Adjustment of Status / Green Card Lawyer in Frederick MD
Sentelle Law has successfully helped many clients in Frederick MD, Hagerstown MD, and surrounding areas obtain a green card and permanent residency through Adjustment of Status.
Sentelle Law is an experienced Green Card Lawyer in Frederick MD serving all of Mid-Maryland and surrounding areas. Adjustment of Status is the process that you use to apply for lawful permanent resident status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when you are present in the United States. This means that you may get a Green Card without having to return to your home country to complete visa processing. Sentelle Law can effectively help you complete this complicated process. Form I-485 is the primary form that an intending immigrant must submit to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to apply for a green card within the United States, but there are a variety of additional forms that may be necessary to file.
The experienced immigration attorneys and staff at Sentelle Law can analyze your eligibility, spot any potential legal problems, and prepare and file necessary forms. Our Frederick MD immigration law team is here to help through every step of the process.
Applying for a Green Card in Maryland
Our Maryland Green Card immigration law experts will help you determine your eligibility, Visa availability, and correctly file all the necessary forms.
After you file your application, you will be notified to appear at an Application Support Center for biometrics collection. This usually involves having your picture, signature and fingerprints taken.
USCIS officials will review your case to determine whether an interview is necessary. If you are scheduled for an interview, you will be required to appear at a USCIS office to answer questions under oath or affirmation regarding your Form I‑485.
After all the paperwork has been received, interviews conducted (if necessary), security checks completed, and other eligibility requirements reviewed, your case will be ready for a decision by USCIS. In all cases you will be notified of the decision in writing. Sentelle Law will be there for you throughout this complicated process to ensure every step is completed correctly. Contact our Green Card Lawyer in Frederick MD today to schedule a consultation about an Adjustment of Status / Green Card immigration case
Green Card Eligibility & Visa Availability
Sentelle Law has the experience and knowledge to help determine your Green Card eligibility. U.S. immigration laws provide a variety of ways for people to apply for a Green Card. The eligibility requirements for adjustment of status may vary depending on the immigrant category you are applying under. The first step in the adjustment of status process is to determine if you fit into a specific immigrant category.
- Green Card through Family
- Green Card through Employment
- Green Card as a Special Immigrant
- Green Card through Refugee or Asylee Status
- Green Card for Human Trafficking and Crime Victims
- Green Card for Victims of Abuse
- Green Card through Other Categories
- Green Card through Registry
In general, you may not file your Form I-485 until a visa is available in your category. For information on visa availability, see the Visa Availability and Priority Dates page, the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts, and the Department of State website to view the Visa Bulletin. Contact the experienced immigration law team at Sentelle Law to help determine Visa availability and your eligibility today.
Filing an Immigrant Petition
Most people who apply for a Green Card will need to complete at least two forms—an immigrant petition and a Green Card application. Someone else usually must file the petition for you (often referred to as sponsoring or petitioning for you), although you may be eligible to file for yourself in some cases. Here are the most common forms:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
- Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
- Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
- Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
- Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur
- Form I-918, Petition of U Nonimmigrant Status
- Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant
Most categories require you to have an approved immigrant petition before you can file a Form I-485. However, some categories may allow you to file your Form I-485 at the same time that the immigrant petition is filed or while the immigrant petition is pending. This is called “concurrent filing.” Sentelle Law, a trusted immigration lawyer in Frederick, MD, is here to help you or your family member file correctly to successfully obtain permanent residency and your Green Card through Adjustment of Status.
