General Green Card

Out of F-1 visa status

Question details

I just found out a couple of days back by my international advisor that I was out of status for two years now for taking classes in a community and transferring credits and it made me a part time student..He suggested I left the country after the semester and come back with the new I-20 and letter of recommendation he gives me. And I also I have been married to a US citizen for 2 months. Is it safe to go out of the country?

You can just apply for your green card. Do not travel outside USA until you get your green card (or travel only as advised by your lawyers).

Fingerprinting for US Immigration

USCIS requires applicants and petitioners for certain immigration benefits to be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting FBI criminal background checks. To better ensure both the quality and integrity of the process, USCIS processes fingerprint cards for immigration benefits only if an authorized fingerprint site prepares them. Authorized fingerprint sites include USCIS offices, Application Support Centers (ASCs), and U.S. consular offices and military installations abroad. In general, USCIS schedules people to be fingerprinted at an authorized fingerprint site after an application or petition is filed. USCIS charges a set fee per person (for most applicants) at the time of filing for this fingerprinting service. Please check the instructions on your Immigration application or petition form to find out if you must be fingerprinted.

The following three points apply for all immigration benefits applications (see exceptionsbelow) requiring an FD-258 fingerprint check filed with USCIS after March 29, 1998:

  1. Do not submit a completed fingerprint card (FD-258) with your application. Your application will be accepted without the fingerprint card attached. If you submit a completed fingerprint card with your application on or after March 29, 1998, the card will be rejected and you will be scheduled to be fingerprinted by USCIS.
  2. Do submit fee, in addition to the application fee, payable to USCIS, with your application. The fee is noted at the top of our Forms and Fees page. This charge will cover the cost for you to be fingerprinted by USCIS.
  3. After USCIS receives your application, USCIS will provide you with an appointment letter with the location of the nearest USCIS authorized fingerprint site. Please read the instructions in the appointment letter, and take it to USCIS authorized fingerprint site when you go to your fingerprint appointment.

Exceptions:

Applicants and petitioners residing abroad who are fingerprinted at a United States consular or military installation abroad do not need to be fingerprinted by USCIS and are exempt from the fingerprint fee. These applicants and petitioners must file their completed card at the time their application or petition is filed.

The following forms are subject to exceptions to the above requirements.  

To find the Application Support Centers (ASCs) closest to you, see the "USCIS Service and Office Locator" page. You can also call our toll free number at 1-800-375-5283.

 

 

Related links

 

Special Fingerprint Instructions for Form I-600, "Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Orphan Petition)," and Form I-600A, "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Advance Processing Application)"

 

Safety & Security of U.S. Borders: Biometrics

 

Fingerprints & Other Biometrics

 

Identification Record Request/Criminal Background Check

 

Upgrade to 10-Fingerprint Collection

 

Biometrics -DHS

 

Green Card

Immigration Law

Two year temporary green card

Question details

I just received my two year temporary green card, my malicious mother-in-law claims she went to immigration and put a "BLOCK" on me. Is this possible? Can she do this? I have a clean record good credit and have never been in trouble with the law. Should I be worried?

She cannot put a "block." There is no such provision in law.

Green card for L1-B or L1-A holders

Question details

I currently have a L1-B visa and I'd like to know if the company where I work(a Brazilian company where I did work for 2 years, one of them in a managerial position before coming to the U.S in 2009) could apply to change my status from L1-B to L1-A at the same time as filing my GC application.
The company is a giant in Brazil with 600 employees but we are still starting the operations in the U.S and I'm the only employee here.

Smaller companies can have a tough time getting an L-1A.

Green Card for musicians

Question details

I am a mexican composer, Im finishing my career on film scoring and composition and I'm intersted to know about the green card for musicians.

Green cards in music would be available possibly for two categories of individuals: those who have a permanent job in USA in their field and those who are nationally or internationally famous.

Guestbook Entry for Suki Baldwin, United States

Name
Suki Baldwin
Country
United States
State
Illinois
Comment

Our office works regularly and closely with the Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, PC, with both H1B and Permanent Resident applications.  We do not have any complaints at all -- our case managers are smart, fast, conscientious, polite, and very pleasant to work with.  We treasure them!  I myself have worked mainly with Fran Fisher and Heather Riddick, and to a lesser degree with Anna Baker.  I don't know how we could speak more highly of them or of Mr. Khanna's law firm.  We appreciate them greatly!

Green Card Expenses

Question details

For an employment-based green card application in the EB2 category, my employer has said that they would be willing to make the application if I am willing to pay for it. Can the employee bear the total cost of the entire process -- including attorney's processing fees, filing fees for all stages, advertising fees, EAD, advance parole fees -- from start to final stamping?

The employer is bound by law to pay for all expenses, including legal fees, associated with the PERM process (but not the rest of the green card process).