Green cards
A green card, one document at a time
A green card through family comes down to two questions: who can petition, and whether your relative applies from inside the U.S. or from abroad. We answer both before anything is filed.
Dayana and Tobias handle these cases from the first checklist to the interview. We read your documents, find the gaps now instead of after a request for evidence, and tell you what each form asks.
If an earlier denial, an overstay or an arrest complicates things, we say so up front and tell you what can still be done.
Who we help
Spouses of citizens and permanent residents
Parents, children and siblings of citizens
Relatives abroad waiting for a visa number
People who already applied and got a notice
The steps
How a family case goes
Most cases take months and some take years. These are the steps, in order.
- 01
Step 1: The petition
A citizen or permanent resident files a petition that shows the family relationship, with proof.
- 02
Step 2: Waiting for a visa number
Some categories wait in line. We check where your date stands in the monthly visa bulletin.
- 03
Step 3: The application
The green card application, the medical exam, the fee and the supporting papers, filed together and in order.
- 04
Step 4: Biometrics and the interview
A fingerprint appointment, then an interview with an officer. We prepare you, and a lawyer sits beside you.
Questions about green cards
Can my relative stay in the U.S. while we apply?
It depends on how they entered and on their status today. That's the first thing we check, before anyone files, because the wrong filing can do harm.
What if we're missing a document?
Tell us. Many records can be replaced or proved another way, and we will explain what an officer accepts.
Is a marriage case faster?
For spouses of citizens there is usually no wait for a visa number, but the case still takes time, and the officer looks closely at the marriage. We show you the evidence that helps.
Who is the petition for?
Tell us who would file the petition and who the relative is. We'll say what comes next.