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* Prices listed are for attorney fees for typical cases and do not include special services such as appeals, immigration court representation, waivers or addressing the immigration consequences of criminal convictions.
I provide adjustment of status and green card services to clients throughout the United States by using an online client portal, email, phone calls and mail. This provides my clients with greater flexibility because they do not need to take time off from work to come into my office. Using online technology also allows me to provide more affordable legal services to my clients. Clients in the Washington DC area are welcome to schedule in person appointments at my office in Washington DC or Virginia.
To learn more about how to work with the Schaefer Law Firm on your adjustment of status or green card application and to get your free adjustment of status / green card information guide and checklists, simply click on one of the yellow Get Started Now buttons.
Not everyone will qualify for adjustment of status to get their green card. Some of the initial requirements that you should consider include:
- You must have an immediately available visa number.
- You must have a lawful admission to the United States.
- You must be “admissible” to the United States, or be eligible for a waiver.
- You must have a qualifying family relationship with a United States citizen or permanent resident.
If you are an immediate relative of a United States citizen, you may be eligible to file a “one-step” adjustment of status application. You may qualify as immediate relative if you are the spouse of a United States citizen, if you are under age 21 and your parent is a United States citizen or if you are the parent of a United States citizen who is over 21 years of age. If you qualify for a one-step adjustment of status application, you will file both the I-130 petition and the I-485 adjustment of status application together. You will also be able to request a work card.
If your green card application is based on a different type of family relationship, you may be eligible to get a green card through a two step process. The first step will be to have your permanent resident or United States citizen relative file an I-130 petition on your behalf. When a visa number becomes available, you will then be able to file for adjustment of status. The amount of time that it takes for a visa number to become available will depend on the type of family relationship involved. You can check the expected waiting time for a visa number by reviewing the monthly visa bulletin.
Government Adjustment of Status Fees
- $420 Form I-130 filing fee
- $1,070 Form I-485 adjustment of status filing fee
Other Required Costs
- Medical exam – changes by doctor and location
- Passport photographs – changes by photographer
- Translation costs – varies by the translator and type of documents being translated into English
- Original documents/certified copies – varies by case
Legal Fees
Varies by law firm and the complexity of the case. The services that I offer and the price of each adjustment of status package are listed above. If you have any questions about what is included in my services, please feel free to contact me or to request a free copy of my adjustment of status / green card guide which provides more detail about each package offered.
There is no requirement to use the services of an immigration lawyer in order to file for adjustment of status to get a green card. But, many people will find the services of an immigration lawyer to be extremely valuable to successfully navigating the adjustment of status process. An experienced immigration lawyer can:
- Provide you with legal advice that will help minimize the time it takes for you to get a green card
- Help keep your case on track to avoid unnecessary delays
- Help ensure that your application is submitted correctly and with all of the evidence necessary to help your application get approved quickly
- Communicate with USCIS on your behalf
- Represent you if the government requests additional information about your case
- Represent you if you need to file an appeal in the event your application is denied
- Provide legal advice and assistance if you need to apply for a waiver
For a one-step application, the process can take between four months to a year or longer. The time it takes to get your green card will depend on whether there are any special issues with your case and the backlog at your local USCIS office.
If you don’t qualify for a one-step application, you’ll be able to file your adjustment of status application when a visa number becomes available. You can find out when a visa number will become available by checking the monthly visa bulletin. After filing the adjustment of status application, the process can take between four months to a year or longer. The time it takes to get your green card will depend on the type of family relationship you have with the permanent resident or United States petitioner, whether their are any special issues with your case and the backlog at your local USCIS office.
If you have been married for less than two years and your green card is based on your marriage, you will receive a conditional green card and will need to apply to remove the conditions on your green card in two years. If your green card is based on your marriage to an United States citizen, in three years you will be able to submit a naturalization application to become a United States citizen. If your green card is based on a different type of family relationship, in five years you will be able to submit a naturalization application to become a United States citizen.
It is very important to review the qualifications for citizenship before submitting a naturalization application. If you submit a naturalization application when you don’t qualify for citizenship, you risk losing your application fee and possibly being deported.
Additional questions and answers about the adjustment of status and green card process and how to get a green cared can be found in the green card frequently asked questions and news section. You can also reach me by email or by phone at (202) 642-4529 or toll free at (877) 887-9523.
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