If you wish to pursue consular processing to obtain lawful entry into the United States, and the ability to permanently live and work here, Feiner & Lavy P.C., Attorneys at Law would like to offer our assistance. With over four decades of experience at hand and our commitment to superior customer service, we have a proven record of helping our clients obtain their immigration and naturalization goals. A determined New York City immigration attorney should always be retained to increase the chances of a successful outcome in your case.
Consular processing takes place at a U.S. consulate in your place of birth or current residence (not the U.S.). A petition must be filed based on certain immigration categories such as family, employment or humanitarian reasons. The petition is typically filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), although there are some circumstances where the petition would be filed at the consulate office. You will be notified by USCIS if your petition was approved or denied. If it is denied, the reason behind this will be stated and if there is any opportunity to appeal the decision.
If the petition is approved, it will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will collect any visa fees and alert you when a visa number is about to become available. You will then have to attend an interview at the consular office to make the final determination if you are eligible for an immigrant visa. Once you are granted a visa, you will be able to live and work in the U.S. permanently. You should receive a green card within 30 days of entering the country.
If you are already in the United States, consular processing is also available to you. One of the biggest benefits of consular processing is the speed in which you may be granted permanent status. The typical time frame is between 6 and 12 months. The risk of utilizing this avenue is that if you leave the U.S. for your consulate interview and your visa is denied, you may not be able to re-enter the county. If you are abroad and you are denied permanent status, this cannot be appealed in most cases.
As with any immigration matter, retaining the services of a hard-hitting attorney is vital. Consular processing is very technical and requires great skill and knowledge to navigate successfully. You and your family’s future ability to become permanent legal residents should receive the professional attention it deserves.
Contact a New York City immigration lawyer for aggressive representation during consular processing.
