Get a green card

Green Card Lawyers in Paducah, KY

Green Card holders can legally reside in the United States for the rest of their lives. Entering the United States can take as little time as a few weeks or as much as a decade or more, depending on how you got here or how you plan to get here. In the next section, we describe the most common methods to obtain the Green Card.

• What is your Immigration Visa preference?
• Kentucky Visa Preference Categories
• Get a Green Card Attorney in Paducah, KY

Discover ways to obtain a Green Card and how a Paducah Green Card attorney can help you in the process. Schedule a consultation with our Kentucky immigration attorneys at the Citizenship & Immigration Law Firm to discuss your immigration concerns.

What is your Immigration Visa preference?

Knowing your Immigrant Visa preference categories is the initial step in obtaining a Green Card, and there are only a handful of them. A visa for immediate or close family members or a visa for highly skilled workers is your best option to obtain a Green Card in the United States of America.

Instead, only a small number of Diversity Visas are issued in the lottery each year, so your chances of becoming a legal permanent resident in the United States are quite slim.

 

Immigration categories and speed

Your prospects for obtaining a Green Card depend largely on your immigration status. You may only have to wait a few months to obtain an Immigrant Visa if you qualify in one of the numerous categories with little delay, such as immediate family members or someone who has been living in the country for some time.

Immigrant Visa Categories and the Visa Bulletin

We can understand how the Immigrant Visa categories work by looking at the most recent information on visa availability from the United States Department of State.

Each year, the US limits the number of Immigrant Visas granted in each category and to immigrants born in certain countries. Section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act details the allocation.

The Visa Bulletin breaks down these categories and their numerical limitations. Two main groups of people can be found in the Visa Bulletin. The choice is made based on the workplace or personal preferences.

Family-based sponsorships

Spouses, minor children and parents of US citizens are not included in the list of family-based Visa holders. Consequently, relatives of immigrants can easily obtain visa numbers. The Visa Bulletin classifies visas.

The Visa Bulletin has a table with the deadlines for each category. If your priority date falls within the deadline, you can apply for a Visa. Your priority date is the day USCIS accepts and processes your immigration petition.

Visas for immediate family members

Immediate family members of US residents or legal residents usually take priority. Close relatives are minor children, spouses and parents. Those seeking permanent residency must have a close relative to sponsor them.

Family members of permanent residents will be next in line. Most obtain their Visas in two years.

The longest wait times for Immigrant Visas are for married adult children and siblings of US residents. Some take decades.

Our Kentucky immigration attorneys can help you save time and money. Self-managing the immigration process can result in increased costs, delays, or even rejection. Call our Paducah immigration attorneys to save yourself thousands of dollars and years of waiting.

Call us now! (270) 494-2105

Employment-Based Sponsorship

The work and family preference categories are similar. Category deadlines are listed in the Visa Bulletin. Employers will prefer you over a family member in job preference categories.

There are several education and skill requirements for employment-based immigration. Immigration is easier when educational or technical requirements are higher (with some exceptions). Unskilled immigrants may face greater obstacles than educated immigrants.

Employment-based petitions are processed more quickly, but both the immigrant and the employer must submit documentation.

First Preference Employment (EB-1 visa)

Priority employees are the only ones eligible for the first preference category of employment. Internationally renowned artists, award-winning scientists, executives or CEOs of global companies are examples of these exceptional professionals. The first priority category has never had a Visa requirement.

Second Preference Employment (EB-2 visa): Professionals with advanced degrees and exceptional talent

A Second Preference candidate must have a certified labor certification. An offer of employment is required and the employer must submit Form I-140 on behalf of the applicant. If the waiver is in the national interest, applicants can request a National Interest Waiver. In this situation, the applicant can self-petition by completing Form I-140 with proof of national interest. People with higher qualifications and exceptional abilities receive 28.6% of the annual global limit for employment-based immigration visas, plus unused First Preference Employment visas.

