Green Card Steps and Sequences

adjustment of status for immediate relatives

You are an immediate relative and you live in the United States? You may be eligible to the adjustment of status for immediate relative process, known as ‘concurrent filing’.

Conditions:

• You are the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen
• You are physically present in the United States
• You entered the United States legally, or obtained advance parole

Consular Processing for Immediate Relative

You are an immediate relative and you live abroad while your sponsor live in the United States? You will go through consular processing for immediate relatives.

Conditions:

• You are the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen
• You live abroad, outside of the United States
• Your sponsor lives in the United States

Note: Immigration Planner’s application also explores automatically whether the faster consular processing at a USCIS international office is a possibility when the sponsor is living abroad.

Consular processing for family preferences

You are eligible under a family preference and you live abroad? You will go through consular processing for family preferences.

Conditions:

• You are eligible for a green card under preferences F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4
• You live abroad, outside the United States
• Your sponsor lives in the United States

Adjustment of status for family preference

You are eligible under a family preference, but already live legally in the United States? You may be eligible for adjustment of status.

Conditions:

• You are eligible for a green card under preferences F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4
• You are physically present in the United States under a valid, unexpired visa (such as an H1-B visa)
• You will be able to maintain legal status in the United States until the priority date of the I-130 submitted by the sponsor on your behalf is ‘current’