New York Immigration Attorney

Many immigrants want to obtain green cards, which confer the status of lawful permanent resident (LPR). As a lawful permanent resident, you can live and work permanently in the United States. Consequently, the demand for green cards is very high. In addition, LPR status is a stepping stone for immigrants to obtain U.S. citizenship. At the New York Law Offices of William A. Streppone, our attorney strives to satisfy LPR and other immigration objectives, thus helping immigrants from all over the globe become part of America.

Legal Help with Obtaining Green Cards

Green card application is a lengthy process that involves filing complex documents with the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). Depending on your qualifications, you can apply for a green card on your own or you may require an employer (or family member) to sponsor you. Family and employer sponsorship are the two most common ways of obtaining lawful permanent resident status.

For immigrants located in the United States, the process of obtaining a green card is called adjustment of status. However, immigrants living outside the U.S. can also apply for green cards through a U.S. consulate, in which case the process is called consular processing.

Filing Green Card Petitions without Sponsorship

When workers have specialized skill sets or a personal situation that merits the status of an E21 National Interest Waiver, such individuals can apply for green cards without the intermediary sponsorship of an employer. Special skills that the USCIS considers include:

• World-class athletes
• Nobel prize-winning scientists or scholars
• Award-winning actors/actresses
• Recognized leaders in business, science or education

Immigrants who have obtained asylum or refugee status also have the opportunity to obtain lawful permanent resident status. Other options also exist through the green card lottery, as a fiancé or through the Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) program, which assists foreign children in the United States who have suffered from abuse, neglect or abandonment.