Jacksonville Green Card Lawyer

Helping Clients Obtain Legal Permanent Residence Via Family or Work

Do you need help obtaining a green card? Whether you are looking to achieve permanent resident status through family-based immigration or through employment-based immigration, we can assist you in pursuit of your goal. The Law Office of Joanne M. Fakhre has been helping individuals both inside and outside the United States with this process since 2006.

Family-Based Green Cards & Legal Permanent Residence

Spouses of U.S. citizens residing inside the U.S. can file the appropriate petitions along with supporting documents to obtain a green card. Certain rules govern this process that must be followed. Any criminal convictions must be reviewed by an attorney to ensure no problems will ensue.

Spouses of U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. can also come to the U.S. as green card holders once they have filed the appropriate paperwork with their local immigration office. Once this paperwork is approved, their file is sent to the National Visa Center for further processing, followed by U.S. Embassy or Consulate processing.

Unmarried children of U.S. citizens under the age of 21 are immediately eligible to file for legal permanent residence in a process similar to spouses of U.S. citizens as outlined above.

Spouses and children of legal permanent residents are not eligible to file for green cards until a visa number becomes available. Therefore, their legal permanent resident spouses should file the necessary petitions to obtain a date for a visa number as soon as possible. These dates are published monthly in the U.S. Department of States Visa Bulletin.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Green Card Through Employment?

Obtaining a green card for employment typically involves the steps below. Each may vary depending on your situation:

• Permanent Labor Certification: 6 months to several years
• Approval of the I-140 petition: an average of 4 months
• Approval of the I-485 application: an average of 6 months

It may take a few years for a foreign worker to get a green card, however, receipt of the green card is not necessary in order to start working in the U.S. Temporary work visas are also an available option. Common examples include:

• B-1 Visa
• Investment Visas: E-1, E-2, E-3
• H-1B Visa
• L-1 Visa
• O Visas
• P Visas
• R Visas

Labor Certification

Labor certification as issued by the Department of Labor is the first step a business must take to sponsor a foreign worker for some employment positions. This process must be done according to strict rules, and, once approved, will allow the employer to move forward with the green card process. To help obtain labor certification approval, it is best to use the services of a qualified immigration attorney in Jacksonville.

Employment-Based Green Card Services

Consular Processing & Adjustment of Status

Our Jacksonville immigration lawyer provides dedicated legal help in handling consular processing for those individuals outside the U.S. seeking green cards. A spouse or employer must file the appropriate petitions and documentation for the individual to apply for a visa at the U.S. Consulate abroad. Once this is done, the legal process can advance.

For those foreign nationals who are already residing in the U.S., eligibility to become a legal permanent resident can be pursued by filing an Adjustment of Status (AOS). Certain individuals may not be eligible for this process. Our office is here to help you in understanding and pursuing an AOS or finding other legal options should this not be available to you.