Do you think you have a better shot at life and work in the U.S.? Click here for an immigration law consultation at IBP Immigration Law.

Today’s blog will reveal why most people immigrate to the U.S. despite its most deep-seated internal problems.

Do Most People Immigrate to the U.S.?

The short answer: Yes.

The long answer: The United States welcomes more immigrants annually than any other country by a long margin. The nation welcomed approximately 833,900 migrants in 2021, followed by Germany, with 536,200 migrants.

While these numbers pale compared to those before the pandemic, the gap between the leading country and the runner-up speaks volumes about why people are immigrating to the U.S.

For the High Standard of Education

The United States has one of the best education systems worldwide, second only to its neighbor across the pond, the United Kingdom. The world’s top ten colleges include four from the U.S., more than enough to convince any parent or student to migrate to the U.S.

The high standard of schooling is an appealing prospect for parents who want to give their children the best shot at everything through globally accepted qualifications.

The same applies to older students who want to receive further education at a globally accepted institution to widen their horizons, increase their knowledge, and improve their professional prospects.

The American Problem: Student Debt

Every generation, from the millennials onwards, has experienced crippling student debt. While the quality of education in the U.S. is second to (almost) none, it doesn’t justify the price label most young and older adults are forced to pay off for most of their lives.

In a 2019 Congress address, comedian Hasan Minhaj talked about the plight of his generation: Approximately 45 million people were putting off marriage, family planning, and even retirement to be debt-free as soon as possible.

In 2022, a Forbes article showed a bleaker picture, reporting $1.75 trillion in federal and private student loans, with the former comprising 92% of the trillion-dollar debt. With the brief pandemic-induced reprieves running out, it’s only a matter of time before the monthly payments resume, directly impacting credit scores and housing loan prospects.

Does Student Debt Affect Migration?

While student debt is concerning, it hasn’t affected immigration significantly. There have never been more immigrant-origin students in higher education than today because the problem they or their parents faced in their origin country wasn’t student debt but access to quality education.

For Topnotch Healthcare and Medical Innovation

The World Health Organization calls the factors that decide people’s access and quality of healthcare the “Social Determinants of Health” or SDoH. The SDoH includes the following factors:

• Place of birth;
• The place where you grew up;
• Current residing country;
• Place of employment;
• Socioeconomic status;
• Age;
• Race.

Some countries, like Australia, have universal healthcare. Others, like the United States, have a system where healthcare coverage decides your access to medical care and certain procedures. Your place of employment often provides insurance packages.

While the healthcare systems in both countries have their ups and downs, they are unrivaled in medical innovation, recovery, and general care.

Moreover, the healthcare system in the U.S. is also an attractive career prospect for international surgeons and physicians, who make up 28% of the country’s 958,000 medical professionals.

The American Problem: Healthcare Disparity

Unfortunately, the American healthcare system isn’t immune to the disparities resulting from age-old policies. While the U.S. is a leading player in medical innovation and healthcare, one in ten African-American and differently-abled adults remain in medical debt.

Barriers to healthcare include:

• Access to rural and marginalized communities;
• Price and costs of healthcare services;
• Inadequate healthcare coverage;
• Quality issues.

Does Healthcare Disparity Affect Migration?

Healthcare disparity exists within every nation; the more marginalized, oppressed, or socioeconomically deprived a person, the lower their access to quality healthcare. That said, there is a healthcare disparity from nation to nation.

While healthcare is expensive in the United States, its quality attracts people looking to manage or treat certain conditions for which they can’t seek treatment in their home country.

Furthermore, medical professionals seek employment-based immigration sponsorship in the U.S. healthcare system because it pays better and gives them better access to immigration benefits.

For the Career Opportunities

Healthcare isn’t the only area where the U.S. sees an influx of skilled immigrants. It’s a great time to be a software developer, information security analyst, financial manager, or IT manager in the US.

These high-paying jobs are drawing employment-based green card applications from around the world. The applicants are identified and sponsored by U.S.-based employers looking for the best fit for a position from a wider talent pool.

If you have an extraordinary ability or exceptional ability that an American company could use, you can self-sponsor for a green card without a U.S. employer.

The American Problem: Wage Inequality

America’s top one percent has seen its wages jump 179.3% from 1979 to 2020. Conversely, its bottom 90% has experienced a measly jump of 28.2% during the same time frame. We live in a capitalist society, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the top 10% owns nearly 70% of the country’s wealth.

