The main ways to get a green card
Most of our clients in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC qualify through one of these categories. Each is governed by federal immigration law and decided by USCIS, by a U.S. consulate, or in some cases by an immigration judge.
- Through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. See our Marriage-Based Green Card page.
- Through another family member: a parent, child or sibling who is a citizen, or a parent who is a resident. See Family Petitions and the I-130 Petition page.
- Through humanitarian protection: asylum, VAWA for survivors of abuse by a citizen or resident spouse or parent, U visas for crime victims, T visas for trafficking survivors, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for certain young people.
- Through cancellation of removal, which an immigration judge in immigration court (EOIR) may grant to some people who have been here many years.
- Through employment, for workers whose employer sponsors them or who qualify on their own merits.
Two ways to finish: inside the country or at a consulate
Whatever category you qualify under, the last step happens one of two ways. If you are in the United States and entered lawfully, you may apply for adjustment of status with Form I-485 and never leave. Our Adjustment of Status page walks through that process.
If you are abroad, or if you are here but cannot adjust because of how you entered, the case goes through the National Visa Center and a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. That is consular processing. Some people need an I-601A provisional waiver approved before they depart, so they are not stuck outside the country. See our Consular Processing and Waivers pages.
How USG Law Group helps you find and finish your path
The first meeting is free and focused on one question: which route, if any, is open to you. We look at your family ties, your entries and exits, any time in immigration court, any criminal history, and any prior applications. Many people have more than one option, and some have an option they did not know existed.
Once we agree on a plan, we prepare and file the petition and the green card application, respond to Requests for Evidence, prepare you for the interview, and can go with you. Lead attorney Marianela Uribe oversees every file. Gigi Mejia, our USCIS Practice Manager, is your day-to-day contact on USCIS cases.
What can disqualify you, and what can be fixed
Certain things make a person inadmissible, meaning USCIS cannot approve the green card unless a waiver is granted. Common examples include unlawful presence followed by a departure, certain criminal convictions, prior misrepresentation to immigration officials, and a past removal order. Health-related grounds and public charge concerns also come up.
Many of these have waivers: Form I-601, Form I-601A, and Form I-212 each address different problems. Others can be solved by choosing a different category. A few truly close the door. We tell you which is which at the consultation rather than letting you find out after you have paid government fees.
After the green card: renewals, conditions and citizenship
If your green card came through a marriage less than two years old, it is conditional, and you must file Form I-751 before it expires. Our Removal of Conditions page explains the joint filing and the waivers for people who have divorced or suffered abuse.
Ten-year cards are renewed with Form I-90. And once you have held your green card long enough, usually five years, or three if married to a U.S. citizen, you may apply for naturalization with Form N-400. See our Citizenship page when you are ready.
Why families choose USG Law Group for green card cases
Marianela Uribe is an immigrant from Bolivia who became a U.S. lawyer and now helps other families do what she did. She is licensed in Maryland and Virginia and serves clients in Washington DC. Our whole office works in English and Spanish, and clients tell us we explain everything in detail and move faster than they expected.
We offer evening, weekend and virtual appointments, payment plans. Whether you are in Woodbridge, Annandale, Richmond, Baltimore or Washington DC, the first conversation is free.
