Fix your immigration status without leaving the United States

U.S. immigration law allows certain noncitizens who are family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to become lawful permanent residents (get a Green Card) based on specific family relationships.

Who can be sponsored by a U.S. citizen?

Most relatives can be sponsored by a U.S. citizen. Those who are allowed include:

• Parents (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older).
• The Spouse of the U.S citizen.
• Unmarried children under
  21 years of age of a U.S. citizen.
• Unmarried children (21 years of age and older) of U.S. citizens - First preference (F1).
• Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S, citizen is 21 years of age and older) - Forth preference (F4)
• Married children of the US Citizen - Third preference (F3).

Who can be sponsored by an LPR?

• Spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents - Second preference (F2A).
• Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of lawful permanent residents - Second preference (F2B).

Your permanent residence status is conditional if it is based on a marriage that was less than 2 years old on the day you were given permanent residence. You are given conditional resident status on the day you are lawfully admitted to the United States on an immigrant visa or adjustment of your status to permanent residence.

Your status is conditional, because you must prove that you did not get married to evade the immigration laws of the United States. To remove these conditions you must file Form

1-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.

Eligibility Criteria:

Generally, you may apply to remove your conditions on permanent residence if you:

• Are still married to the same U.S. citizen or permanent resident after 2
  years. You may include your children in your application if they received their conditional-resident status either at the same time or within 90 days as you did;
• Are a child and, for a valid reason, cannot be included in your parents' application;
• Are a widow or widower who entered into your marriage in good faith;
• Entered into a marriage in good faith, but the marriage ended through divorce or annulment; or
• Entered into a marriage in good faith, but either you or your child were battered or subjected to extreme hardship by your U.S citizen or permanent resident spouse.

The Violence Against Women Act allows victims, males and females who do not have legal status in the United States, who suffered a domestic violence from their USC or LPR Spouse or USC child who is over 21 years to "self-petition" for  legal permanent residency without the cooperation of the abuser.

The victim may also "self-petition" as long as the marriage to the abusive spouse was terminated within two years of filing the petition and there

is a direct connection between the

divorce and the abuse.

T visa  is designed to provide protection for individuals who have been subjected to modern day

slavery/forced labor. You can qualify for T visa if you have been a victim of any of the following:

Labor exploitation: 

This includes Individuals who have been compelled to work under exploitative conditions, such as not receiving proper payment for their work, being denied agreed-upon wages, not  allowed to take proper breaks or facing mistreatment due to their immigration status, among other forms of exploitation. 

Domestic violence:

Victims who have been coerced under threats of serious harm, into working within their own homes by their partners or who have been forced to engage in activities against their will as a result of domestic abuse, may qualify for T visa.

Trafficking across the border with coyotes:

Individuals who have been trafficked across the border with the assistance of smugglers (coyotes)

and subsequently upon entering American territory forced to cook, clean, carry items or drive may be eligible for the " visa.

Its important to note that even minimal instances of forced labor qualify for T Visa consideration.

Employment-Based Immigration

Green Cards: EB-2 and EB-3

• Step 1: PERM Labor Certification Application;
• Step 2: I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker;
• Step 3: Immigrant Visa Consular Application or Adjustment of Status

• DS-160
• DS-260
• Inadmissibility Waivers 

You may apply for naturalization when you meet all the requirements to become a U.S. citizen.

General eligibility requirements are the following:

• You are at least 18 years of age at the time of filing (except active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces):
• You are a permanent resident of the United States for a required period of time:
• You have lived within the state or USCIS district where you claim residence for at least 3 months prior to filing:
• You have demonstrated physical presence within the United States for a required period of time;
• You demonstrate good moral character:
• You demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S.
  Constitution;
• You demonstrate a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government (also known as "civics" as well as an ability to read, write, speak and understand basic English; and
• You take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States. Some applicants may be eligible for a modified oath.