Whenever there’s an unprecedented catastrophe, such as the pandemic, it’s the 90% that is downsized so that the upper tier can keep its job, salary, or both. Look at what the chief executive officer of Qantas, Alan Joyce, did when his back was against a wall: He made sacking 6,000 workers a part of his “recovery plan.”

The wage disparity in aviation and across the board is only set to worsen as we move toward singularity and artificial intelligence drives more people out of their jobs.

Does Wage Inequality Affect Migration?

The U.S. government issues merely 140,000 employment-based green cards per year. The cap is only exacerbating its green card backlog and increasing the wait time in heavily-populated countries like India, China, and Mexico.

It’s safe to say that wage inequality isn’t deterring people from immigrating to the U.S. It all has to do with perspective.

Most skilled immigrants originate from countries where the wages aren’t regulated and thus fall below a government-ordered line. Underpaid workers are only too happy to work in the U.S., even for a minimum wage, which is likely much higher than a well-paid position in their home country.

Their perspective has benefits on the employer’s end. A 2019 study found that low- and high-skilled foreign-born workers improved wage dispersion on one end while benefiting the high-wage U.S.-born class.

For a Safe and Secure Environment

Many flee their homelands not because they want to learn or earn more but because staying in place would spell a death sentence for them. The U.S. is considered the land of the free: A place where people can have the freedom to do or be whatever they want.

Our country is attractive for religious, racial, and ethnic minorities who don’t feel safe and are frequently persecuted or deprived of fundamental rights in their home countries.

Foreign-born individuals, marginalized or otherwise, reach out to our immigration lawyer to seek asylum in the U.S. if they are being persecuted. They may also seek refuge in the U.S. if they qualify for humanitarian immigration under the Violence Against Women Act.

The American Problem: Racial Injustice

We could write volumes about the racial injustices in the United States. The social issue encompasses centuries; it came to a head in the thick of the pandemic in 2020 when the country saw its largest civil rights protests in modern U.S. history.

Everything from book bans to whitewashing historical figures to outright violence has plagued our country and fed its patterns of systemic racism. While racist thought processes aren’t intrinsically violent, they feed and spur people into violence against racial minorities.

More needs to be done—policies scrapped—on the grassroots level. Until then, we remain a work in progress where this social injustice is concerned.

Does Racial Injustice Affect Migration?

The number of refugees in the U.S. stood at 363,059 in 2021, a 7.04% increase from the previous year. The United States ranks number five among the top ten countries for asylum-seekers.

From the numbers alone, its internal social injustice problem does not seem to affect an asylum seeker’s decision to flee to the US. Although, there may be micro-trends within these generalizations influenced by the increasingly fragile national security issue.

For the Economy

In the age of inflation, the United States is considered to have one of the most stable economies in the world. As developing countries reel from the historically high inflation rates due to the geopolitical uncertainty of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, their citizens feel the need to flee their land for greener pastures in the US.

The U.S. dollar is the international trade currency, whereas its origin country has the seventh-highest average household income worldwide. Where food security is concerned, the United States ranks 13th out of 113 countries for affordability, availability, quality, and sustainability.

Thus, it’s only reasonable for skilled individuals to move to this part of the world in times of economic turmoil.

The American Problem: Lack of Affordable Housing

The lack of affordable housing is a major problem for 49% of Americans. While real estate rises, wages stay stagnant, forcing many to move to rental housing or refinance their mortgage.

The problem is so severe that no one in all 50 states could afford a lease on a two-bedroom home on a 40-hour work week, forcing locals and immigrants to double and triple their work hours or share their living space to make ends meet.

Does the Lack of Affordable Housing Affect Immigration?

Despite the growing lack of affordable housing, family-based green card petitions continue to add to the backlog. Every year, approximately 810,558 applicants apply for permanent residency via the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), hoping to be the lucky 88% to get approved.

Suffice to say; the burgeoning housing crisis is in no way stopping people from immigrating to the U.S. They are in it for a better life, and a better life is what they get once they move here permanently.

Do you want a better shot at life, education, employment, and security?

