Palm Beach County Green Card Attorney
A Permanent Resident Card, aka a Green Card, allows a non-citizen to live and work permanently in the United States. The immigration specialists at the Devore Law Group, P.A. help eligible individuals both inside and outside of the United States apply for Green Cards through consular processing with the State Department or through an adjustment of status proceeding with USCIS. The firm’s immigration experts help people obtain Green Cards through employment as well as family-based immigrant visas. Our Palm Beach County green card attorneys additionally provide expert advice and representation to Green Card holders facing deportation or removal based on the commission of a deportable offense. Learn more below about how the Devore Law Group can help you obtain a Green Card through family or employment, or call our office in Palm Beach Gardens at 561-478-5353 to schedule a consultation.
Getting a Green Card through Family-Based Immigration
Petition by a family member in the U.S. is the most popular method of getting a Green Card in the U.S. However, only 226,000 visa numbers are allotted annually for family-based immigration from all countries. Moreover, visas are issued in the order they are filed, resulting in long lines and waiting lists in some categories of family relationships.
Green Cards for immediate relatives are not subject to the 226,000 visa cap. Immediate relatives include spouses, minor children and parents of U.S. citizens. Relatives of United States citizens generally take priority for Green Cards over relatives of Green Card holders. This is one of many reasons why current lawful permanent residents may wish to seek citizenship through naturalization.
Outside of the immediate family, other family members are placed into different categories of preference for Green Cards in the following order:
- Unmarried children of U.S. citizens
- Spouses and minor children of Lawful Permanent Residents
- Unmarried adult children of Lawful permanent Residents
- Married children of U.S. citizens
- Siblings of adult U.S. citizens
Immigration quotas fill up fast, and changes such as marriage and divorce or aging out of eligibility can affect your petition. The Devore Law Group attorneys can help with all aspects of the Green Card process, including the often difficult task of proving family relationships to the satisfaction of USCIS.
Getting a Green Card through Employment-Based Immigration
The U.S. allocates 140,000 Green Cards each year based on employment. In most cases, prospective immigrants must be sponsored by a prospective employer who petitions on behalf of the individual, although individuals in certain categories can self-petition. An employment-based Green Card holder can also bring over a spouse and minor children. The main categories of employment-based Green Cards are:
EB-1 Extraordinary Alien (individual can apply without a job offer)
- Achievement in arts, sciences, athletics, education or businesses
- Outstanding professors and researchers
- Executives and managers of multinational corporations
EB-2 (requires labor certification that no U.S. workers are available)
- Exceptional ability or advanced degree
- National interest waiver
EB-3 (requires labor certification)
- Skilled workers and professionals
- Unskilled labor
EB-4
- Religious workers
Annual quotas fill up quickly. It is important to get an early start on your petition and ensure that every part of your application is completed fully and accurately with ample supporting documentation. The Devore Law Group, P.A. can provide invaluable assistance during this process to help you obtain a Green Card, bring over your spouse and children, and if desired apply for citizenship through naturalization.
Help with Green Cards from Florida Bar Certified Immigration Experts
For help obtaining a Green Card through family or employment, call the Devore Law Group in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at 561-478-5353.
