FAQ: Medical Exam for Adjustment of Status

26 Wednesday Oct 2016

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If you are applying for U.S. permanent residence (“green card”), you’ll need to submit to a medical exam. This FAQ is intended to guide you through this process.

Why do I have to undergo a medical exam?

The purpose of the examination is to confirm that you are not inadmissible to the U.S. on public health grounds. The medical examination must be performed by a civil surgeon who has been designated by the immigration authorities to perform such an examination. Continue reading →

September Visa Bulletin Shows Continued Improvement for Priority Dates

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by Giselle Carson in Immigration News

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AOS, Green Card

Good news for waiting Legal Permanent Resident applicants as the September Visa Bulletin, published by the Department of State, shows another month of improvements. (Click here to see the August 2010 Visa Bulletin).

The September Visa Bulletin published the following priority dates:

Family Based Preference Priority Dates

Preference Category	China	India	Dominican Republic	Mexico	The Philippines	All other countries
1^st	Jan. 1, 2006	Jan. 1, 2006	Jan. 1, 2006	Dec. 1, 1992	Jan. 1, 1997	Jan. 1, 2006
2^nd –A	Jan. 1, 2010	Jan. 1, 2010	Jan. 1, 2009	Jan. 1, 2009	Jan. 1, 2010	Jan. 1, 2010
2^nd – B	Jan. 1, 2005	Jan. 1, 2005	Jan. 1, 2005	June 15, 1992	Aug. 1, 2002	Jan. 1, 2005
3^rd	Mar. 1, 2002	Mar. 1, 2002	Mar. 1, 2002	Mar. 1, 1992	Jan. 1, 1995	Mar. 1, 2002
4^th	Oct. 15, 2001	Oct. 15, 2001	Oct. 15, 2001	Jan. 1, 1994	Jan. 1, 1991	Oct. 15, 2001

Employment Based Preference Priority Dates

Preference Category	China	India	Dominican Republic	Mexico	The Philippines	All other countries
1^st	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
2^nd	May 8, 2006	May 8, 2006	Current	Current	Current	Current
3^rd	Oct. 22, 2003	Jan. 1, 2002	Dec. 15, 2004	—	Dec. 15, 2004	Dec. 15, 2004
Other Workers	Mar. 22, 2003	Jan. 1, 2002	Mar. 22, 2003	—	Mar. 22, 2003	Mar. 22, 2003
4^th	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
Certain Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
5^th	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
5th Pilot Programs	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

Definitions of the preference categories as well as additional information regarding September 2010 priority dates can be found in the September 2010 Visa Bulletin. Click here to read more.

New Priority Dates Could Mean Sooner Green Cards

16 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by Giselle Carson in Immigration News

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AOS, Green Card

New published priority dates for U.S. immigrant visas may mean waiting applicants from India and China may be able to obtain their permanent residence status sooner than previously expected.

A priority date is determined by the application’s filing date and establishes an applicant’s place in line for obtaining an immigrant visa. Given the high demand, wait times can often be lengthy as the number of available family-based and employment-based immigrant visas is limited annually by preference category and by country of origin. Countries with the highest demand for U.S. immigrant visas – China, India, the Dominican, Mexico and the Philippines – often have the longest wait periods.

Each month, the Department of State publishes the current priority dates in the agency’s Visa Bulletin. Applicants who filed their immigrant visa paperwork prior to the current priority date are now able to file their Adjustment of Status paperwork and obtain their green card. The August Visa Bulletin published the following priority dates:

Family Based Preference Priority Dates

Preference Category	China	India	Dominican Republic	Mexico	The Philippines	All other countries
1^st	August 1, 2005	August 1, 2005	August 1, 2005	November 15, 1992	January 1, 1996	August 1, 2005
2^nd –A	March 1, 2009	March 1, 2009	March 1, 2008	March 1, 2008	March 1, 2009	March 1, 2009
2^nd – B	January 1, 2004	January 1, 2004	January 1, 2004	June 15, 1992	August 1, 2001	January 1, 2004
3^rd	January 1, 2002	January 1, 2002	January 1, 2002	March 1, 1992	May 1, 1994	January 1, 2002
4^th	June 1, 2001	June 1, 2001	June 1, 2001	January 1, 1994	April 1, 1990	June 1, 2001

Employment Based Preference Priority Dates

Preference Category	China	India	Dominican Republic	Mexico	The Philippines	All other countries
1^st	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
2^nd	March 1, 2006	March 1, 2006	Current	Current	Current	Current
3^rd	Sept.22, 2003	January 1, 2002	June 1, 2004	—	June 1, 2004	June 1, 2004
Other Workers	May 15, 2002	January 1, 2002	May 15, 2002	—	May 15, 2002	May 15, 2002
4^th	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
Certain Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
5^th	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
5th Pilot Programs	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

Definitions of the preference categories as well as additional information regarding August 2010 priority dates can be found in the August 2010 Visa Bulletin. Click here to read more.

The K-Visa Process: Tips to Navigate the Fiancé Visa

14 Wednesday Apr 2010

Posted by Giselle Carson in Immigration Tips

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AOS

The K-1 Visas are popular family-based visas for foreign national fiancés of U.S. Citizens to obtain legal permanent residence in the United States. The process can be confusing and includes many time-sensitive steps that applicants should understand before beginning the process. Recently, I have had the privilege of assisting several couples from European and Latin American countries through this process, from the filing of the I-129F petition for a K-1 Fiancé Visa to the Adjustment of Status (AOS) to obtain permanent residency.

An overview of the K-1 visa process:

File the visa petition – including Forms I-129F, G-325A and all documents required by USCIS
Embassy review – the local embassy will review the file, visa application, and additional supporting documents and conduct the applicant interview
Approval! – a successful application and interview process should lead to a visa approval which is typically issued within three days to one week of the visa interview.
Entry to the U.S. – Within a six month period of the visa issue date, the individual must travel to the U.S. where an immigration officer at the port of entry will again review the case and grant legal entry to the visa holder.

Tips for the K-1 visa:

You must marry within 90 days of the entry to the U.S. and file for AOS
Start the marriage plans before the foreign national arrives in the U.S. Many states require a waiting period between applying for the marriage license and actually tying the knot.
If you have not yet received your AOS as a permanent resident, ensure that you have all appropriate documentation in order before traveling outside the U.S.
The K-1 visa is a one-time entry visa. As part of the adjustment of status, you need to apply for an advance parole document to travel outside of the U.S.

Click here for more information about the K-1 visa from the U.S. Department of State.