Here you can find some frequently asked questions.
F.A.Q.'S
1. I moved. How can I notify the government of my change of address?
2. I am married/related to a US citizen/resident.
a. How do I file for my US residence/"green card"?
b. What do I take with me to my biometric appointment?
c. How can I reschedule my appointment/interview?
3. What documents do I need to file my...
a. Business(H-1b, E-1, L-1,.) visa application?
b. Residence application?
c. Naturalization application?
4. I already filed my application(s).
a. How can I check the status?
b. Where do I find my file number?
c. How can I check the processing dates?
d. How do I know where my case is being processed?
5. My case(s) are past the processing date.
a.What can I do now?
ANSWERS
1. I moved. How can I notify the government of my change of address?
Click here to file an AR-11. www.uscis.gov/ar-11
If you are not a U.S. citizen, changing your address for legal purposes does not change your address on any application or petition pending with USCIS and changing your address on a pending application or petition does not meet the legal requirements of informing USCIS of your change of address. You will need to do both. For most cases, you can now do both at the same time on our website using the Electronic Change of Address tool (available under "Related Links" on this page).
With the exception noted above, all non-U.S. citizens who move within the United States and its territories must submit a Form AR-11 within 10 days after completing the change of address. You can do that here on our website with the Electronic Change of Address tool. If you choose to use this online tool, you can complete an electronic Form AR-11 and notify USCIS to update your address on most pending cases.
If you choose not to complete an electronic Form AR-11, you will be required to obtain a paper Form AR-11 and mail it to the address shown on the form. This will delay the process of notifying USCIS significantly. Not filing an electronic AR-11 and choosing to mail in a paper AR-11 will not update your address on any applications or petitions pending with USCIS.
Regardless of whether or not you are a U.S. citizen, if you choose not to use the electronic change of address notification, you will need to call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to request that the address on your pending application/petition be changed. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will also need to complete a paper Form AR-11.
If you are not a U.S. citizen and you have a case pending with USCIS, you will need to do both - call customer service and complete the paper AR-11. Completing an AR-11 does not update your address on any pending case. Also, notifying customer service does not meet the legal requirement of completing an AR-11.
If you mail a paper Form AR-11, we recommend using certified, registered or return receipt mail. This is not currently a requirement of USCIS, however it is advisable to send the AR-11 by a method that will give you documentation that you did mail the form to USCIS, in case there should ever be a question.
2. I am married/related to a US citizen/resident.
Goto Top
a. Immigration through a Family Member
Overview and Process
A lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of permanently living and working in the United States. If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have a relative who is a citizen of the United States, or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process.
1. The USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, for you. This petition is filed by your relative (sponsor) and must be accompanied by proof of your relationship to the requesting relative.
2. The Deparment of State must determine if an immigrant visa number is immediately available to you, the foreign national, even if you are already in the United States. When an immigrant visa number is available, it means you can apply to have one of the immigrant visa numbers assigned to you. You can check the status of a visa number in the Department of State's Visa Bulletin.
3.
If you are already in the United States, you may apply to change your status to that of a lawful permanent resident after a visa number becomes available to you. This is one way you can apply to secure an immigrant visa number. If you are outside the United States when an immigrant visa number becomes available, you must then go to the U.S. consulate servicing the area in which you reside to complete your processing. This is the other way to secure an immigrant visa number.
Eligibility
In order for a relative to sponsor you to immigrate to the United States, they must meet the following criteria:
* They must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and be able to provide documentation providing that status.
* They must prove that they can support you at 125% above the mandated poverty line, by filling out an Affidavit of Support the relatives which may be sponsored as an immigrant vary depending on whether the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
* If the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen, they may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the U.S:Goto Top
o Husband or wife
o Unmarried child under 21 years of age
o Unmarried son or daughter over 21
o Married son or daughter of any age
o Brother or sister, if the sponsor is at least 21 years old, or
o Parent, if the sponsor is at least 21 years old.
* If the sponsor is a lawful permanent resident, they may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the U.S.:
o Husband or wife, or
o Unmarried son or daughter of any age.
In any case, the sponsor must be able to provide proof of the relationship.
Preference Categories
If you wish to immigrate as a relative of a U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident, you must obtain an immigrant visa number based on the preference category in which you fall.
