If you live outside of the United States and need to get a green card, you need what’s called consular processing. That is how you achieve permanent resident status before coming to the US, rather than after. (On the other hand, if you are already in the US and need a green card, you need what’s known as an adjustment of status.)
Consular processing requires you to apply through the US Consulate in your home country, rather than start the process once you’re in the US. That also means that if you work with an immigration attorney, you need to start working with him or her before traveling to the US.
If you need help to work with the Consulate to get your (or your loved one’s) permanent resident status, contact Boston immigration attorney Giselle M. Rodriguez. Giselle helps clients with the full range of immigration challenges, including consular processing. She is bilingual (English & Spanish), and works with clients throughout Greater Boston and Massachusetts. Contact Giselle today to discuss your case, or read on to find out more about securing your immigration status in the United States.
Consular processing: the basic process
There are usually 4 parties involved in consular processing: the immigrant, the Consulate, an immigration attorney, and the family member or employer who is petitioning on behalf of the immigrant. If you are the hopeful immigrant, it’s likely that a family member, employer, or other qualified US citizen or lawful permanent resident is filing the petition for you, so that you can live or work together in the US. In some cases the would-be immigrant can self-petition the consulate on his or her own behalf, without having a sponsor in the US.
The goal is simple: get legal permission to enter and stay in the US. But it can be tough to achieve the goal, and every situation is different. The immigrant / applicant, sponsor, and Consulate all need to be coordinated. Usually there are time-zone differences. The applicant needs to sit for an interview, and any errors on the application will slow down or doom the process.
Get help today
For help on your consular processing, contact me, Boston immigration attorney Giselle M. Rodriguez. I can meet the sponsor (petitioner) in-person in Boston, and I can work with the applicant over on Zoom or over the phone. I’m bilingual (English and Spanish.) I have worked with clients from many countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Dubai, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others.
I look forward to meeting you here in the US, and in the meantime working with you to get here.