If you currently reside in the United States on a non-immigrant visa, you may take actions to adjust your status and obtain a green card without having to leave. However, the same luxury may not be afforded to those currently residing outside the country. That is, they must undergo an established procedure known as consular processing. With that being said, please continue reading to learn the step-by-step process and how one of the experienced Lancaster, PA consular processing lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can stand by your side from start to finish.
What is the step-by-step process of consular processing?
While the term may make it seem like it is one step in the very extensive United States immigration process, consular processing is a multi-step procedure. It is first initiated when the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves an immigration petition filed on your behalf, usually by a family member or employer. Upon approval, your petition may be transferred to the United States National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC may assign you an immigrant visa number and provide further instructions on how to proceed.
At this point, you are charged with completing multiple actions for consular processing. A step-by-step breakdown of it reads as follows:
- You must follow the NVC’s instructions for submitting immigrant visa forms, civil documents, and financial affidavits.
- You must complete a medical examination (i.e., vaccinations and health screenings) conducted by a USCIS-approved physician.
- You must attend an in-person consular interview at a United States embassy or consulate in your native country or current country of residence.
- You must wait through the administrative processing until your visa is issued and you are allowed entry to the United States.
- You must arrive at a United States port of entry before your visa’s expiration date and present the packet to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- You must wait for a CBP visa to review your packet and activate the visa so that you may finally receive a green card.
Why should I have a lawyer guide me through consular processing?
As you can likely tell from the steps outlined above, consular processing is generally complex and time-consuming. If you can go through this process without a hitch, so to speak, it may take six months before you can finally gain entry to the United States. But a flawless process is not the norm. Unnecessary delays may arise when you miss an instruction laid out by the NVC, do your medical examination with a physician who is not pre-approved, or do not prepare well for your interview, for example.
With these issues, your consular processing may take years. Or, in a worst-case scenario, your immigration petition may be rejected altogether. Well, the easiest way to avoid these unfavorable outcomes is to have a seasoned lawyer help you throughout. To conclude, there is no need to go through the important step of consular processing alone. Please seek the support and assistance of one of the skilled Lancaster, PA consular processing lawyers. Contact Lupton Law LLC today.
