U.S. Green Card Applications

Outside of a few specific categories, there is generally no avenue to self-sponsor yourself for permanent residency in the USA. We highly recommend you speak to our experienced team to understand exactly what options are available to you.

How long an application for permanent residency in the U.S. takes is heavily dependent on the type of application made.

• Applicants who are considered immediate relatives to a U.S. citizen are not subject to annual limits and the waitlists that accompany them. The U.S considers the spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents of its citizens as immediate relatives. Once approved, applicants who meet these criteria can be immediately issued their visa.
• Preference-based relatives are subject to annual limits which means wait times can be extensive (years) depending on the specific type applied for.
• Employment-based permanent residency may take several years or longer for your case to be approved.

Speak to our team for a more accurate time frame for your specific situation

A U.S. permanent resident is expected to reside in the United States permanently. If a return to Australia is temporary in nature then it would be deemed acceptable. If a U.S. permanent resident no longer wishes to reside permanently in the United States they should discuss with our team what options are available for keeping or abandoning their U.S. permanent residency.

Naturalization is the process a U.S. permanent resident goes through to attain U.S. citizenship. The majority of cases will require an applicant to have held lawful permanent residency in the U.S. for a minimum of 5 years.

Some categories, including spouses of U.S. citizens, may be eligible to apply for naturalization after 3 years of lawful permanent residency.

Yes, the process will include several steps, which after successful completion will entitle you to receive an Immigrant Visa (IV). An immigrant visa will allow you to enter the US and upon entry, immediately be considered a Permanent Resident. There is no need to file additional paperwork after entry on an IV.

Under most circumstances, you may stay in the US while your Adjustment of Status is pending. There are some exceptions to this general rule and there will be some travel and work restrictions at the beginning of this process.

Under some exceptional circumstances, there is a way to speed up the process from overseas. Contact us specifically about whether you may qualify for these exceptions. This is a special area of our expertise.

The US does not recognize de-facto relationships. To gain permanent residency through your US partner, you must be legally married. The nature and length of the relationship and marriage are considered in these applications.

Applicants who have recently married a U.S. permanent resident are eligible to apply for a green card. Contact us for further information.