Hall County, GA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Generally, immediately upon filing a Form I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status, a foreign national becomes an Applicant for Permanent Residency, authorized to remain in the U.S. while that application is pending. If a foreign national entered the U.S. lawfully and with inspection, and then becomes married to a U.S. citizen, the foreign national successfully may go through the Adjustment of Status application process even if he/she may have overstayed an initial visa. Additionally, note that while there may be some advantages to supplying a Form I-693 Medical Examination Report with the application forms, that no longer is necessary and may be supplied later. It would be wise to work with an immigration attorney who, after learning all of the relevant information about you and the foreign national, would be able to advise about eligibilities, options and strategies and would be able to offer legal representation in the application process - a process that often can be significantly more complex than it appears.

When a foreign national who entered the U.S. lawfully and with inspection (such as with a student visa) becomes married to a U.S. citizen, the couple may succeed in a marriage-based adjustment of status application process even if the foreign national spouse has stopped going to school and no longer is in valid F-1 nonimmigrant status. If the U.S. citizen now has documentable evidence of an income sufficient to meet the Affidavit of Support requirements, it will be unnecessary to have a joint sponsor. If the U.S. citizen does not now have sufficient documentable income, then a joint sponsor indeed will be needed. It would be wise for you and your husband to consult with an immigration attorney who, after learning all of the relevant information, could advise about eligibilities, options, and strategies to attain your goals, and who then could offer legal representation in the often complex application process. Some immigration law firms, including mine, offer legal services on a "flat fee" basis so that a client will know the total expense from the very beginning, and a few immigration law firms, including mine, offer an initial consultation free of charge.