Adjustment of Status v. Consular Processing

Dallas-Ft. Worth Adjustment of Status Attorney

Helping clients become permanent residents

There are two basic ways of achieving legal permanent residence, also known as a "green card." One is to stay in the country and start the adjustment of status proceeding. The other is to leave the country and go through consular processing. At Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, we guide you through the detailed, arduous process of obtaining legal permanent residence. If you or your loved one would like to get a green card, call Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates to talk to an experienced immigrant visa lawyer.

Adjustment of Status

Adjustment of status is by far the preferred way of obtaining LPR status. If you stay in the country, you (and your lawyers) retain more control over the proceedings. We have a Dallas USCIS office with a rapid adjustment program. If all goes well, we can have a green card within 90 days. Sometimes, because of clearance checks, the wait takes a bit longer. The approval rate is 60% within 90 days and rises after that.

Consular Processing

When you leave the country, it becomes more difficult to maintain control over your immigration file. At the consulate, we are not dealing with USCIS, but the Department of State. Lawyer access is extremely limited and backlogs continue to grow. If the applicant is in the US illegally for more than 180 days and then departs, he or she is subject to a three year bar. However, after 180 days the bar increases to 10 years.

Unlawful presence can be a critical issue. If you have entered illegally into the US after 1998, you may have no choice but to go abroad to process your petition. If the petition is denied, then you are barred for the requisite amount of time. The only way around the bar is to file an extreme hardship waiver.

If you or someone you love faces this difficulty, call our office to learn more details.

Contact a Dallas adjustment of status attorney for an initial consultation.