Green Card (Permanent Residence)

A permanent resident is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent resident card, commonly called a “green card.” You can become a permanent resident several different ways. Most individuals are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States. Other individuals may become permanent residents through refugee or asylee status or other humanitarian programs. In some cases, you may be eligible to file for yourself.

The steps to become a permanent resident are different for each category and will depend on if you are currently living inside or outside the United States. The main categories are listed below. More information is available in the links to the left.

Green Card Through Family
How to apply for permanent residence when a family member petitions for you·
Green Card Through a Job
How to apply for permanent residence based on a job offer or employment.
Green Card Through Refugee or Asylum Status
How to apply for permanent residence when you have been granted refugee or asylum status·
Other Ways to Get a Green Card
Learn about the many other ways that you may qualify for permanent residence
If you are unsure which immigration path best fits your particular situation, see the “Green Card Processes & Procedures” link to the left which includes:·

Green Card Eligibility
Learn who can apply for permanent residence
Adjustment of Status
Learn about the multi-step process for individuals inside the United States that want to get a green card
Consular Processing
Learn about the multi-step process for individuals outside the United States that want to get a green card

For More Information,
Please Call: (559) 761-9742
http://PhillipKimLaw.com/

Green Card Process and Permanent Resident Card Application Procedure

Immigrants in most categories will need an immigrant petition, Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, or another petition) filed on their behalf.

A petition establishes the underlying basis for your ability to immigrate and determines your immigrant classification or category. Some categories of immigrants may be able to self-petition. Most people immigrating based on humanitarian programs are exempt from the petition requirement.

Some immigrant petitions can be filed at the same time as the adjustment application (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), known as “concurrent filing” while other categories of immigrants will be required to wait until they have an approved petition before being allowed to apply for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa. For more information about concurrent filing, Click HERE.

Visa Availability

A visa is always available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. If you are in a family or employment based preference category, visa availability is determined by:
Your priority date
The preference category you are immigrating under
The country the visa will be charged to (usually your country of citizenship)

The Department of State is the government agency that controls visa numbers. The annual limits for visa numbers are established by Congress and can be referenced in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

First, a priority date will be assigned to you based on your immigrant petition filing date (the date that the petition is properly filed with the Gov.) or, in certain employment-based cases, the date the application for a labor certification was accepted by the Department of Labor. Your priority date holds your place in line for an immigrant visa.

This date, along with your country of nationality and preference category, determines if or how long a person will have to wait for a visa to be immediately available. When the officials are ready to approve an applicant for permanent residency in a visa category that has limited numbers, we must first request a visa number from the Department of State.

When a visa is available, you may file Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (if you are in the United States) or apply for an immigrant visa abroad (consular processing). If you are consular processing, the Gov. will forward your approved petition to the Department of State’s National Visa Center who will contact you when your priority date is about to become current as to what your next steps are and when you may apply for an immigrant visa abroad.

For more information on determining visa availability or filing abroad, see the “Visa Availability & Priority Dates” and “Consular Processing” links to the left.

Admissibility to the United States

All persons applying for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status must prove to the satisfaction of immigration or consular officials that they are admissible (eligible for admission) to the United States.

There are many grounds of inadmissibility that could potentially cause someone to be ineligible to become a permanent resident. For instance, there are health-related, criminal, security-related, and other grounds the office must consider.

In some cases and in certain situations, if you are found inadmissible to the United States you may be eligible to file a waiver on Application for Waiver of Ground of Inadmissibility, (the form required for most immigrants) or Application By Refugee For Waiver of Grounds of Excludability (the form required for refugees and asylees) to excuse your inadmissibility.

The grounds of inadmissibility that are determined by the particular category under which you are immigrating. If you are ultimately found inadmissible to the United States, your adjustment of status application or immigrant visa application will be denied. Congress has set the grounds of inadmissibility and they may be referenced in Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

After all 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 the Government.

For more information, CALL (559) 761-9742 or Click HERE.

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Job or Employment Based Green Cards

People who want to become immigrants based on employment or a job offer may apply for permanent residence or an immigrant visa abroad, when an immigrant visa number becomes available according to the following employment based preferences:
First Preference: Priority Workers, including aliens with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers
Second Preference: Members of professions holding an advanced degree or persons of exceptional ability (including individuals seeking a National Interest Waiver)
Third Preference: Skilled Workers, professionals and other qualified workers
Fourth Preference: Certain special immigrants including those in religious vocations
Fifth Preference: Employment creation immigrants (investors or entrepreneurs)

For more information on green card eligibility through employment or a job offer, see the “Green Card Through a Job” link to the left.

Based on Refugee or Asylum Status

If you were admitted to the United States as a refugee or the qualifying spouse or child of a refugee, you are required to apply for permanent residence (a green card) 1 year after your entry into the United States in this status. If you were granted asylum in the United States or are a qualifying spouse or child of an asylee, you may apply for permanent residence 1 year after the grant of your asylum status.

If you are a refugee, you are required by law to apply for a green card 1 year after being admitted to the United States in refugee status.

If you are an asylee or asylee derivative spouse or child, you are not required to apply for a green card 1 year after being granted asylum or 1 year after being admitted to the United States in asylum status, although it may be in your best interest to do so.

For more information on green card eligibility for refugees and asylees, please CALL (559) 761-9742 or Click HERE.

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Green Card Eligibility

You may be eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) through your family, a job offer or employment, refugee or asylum status, or a number of other special provisions. In some cases, you may even be able to self petition or have a record created for permanent residence on your behalf. In general, to meet the requirements for permanent residence in the United States, you must:
Be eligible for one of the immigrant categories established in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
Have a qualifying immigrant petition filed and approved for you (with a few exceptions)
Have an immigrant visa immediately available
Be admissible to the United States

Each requirement is detailed below.

