United States Adjustment of Status
What is Adjustment of Status?
Adjustment of Status (AOS) is the legal process that allows noncitizens already in the U.S. to apply for a green card without needing to return to their home country. This process differs from Consular Processing, where the applicant applies for a visa from abroad.Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for AOS, you must meet several critical requirements:
- Physical Presence: You must be physically present in the U.S.
- Valid Visa: Have entered the U.S. lawfully (with a valid visa or other admission status).
- Immigrant Visa Availability: An immigrant visa number must be available to you.
- Lawful Status: Generally, you must have maintained lawful status throughout your stay, though exceptions apply for certain categories like family members of U.S. citizens​(USCIS)
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How to Apply for Adjustment of Status: Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s a simplified guide to applying for Adjustment of Status:
Determine Your Eligibility
Eligibility varies depending on your current visa type and family or employment relationships. Check if you’re eligible by reviewing the USCIS Green Card Eligibility Categories.
File Form I-485
Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to file Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Make sure all sections are correctly filled, and the form is signed.
Submit Supporting Documents
Required supporting documents include proof of lawful entry (I-94), identification (passport), and financial records (if applicable). In some cases, you may also need to submit documents like a medical exam report and evidence of your relationship to a U.S. citizen or employer​(USCIS)
Pay the Application Fees
The cost of applying includes the filing fee for Form I-485, biometrics (if applicable), and the medical examination fee. The total can vary depending on your age and immigration status.
Attend Biometrics Appointment
After you submit your application, USCIS will schedule a biometrics appointment where your fingerprints, photos, and signature will be collected for background checks.
Interview and Wait for Decision
Many applicants will need to attend an interview at a local USCIS office. During this interview, you’ll be asked questions about your application and immigration history. Afterward, USCIS will review your case and issue a decision.
Required Documents for Adjustment of Status
For the Adjusment of Status process, providing the correct documents is crucial. Missing or incorrect documentation can cause delays. Commonly required documents include:
- Form I-485: The primary application form for AOS.
- Proof of Lawful Entry: Typically, your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.
- Proof of Identity: A valid passport and birth certificate.
- Medical Examination: You must submit Form I-693, completed by a USCIS-approved doctor.
- Financial Support Evidence: If required, include an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), showing that you will not become a public charge.
- Criminal Records: If applicable, you must submit certified police and court records of any arrests or convictions​(USCIS).
Ensure all documents are properly translated into English and certified as necessary.
Processing Times: What to Expect
The processing time for Ajustment of Status can vary depending on several factors, including visa availability and USCIS workload. Most applications take anywhere from 8 to 14 months, but some may take longer if additional documentation or interviews are needed​(USCIS), (USCIS).
You can track your application status on the USCIS website and check current processing times for your case.
Tips for a Successful ApplicationÂ
- Ensure Complete Documentation: Missing documents or incomplete forms are a common cause of delays. Double-check all your documents before submission.
- Be Prepared for RFEs: If USCIS requires more information, you will receive a Request for Evidence (RFE). Respond promptly and thoroughly.
- Stay Informed: Regularly check the USCIS processing times and visa bulletins to stay updated on your case.
Why Use Our Agency For legalize documents for Colombia?Â
Since 2005, our legal firm Medellin Lawyer has helped clients who want to get a US visa. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia.
In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we are able to handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials or by a judge.
Applying for legalize documents for colombia
Once you receive online visa approval, if doing this in Colombia, you need to travel to Bogotá to get the visa in your passport. Visas in Colombia are issued at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office in Bogotá. Their office is located at Avenida 19 # 98-03, Torre 100 Building, 3rd Floor. It’s open from 7:30 am until noon.
The major challenge with getting a Colombian visa yourself is dealing with a government bureaucracy, making a trip to Bogota and not understanding the laws properly if you are not fluent in Sanish.Â
This is where you can benefit from the services of an experienced visa agency such as Visas by James. A visa agency such ours is your best bet when it comes to obtaining visa for you. An experienced visa agency which has processed hundreds of visas and knows exactly what is needed for each type of visa is exactly what you need.
Another big benefit of using a visa agency is that they offer services to courier your passport to Bogotá to get the visa put in your passport. So, you can avoid a trip to Bogotá. The cost of a visa service including the service to courier your passport to Bogotá can even be cheaper than the cost of a trip to Bogotá.
Our Story
James Lindzey founded the website ColombiaVisas.com, which is constantly updated with new information explaining visa resolutions, procedures, and laws in Colombia to expats. James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States through the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats, but currently works as Director of Legal Services for Visas by James, and Colombia Legal & Associates SAS since June of 2023.
Colombia Legal & Associates acquired the brand name Visas by James as it became a more familiar and easy way for foreigners to remember the business, than the previous Visas y Tramites Internacionales.
While MedellinLawyer.com focuses more on legal issues for expats, ColombiaVisas.com focuses more on visas, and holds the trademark Visas by James. ColombiaVisas.com is the oldest website and provider of visa information for expats in Colombia. We are proud to be the first and always on the cutting edge of providing interactive website content to our visitors.Â
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James previous legal experience in the United States.
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About Our Visa Services
We can guie you through the most Complicated Immigration Situations. Our aim is to make life easier for expatriates in Colombia!Â
We monitor your visa application process .
Please let us know if you need more information, or we can set up a consultation in order to provided you personalized guide.
Our main office is located in Medellin, Colombia near Parque Lleras in El Poblado. We have representation in Bogota, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Our main office address is Cra 39#5A-95, Oficina 709, Edificio Avangarde. We accept walk in appointments but its always nice if you can let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a time. Areas codes in Colombia have changed. To reach our office please call (57) 604-444-6634.