This category has two subgroups:

• With a master’s or doctorate and five years of professional experience.
• Exceptional talent in the arts, sciences or business. Exceptional ability indicates having competence well above the norm in the sciences, arts, or business.

Third Preference Employment (EB-3 visa): Skilled, professional and unskilled workers (other workers)

The potential employer must have filed an authorized Immigrant Petition for Foreign Worker, Form I-140. All these personnel must be certified by the Department of Labor. S&P&U gets 28.6% of the annual global employment-based immigration visa cap, plus unused first and second employment preference visas.

This category has three subgroups:

• Qualified workers are non-seasonal workers who have completed a minimum of two years of training.
• Employers look for professionals who have at least a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university, or its international equivalent.
• Unskilled employees (other workers) are those who can occupy positions that do not require more than two years of training or experience.

Fourth Preference Employment (EB-4 visa)

There are four “special” categories of employment-based preference for immigrants, including religious workers while they wait for a decision on their immigration status. Consider consulting with an immigration attorney before deciding to apply for this category, as there are many rules and regulations that must be followed.

Fifth Preference Employment (EB-5 visa)

Foreign investors who plan to create jobs in the United States fall into the fifth employment-based preference group. A business that employs ten or more U.S. citizens or full-time permanent residents must have an investment of between $500,000 and $1 million in personal assets before an immigrant can be considered for these types of Visas. Unless you are from China, you won’t have to wait long if you qualify and pass the rigorous USCIS screening process.

Call us now! (270) 494-2105

Diversity Visa Program

The Diversity Visa (DV) program has a “Drawing” for Green Cards. There are 55,000 Visas available for immigrants from countries with few applications for permanent residence. If you meet the criteria and win the drawing, you don’t have to wait. Kentucky immigration attorneys can help you get a Green Card.

Moving to a new country can be difficult. The forms, rules, and requirements are overwhelming to deal with alone. So we strongly advise you to consult one of our qualified immigration lawyers. If we cannot help you, there is no charge. Because of their status, most undocumented immigrants believe they are not eligible for a Green Card or other legal status in the United States. With our help, many undocumented immigrants can obtain legal status. Contact us.

Additional information about Residence Card holders

LPRs, often known as Green Card holders, have a wide range of rights in the United States. They can work, own property, travel, and even sponsor family members to immigrate to the United States. However, legal permanent residence is not the same as citizenship. If you do any of the following, you risk losing your right to live and work in the United States:

Abandon your resident status.

If you leave the United States for more than six months at a time, you may face deportation and lose your green card. You will not automatically lose your green card, but you could attract a notice from a customs agent when you return to the United States, or while seeking citizenship, and you will have to appear in immigration court.

Failure to inform the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of a change of address.

Failure to inform the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of a change of address.

You must keep immigration authorities informed of your current residence.

You are guilty of some crimes.

Crimes such as immigration fraud, impersonation of a US citizen, treason and espionage are just a few examples.

• Other than a single offense of possession of a small amount of marijuana, there are no drug offenses.
• Being the subject of a protective order and then breaking that order.
• Murder, manslaughter, serious violence, robbery or theft, and fraud are examples of “moral turpitude” crimes, which are the subject of intense debate in immigration courts. Misdemeanors fall into this category.
• Aggravated crimes: These are more serious crimes, such as those involving weapons, and are determined by state criminal law.

When detained by ICE, LPRs can choose to appear in immigration court or be deported immediately.

If you have been charged with a crime or have pending criminal matters, you should see an immigration attorney who understands the impact of different criminal pleas on your immigration status. The Citizenship & Immigration Law Firm has experienced criminal and immigration attorneys ready to defend you.

Call our Paducah Green Card Attorneys Today!

When detained by ICE , LPRs can choose to go to immigration court instead of being immediately deported. If you have been charged with a crime or have a criminal record, understanding immigration law and the ramifications of different declarations is essential. Our Kentucky immigration attorneys at the Citizenship & Immigration Law Firm are ready to defend your rights.