Eligibility for an Immigrant Category

Individuals who want to become immigrants (permanent residents) through their qualified family member, a job offer or employment, or a special category will generally be classified in categories based on a preference system. Except for immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen who are given the highest immigration priority and a few other exceptions, Congress has set a finite number of visas that can be used each year for each category of immigrants. The general categories are listed below. For more specific information under each general category, see the links to the left.

Family Based

Some relatives of U.S. citizens, known as immediate relatives, do not have to wait for a visa to become available. There is no limit to the number of visas that can be utilized in this category in a particular year. Immediate relatives include:
Parents of a U.S. citizen
Spouses of a U.S. citizen
Unmarried children under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen

Note: U.S. citizens must be at least 21 years old to apply for their parents

The qualified relatives of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the remaining family-based categories may have to wait for a visa to become available before they can apply for permanent residency. These categories include:
First Preference: Unmarried, adult (21 years of age or older) sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
Second Preference A: Spouses of permanent residents and the unmarried children (under the age of 21)) of permanent residents
Second Preference B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or age or older) of permanent residents
Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, their spouses and their minor children
Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens, their spouses and their minor children

For more information on green card eligibility through a family member, CALL (559) 761-9742 or Click HERE.

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  "We had our greencard application approved in just a little over 2 months...Thanks Phillip!" - by Andrea & Melissa Barone; Hanford, CA

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  "Attorney Kim went out of his way to help me get my green card by doing extra work to ensure I receive it. His legal fees were also very reasonable. Please call me at (209) 777-6968. We will tell you more about our experience with Attorney Kim." - by Mr. & Mrs. Sharma; Merced, CA

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  "My green card application was denied. Attorney Kim appealed for me and attended the interview with me. It was approved at the interview. Please call me if you want to ask me about Attorney Kim's work. (209) 534-7112." - by Molly Harrington; Los Angeles, CA

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  "We got our Green Card approved in less than three months. Everything went very well smoothly. Thank You. We highly recommend Attorney Kim. Please call us at (559) 475-0155. We will tell you more about Attorney Kim's work." - by Raul TABADA and Family; Fresno, CA

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  "I finally received my green card. Mr. Kim helped me through the entire process. He also worked with my financial situation. I am glad that I chose him and that's why I highly recommend him. Please feel free to call me to ask about Mr. Kim's practice at (559) 412-0941." by Lilian & Eric Williams; Fresno, CA

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  "I hired two other lawyers before Mr. Kim. They could not do it. It was denied. Finally, my third attorney, Mr. Kim helped me to get my green card even after my husband died. Please call me at (559) 776-6323 (ask for Reagan). We will tell you more about Mr. Kim's work." - by Sochinda Nguon & Reagan; Fresno, CA

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  "I received my Green Card in a little over three months." Attorney Phillip Kim prepared us for our interview as well. The interview took less than 10 minutes! Everything went very smoothly. Thank you so much for everything. Please feel free to call us if you'd like to know more about Attorney Phillip Kim's practice. Our phone # is (559) 269-8740." - by Hitomi and Elizondo Mendoza from Fresno, CA

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  "Feel free to call me if you want to know more about Attorney Kim's work. (559) 909-4060. We had a great experience with Law Office of Phillip Kim. It took about two and a half months to get our Green Card application approved. Thank you, Attorney Kim." - by Juana Gonzalez & Jose Gonzales; Fresno, CA

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  "My wife received her Green Card after hiring Phillip as her attorney. I appreciate all the work you have done for us. Thank you, again. Here is my phone # and please call me if you want to know more about our experience with Phillip's law firm: (559) 473-4154." Jon Hoeflinger from Fresno, CA

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  "Attorney Kim is an excellent attorney. I wanted to become a US citizen. So, I called Attorney Kim. He explained the whole process and helped me file my papers with low legal fees. I became a US citizen within four months. Attorney Kim is now helping me bring my fiancee and my mother from China. You can call me at (559) 321-3402 to ask about Attorney Kim." - by Andy Wu; Selma, CA

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  "Attorney Phillip Kim filed my H1-B application. He was friendly and pleasant to deal with, and I got the sense that he cared about my case, not considering it just another pile of paperwork. Attorney Kim worked with my employer and myself to file the application and I got my H1-B approved--for a very reasonable price as well!" - by S. Kim, Therapist; Fresno, CA

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  "My greencard was revoked and I was about to be deported. Phillip Kim filed papers for me and my greencard was reinstated and I am back with my family. I am applying for citizenship now. Phillip Kim did all the work for low fees." - by Juan Solis; Stockton, CA

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  "Phillip Kim filed my Green Card application on 08/11/09 and it was approved on 11/19/09. Phillip Kim is a very professional, honest and Sincere attorney. He is not only a wonderful attorney, he is willing to help every client to get his legal status from the bottom of his heart. If you hire him as your attorney, he will help you to get what you like to get for your legal status successfully. And what his saying is always true." - by Shih-Ching Lee & Jennifer Yan; Clovis, CA

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  "Atty. Kim is very nice, flexible and very accommodating with our concerns. He makes himself available almost anytime you have inquiries and works closely with you. I said he is nice because he really is friendly and approachable. Flexible because he spends time and he is willing to work with you despite of your financial situation. Very accommodating because he makes himself available when needs arises even during the weekend. If you need to inquire about his services to us you may email me. Again, my sincerest thanks to Law Offices of Phillip Kim, Inc." - Nadia Martinez & Richmond Martinez; Clovis, CA

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