People who want to become immigrants are classified into categories based on a preference system. The immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, which includes parents, spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21, do not have to wait for an immigrant visa number to become available once the visa petition filed for them is approved by USCIS. An immigrant visa number will become immediately available. The relatives in the remaining categories must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available according to the following preferences:
* First preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. Adult means 21 years of age or older.
* Second Preference: Spouses of lawful permanent residents, their unmarried children (under twenty-one), and the unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents.
* Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens.
* Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. Citizens.
Once USCIS receives your visa petition (Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative), it will be approved or denied. USCIS notifies the person who filed the visa petition of the petition was approved. USCIS will then send the approved visa petition to the Department of State's National Visa Center, where it will remain until an immigrant visa number is available. The Center will notify the foreign national when the visa petition is received and again when an immigrant visa number is available. You do not need to contact the National Visa Center, unless you change your address or there is a change in your personal situation, or that of your sponsor, that may affect eligibility for an immigrant visa, such as reaching age 21, marriage, divorce, or death of a spouse.
b. You must take your biometric appointment letter and your passport (or other valid ID).
c. You may reschedule your biometric appointment by checking the appropriate box at the bottom of your appointment notice and returning it to the address listed on the notice. If there is not the option of checking a box and returning the appointment notice then you must call customer service in order to reschedule your appointment/interview at 1-800-375-5283.
Goto Top
3. What documents do I need to file my...
Goto Top
a. For most Business visas you will need the following. Some visas may require additional information. Please call our office or see the visa section under our FAQ's for additional information.
CLIENT INFORMATION:
1. Full Name
2. Marital Status
3. Nationality
4. Date of Birth
5. City, State and Country of Birth
6. Day Phone
7. Evening Phone
8. Fax Number
9. E-mail address
10. Copy of Information page of passport
11. Copy of I-94 (if in the USA)
12. Address in the USA
13. Address abroad
14. Detailed Resume with Education and Experience only. Include name of company, mth/yr he worked there, his title/position, and job duties.
15. Educational docs (copy of diploma, transcripts or letters of work experience if he doesn't have a college degree. All need to be translated into English)
16. If he has family members we need the information page of their passports and a copy of their I-94's. Marriage and birth certificates.
17. Does he want to change his status in the US or does he want to go back to his country to have it stamped in his passport?
EMPLOYER INFORMATION:
1. IRS Tax #
2. Full name of the Company
3. Address
4. Day Phone
5. Fax Number
6. Company e-mail
7. Person Authorized to Sign Forms including his title
8. Type of Business
8. Year Established
10. No. of Employees
11. Gross Annual Income
12. Net Annual Income
13. Position being offered
14. If you have any pamphlets, advertisements, web site etc so that we can submit it with the application.
15. Employment contract
16. Current Occupational License
b.
1. Proof of Birth (all family members) translated into English
2. Proof of Citizenship - Petitioner - Birth Certificate or Naturalization Cetificate
3. Any Marriage, Divorce, Death certificates (translated)
4. Medical Examination
5. Copy of passport/visa/I-94
6. Passport style Photographs (all family members)
c.
1. Copy of resident card
2. Copy of any arrests records
3. Proof of living in the US for the past 5 years(or 3 if married to a US citizen)
4. I already filed my application(s).
a. For cases with the USCIS you may click here to be redirected to the online case status check or you can call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.
For cases with the Department of Labor you must call the Processing Center where your case is. The Atlanta Processing Center's phone number is 404-893-0101. You can also visit www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/faqs.cfm
b. Your case number(s) will be at the top, left-hand side of your receipt(s). They will start with 3 letters followed by 8 numbers(ex. SRC-08-317-43456).
(Naturalization case numbers will start with SSC*000000000. PERM cases will look like this, A-08345-98776.)
c. To check what applications USCIS is processing click here. You will find the date you filed your application next to the receipt number.
d. When you do the case status check online it will tell you where your file is located. If you receive an error message for your status check you must call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.
5. My case(s) are past the processing date.
First you must call customer service and tell them that your case is overdue. If your case is overdue USCIS will give you a service request ID number. IF after 45 days you still have not received any answer then may make an info pass appointment to ask a USCIS officer is person why your case is overdue. To make an infopass appointment, please click here.
Goto Top