Apply for a work visa, petition for a green card through family, or undergo the citizenship application process with our immigration lawyer, Ingrid Borges Perez, Esq. If you’ve tried and been rejected by the USCIS, contact Ingrid to learn how to overcome an employment-, humanitarian-or marriage-based green card denial.

Reach out for legal advice and assistance in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The Endless Benefits of an Employment-based Green Card

A Green Card allows foreign nationals to live and work in the United States freely. It is the first step toward becoming a naturalized US citizen, getting a US passport, being able to vote, and getting access to other benefits and protections only available to US Citizens.

With an employment-based green card, you can work in the US for any employer. Unlike many temporary employment-based visas like H1-B or TN, you are not tied to a sponsoring employer once the green card is approved. Your Green Card is the only thing you need to start a new job or start a new venture.

Moreover, a green card holder can travel to and from the United States, sponsor family members for permanent residency, and apply for federal grants, a funding option available only to US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents.

It’s safe to say that a green card is a lot more than a steppingstone for US citizenship in the ensuing five years.

Are you ready to explore your options? Book an immigration law consultation at IBP Immigration Law or Keep reading our guide to employment-based immigration to learn about your options.

• An Opportunity to Hone Your Skills

The United States is a place where people with myriad skill sets come to flourish. This year alone, the country was considered lucrative for software engineers, nurse practitioners, health services managers, information security analysts, and physiotherapists, in that order.

Employment-based immigration options open the door to these professional opportunities for foreign nationals. It helps those seeking new challenges and greater horizons, complete with the latest technologies and innovation with the who’s who in their respective fields.

With a green card, you are free to seek employment at Fortune 500 companies and renowned, well-respective institutions and enhance your professional growth and expertise. If you can weather working with the best in your business, you can weather anything, a fact that will eventually propel your career to new heights.

• A Chance at a Better Life

A better quality of life is one of the most significant advantages of an employment-based green card. Gaining such a status in the US might not guarantee a better quality of life, but it certainly ensures the stability and security of individuals and their families.

Permanent residency based on employment lets you lay down roots while contributing to the local and wider community. It comes with the reassurance that you will not be asked to leave the country, nor do you have to go through the constant uncertainty of visa renewals.

If you are one of the 140,000 people granted an employment-based immigrant visa, you have a chance to participate in American society and promote its values. (Think: Religious freedom, social justice issues, racial equality, etc.)

• Extended Benefits for Family Members

Many employment-based immigration categories lead to family-based immigration. An American citizen can sponsor a member of their family, such as a parent, adult child, or a sibling A permanent resident can sponsor their spouse and children.

On the other hand, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany you on your big move. This ensures family unity despite being in a different country. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) understands all too well that family unity is extremely important when transitioning to the United States for work.

• A Direct Line to Citizenship

An employment-based green card is the perfect solution for those wanting to settle in the US and become US citizens. After 5 (five) years as a permeant resident, you may be eligible for naturalization, allowing you to receive many of the same benefits of natural-born citizens. Becoming a citizen will solidify your connection with your adopted country through inclusion in the democratic process and access to all the benefits available to US citizens.

• The Caveats of Employment-based Immigration

The path to employment-based immigration is extremely bureaucratic and time-consuming. It’s never as straightforward as it seems in theory; if that were the case, you wouldn’t need the services of the immigration lawyers at IBP Immigration Law. Here are some of the challenges of the employment-based immigration process.

• Limited Availability due to Difficult Criteria

Employment-based green cards are difficult to get because of the strict legal criteria to get one. For instance, you may check off all the boxes to have your EB-1A extraordinary ability visa petition approved, but USCIS issues a Request for Evidence or even a Notice of Intent to Deny

It’s hard to get an EB-1A petition approved due to the stringent criteria for this type of visa classification. Working with an experience attorney makes all the difference between getting approved or denied.

• Long Wait Times

Applying for a green card through employment is replete with lengthy wait times. The various employment-based visa categories have a massive green card backlog that could take months and even years.

The pandemic didn’t help the backlog, either. The prolonged administrative delays and uncertainty may also affect the applicant’s career plans and personal life.

Prepare to play the waiting game and work with our immigration lawyers to develop a long-term strategy.

• The Pressure to be on the Straight and Narrow

Temporary workers and green card holders have their status as long as they comply with the requirements. Engaging in certain activities, like getting out of status, committing crimes, or staying outside the United States for prolonged periods of time can increase one’s likelihood of losing their green card status or work visa all the perks that come with it.

