create significant immigration problems.
When you prepare your I on CitizenPath, we provide simple, step-by-step instructions and alerts to help you avoid costly delays. No credit card is required to try it. Immigration law defines immediate relatives as the spouse, unmarried children under age 21 and parents of a U. They are given priority.
More accurately, there is no numerical limit on immigrant visas for immediate relatives. Therefore, the wait time is much shorter. USCIS will begin reviewing immediate relative petitions as soon as possible. Again, the number of immigrant visas green cards issued to immediate relatives of U. Most Form I petitions for immediate relatives are approved within a 5 to 9 month time frame, but they can take longer in some cases. If you are outside the U. The NVC will advise you when it's time to submit the visa application and other supporting documents.
Remember, immediate relatives are the spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of U. This is a select group of immigrants with unlimited visa numbers. All other types of family relationships are considered family preference categories and generally will take longer to approve and become current.
Immigrant visa numbers are not unlimited for people in the family preference category. There is a numerical limit on the visas issued each year.
USCIS must first process and approve this petition, which can take several months. There is an exception for immediate relatives who will be adjusting status in the U. Your family member will next need to prepare various documents as part of his or her own application for a green card. The exact forms and process depend on whether your relative will be adjusting status in the U. Your relative will also need to undergo a medical exam , and get the doctor's report to submit with the green card application.
All of this takes time. You will need to coordinate with your family member to get information for some of the forms that you will be filling out.
You will possibly also need to contact government agencies for official versions of birth and marriage certificates, contact the IRS for a certified copy of your tax returns, and so on.
When you are a U. If you are the immigrating person's "immediate relative," then visas are immediately available, with no annual limit. Immediate relatives include the spouse same-sex or opposite-sex , unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.
If you are the immigrating person's "preference relative," meaning that you are a U. What documents will I need to file Form I? When filing Form I, you will need to show evidence of your relationship to the relative you are petitioning for.
Some of the documents you may use to prove this include:. My Form I has been approved. What happens next? Once the I has been approved, your relative can apply for their green card. If they are an immediate relative, such as a parent, spouse, or unmarried child under the age of 21, they may be able to apply straight away.
Otherwise, they may have to wait. If they can apply immediately and they are in the United States, they may be able to adjust their status using Form I Will I need to go to a biometrics appointment for Form I? USCIS may request biometrics information from any applicant, sponsor, or petitioner. After your file your I, you will receive Form IC from USCIS, which will let you know if your petition has been approved, rejected, or if you need to provide more information.
If your I has been approved, this form will also include an appointment notice with a date, time, and location for an appointment to provide biometrics information at your closest application support center.
What happens if my Form I is denied? There are many reasons why an application may be denied. If you believe your I was unfairly denied, you may be able to appeal to a separate body, the Administrative Appeals Office AAO , within 30 days from when the notice was sent not from when the notice was received. How can I check my I case status? You can track the processing of your case online using your digit case receipt number , which can be found on any notification letter sent by USCIS.
Will I need an interview for my I? For most people petitioning with I, USCIS will invite the sponsor and the relative seeking a green card to attend an interview. You also may not need an interview if you are a permanent resident and you are petitioning for any of your children who are younger than 14 years old.
What if I am missing some of the documents for my I? If you do not have one of the primary documents required, such as a birth certificate, then you will need to submit a letter from the relevant authorities to confirm that this document does not exist. However, there is also a chance that officials may deny an I petition if some supporting documents are missing. Will my relative be able to work after Form I is filed? The I is a petition to help a relative apply for a green card, and does not give the right to work.
Can I file I and I together? If your parents have entered the US lawfully and are currently living in the US then the process takes about 12 months once you submit:. At the same time you submit these documents, each parent should submit an I application in order for adjust their status to lawful permanent resident. Simultaneously, they should apply for work permits EADs and international travel permits, also called advance paroles.
You will need to submit an affidavit of support for each parent. Shusterman and his law firm have represented my family and me very successfully. He is not only a legal guru in all things immigration but even more so he is an exceptional human being because he empathizes with his clients and cares that justice is done.
Zoom Consultations Available!
0コメント