• Changing Immigration Policies

Immigration policies can change due to political, economic, and social factors. Applicants go through the employment-based green card process without an immigration lawyer because they’d much rather let a professional keep track of the policy shifts that could impact their case.

The uncertainty may affect those in the investor visa program, for example, affecting any long-term plans and investments the applicant might have made in the US.

The Classes and Qualifications for Employment-based Immigration

Qualifications may differ across the five categories of employment-based immigration available to applicants worldwide.

• EB-1 Petitions

The EB-1 category is for priority workers. It invites those who are the crème de la crème in science, arts, education, business, and sports. Since the category requires proof of their prowess, it is limited to those with a track record of extraordinary achievements.

This category is typically free from the green card backlog because most individuals do not qualify. The few that do qualify have the advantage of being first in line for permanent residency.

• EB-2 Petitions

Second preference EB-2 petitions encompass professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities in their receptive fields. EB-2 applicants must have a valid advanced degree and a job offer from a US employer.

The applicants in this category that belong to professions that contribute to the US strategic interests, may qualify for a National Interest Waiver. The National Interest Waiver allows you to bypass the job offer and labor certification process.

• EB-3 Petitions

EB-3 includes skilled and unskilled workers in a variety of fields.

A Labor Certification and a job offer from a US employer are required in this third-preference category that recognizes the skills outside EB-1 and EB-2 petitions. A qualified U.S. employee might be nonexistent in the US and, thus, allows U.S. employers to hire a qualified foreign national for the position.

• EB-4 Petitions

EB-4 encompasses various special immigrant categories, including media broadcasters, religious workers, translators and interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan, and some healthcare professionals.

The category is also open to Iraqi and Afghan nationals who have previously worked with the US government and armed forces.

• EB-5 Petitions

EB-5 petitions are reserved for investors. An investor may apply for an EB-5 category green card if they have invested capital in a commercial entity here in the US and have provided a minimum of ten full-time jobs to American citizens.

However, it’s not as simple as you might think. An investor may only qualify for an EB-5 green card under one of the two conditions:

• They have invested, without borrowing, $1,800,000 in the qualifying entity;
• They have invested, without borrowing, $900,000 in a rural area with a high unemployment ratio.

An Abridged Guide to Employment-based Immigration

Below is an abridged version of the steps a foreign national must undergo to get an employment-based green card.

• Job Offer: Like a student needs an I-20 from an educational institution for a student visa, a work visa applicant must have a job offer from a US employer willing to sponsor their application. The employer must use a Form I-129 to sponsor a foreign worker for temporary work status;
• Labor Certification: The first step is obtaining a Labor Certification from the Department of Labor. Once this is completed, the employer can begin the petition process with USCIS;
• Form I-140 Petition: Prospective employer is required to file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. It establishes eligibility and is proof that you qualify for the job;
• Form I-485 Status Adjustment: If you’re applying from the US, you may file Form I-485 to adjust your status after Form I-140 is received or approved;
• Submit the Required Documents: Employment-based immigration has five categories, and all require different documents to meet the eligibility criteria. Immigration law consultations are the best way to know what you’ll need to qualify for an employment-based green card;
• Attend the Interview: Once you have undergone consular processing or submitted Form I-485, the USCIS will likely approve your application. You may be required to attend an interview, where you’ll be asked about your past, current, and future employment. If approved, you should receive your green card within a few weeks.

This blog simply scratches the surface about this vast topic. There are more steps within these steps, bureaucratic hurdles, and other stipulations involved in an employment-based immigration process.

Take all the right steps with an immigration lawyer who speaks your language and understands your unique situation You can also learn more by visiting our blog.

Book a consultation with one of our lawyers today.

What’s So Special About an EB-1A Green Card?

An EB-1A Extraordinary Ability, or EB-1A Green Card, exists for those who wish to work and reside in the United States permanently. It’s different from other employment-based immigration categories in many respects.

For starters, it does not require a labor certification approved by the Department of Labor (DoL), allowing you to self-petition. The category is even more appealing by removing the offer of employment requirement for applicants.

Priority dates are another aspect of this green card that attract applicants in droves. With priority dates at their disposal, EB-1A visa applicants in heavily populated countries can bypass the employment-based immigration backlog.

An EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa is less bureaucratic than other employment-based visas when you meet its specific criteria.

How to Qualify for an EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa?

Qualifying for an EB-1A Green Card necessitates demonstrating your high level of recognized expertise in the sciences, arts, education, business, or sports. You must continue working in your area of discipline to qualify for an EB-1A Visa.

Moreover, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) wants applicants to prove that their ability has achieved national or international acclaim through an internationally-recognized award.

If you cannot provide such an award, you must provide evidence for at least three out of ten criteria. More on that and the documentation they entail later. For now, let’s see how you can prove that you will continue to work in your area of extraordinary ability.

How to Demonstrate a Willingness to Continue Working?

Immigration lawyer Ingrid Borges Perez, Esq. believes that the USCIS’s requirement about showing a willingness to continue working demonstrates an applicant’s commitment to work in their area of expertise.

Although you don’t have to show an offer of employment, you could demonstrate this willingness through letters from current or potential employers, even those who have yet to offer you a conditional offer, or a personal statement.

If well written, documentation that showcases your commitments, such as signed contracts, or an outline of your professional plans after moving to the United States, may also satisfy this legal requirement.

National or International Recognition in the Context of EB-1A Visa

To prove extraordinary ability in a specific field, an applicant must have one internationally recognized achievement, like an internationally recognized award, for example. However, the recognition must show sustained acclaim.

However, a Nobel Peace Prize, a Pulitzer Prize, or an Academy Award may serve as a substantial one-time recognition of your abilities. It also helps that they are internationally recognized awards. Therefore, you can provide proof of receiving a significant award of this type to be eligible for an EB-1A visa.

If you don’t have this type of award, then can still qualify for an EB-1A by meeting three out of ten other criteria. When you cannot demonstrate extraordinary ability through a one-time achievement, the process becomes a tad more complex and documentation-laden.

The Documentation Required for an EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card

Suppose you haven’t won an Olympic Gold Medal, Golden Globe, or other widely recognized rewards for your extraordinary ability. In that case, you must meet three of ten employment-based immigration criteria for EB-1A Visa applicants provable via documentation.

1. Lesser Prizes or Awards for Expertise

In this criterion, you must prove that the lesser prize or award holds some prestige in your country or globally. Submit documents and evidence describing the award category, the selection criteria for the nominees, and some background on the judging panel. You should also clarify whether you won the award alone or as part of a team.

2. Membership in Relevant Associations

Prestigious associations, like the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, are highly selective about who they let into their field. If your ability is extraordinary enough to meet the EB-1A Visa criteria, you should have no problem fitting into a comparable prestigious association within your field.

The documentation submitted to the USCIS should contain the following:

• The highly selective membership criteria of this association;
• Details of the selection process;
• Proof of membership.

3. Mentions in Published Material in the Field of Expertise

For instance, if you’re an excellent physicist, there’s a high chance someone would have mentioned you in a prestigious journal like Nature Physics.

The USCIS can recognize a published expert if they have been mentioned by name in a widely recognized publication or other equally popular medium.

The evidence must contain the title, date, and author. You can and should translate the paper if it’s written in a foreign language.

4. History of Evaluating the Work of Others in the Field

If you have ever engaged in a peer review of a research article, grant, or manuscript written by someone else in your field, share that evidence with USCIS.

5. Relevant Contributions to the Field

The EB-1A Green Card applicant must prove through documented evidence that their field of expertise has benefited from their achievements. You could submit reference letters from other experts in this field to corroborate this claim.

6. Authorship in Major Media

Your research and work may have been acknowledged and referenced in published materials. But have you personally published any of your own work?

If you have written and published anything in academic journals, mass media, or trade journals in your relevant field, share it with USCIS as additional evidence.

7. Displayed Works

The easiest criterion that artists applicants can meet is evidence of their work being displayed in exhibitions and showcases. USCIS does not have a list or layout for eligible exhibitions. Therefore, other types of applicants can qualify under this criterion.

8. Leading Role in an Organization

Extraordinary Ability Green Card applicants who hold a prestigious position in a widely recognized organization could describe their job and how it plays a critical role in said organization.

9. High Salary in the Field

Submit evidence that you earn a higher salary or higher renumeration than others in your field.

10. Commercial Success

If you are an arts applicant, submit box office receipts or evidence of successful exhibitions of your work to prove your commercial success.

Learn More With a Personalized Immigration Law Consultation

There is more to the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa than this five-minute blog. You need an individualized assessment of your background and likelihood of success. Moreover, you can learn about the technical requirements and timeline involved in the application process so that you can be sure to know what it takes to successfully pursue this visa.

Book an initial consultation with our experienced immigration lawyer to get your EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card and take the first step towards becoming a naturalized US citizen. Request a complimentary pre-evaluation of your case prior to a full consultation.

Get in touch for inquiries and suggestions.

Understanding the Green Card Backlog

It’s important to lay a solid foundation before we start with the green card backlog in 2023. Call it a force of habit or an occupational hazard, but we like to get our ducks in a row beforehand to maximize your chances of succeeding.

The backlog in this context refers to the piling up of pending applications for permanent residency in the US. More applications exist for family- and employment-based green cards than any other category. Thus, the backlog mainly affects these two applicants.

Below are a few reasons that the backlog happens in the first place.

• Exceeding Limits: The US government issues a limited number of green cards annually. This year, they have announced immigrant visas for approximately 140,000 employment-based applicants. The limit is much higher for family-based applicants but exceeded in both categories. When there are more applicants and not enough visas, you have a backlog;
• Country-based Quotas: These are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, a seven percent country-based quota ensures that citizens from all countries have a fair chance at a life in the US. Conversely, they lead to longer waiting times for applicants from highly-populated countries;
• The Bureaucratic Grind: It takes a trifecta, if not a village, to obtain a green card. You’ll encounter three government agencies during the process: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Departments of State and Labor. Despite the overlapping tasks, these agencies run by their respective rules and have disparate workloads to get through before they can get to your application. Incomplete or incorrect paperwork, limited resources, and extensive security checklists cause further delays.

However, all hope is not lost. Don’t let the country-based limit on immigration visas deter you from seeking a new life in the United States. There are many bills currently in Congress to address the problem.

Take the EAGLE Act. Short for Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment, this bill was recently introduced in Congress. If passed, this bill will remove the cap on employment-based immigration and raise the country-based cap on family-sponsored immigration to 15%.

The Green Card Backlog in 2023

As of July 2023, there are over 351,821 immigration visa applicants in the US waiting for an interview date. The number of applicants considered “ready for interview” is 388,397. Most interestingly, only 36,576 green card applicants had their interviews scheduled for July.

This backlog resembles the annual backlog of 2022, where the number of applicants scheduled for an interview never breached 39,000. As mentioned previously, this backlog affected applicants from highly-populated countries the most.

You will likely wait longer if you are from China, India, Indonesia, or the Philippines. The backlog primarily affects family-sponsored and employment-based immigration, leading to waiting times of a few months to a few years and even decades. You may not have to wait that long if you aren’t in those two categories.

Useful Tips for Green Card Applicants

While the green card backlog looks dire, applicants can be proactive from the start to speed up their immigration process.

Below are some tips that come in handy when emigrating to the US.

• Start Early: Start the application process as soon as possible. If you don’t have anyone experienced around to guide you, seek green card application assistance through legal counsel to understand the eligibility criteria and get your documentation in order;
• Note the Initial Petition Date: Also known as a priority date, this is when you officially report your intent to become a permanent US resident. Note it down and check the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to see how far the priority dates in your category have come. It will give you a fair estimate of how far along your application status is;
• Qualify for Expedited Processing: The USCIS can expedite the application process for individuals with medical emergencies, humanitarian crises, or time-sensitive job offers. Ask our immigration lawyer, Ingrid Borges Perez Esq., if you qualify for an expedited request;
• Consular Processing: The US government allows eligible applicants the right to consular processing, allowing them to apply for a green card in their home country. Depending on where you’re from, this option may offer a faster road to obtaining your green card.

A Word of Advice from Our Immigration Lawyer

Whatever path you decide, our immigration lawyer would advise you to maintain legal status in the US. If you want to increase your chances of becoming a permanent US resident, don’t overstay your visa, engage in unauthorized, or do anything that may hurt your application process.

Work with us to apply for marriage-based immigration, or let us walk you through the many nuances of employment-based immigration sponsorship. Receive immigration law consultation in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Get in touch for inquiries and concerns.