Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing

One of the main reasons clients hire immigration attorneys is to help them get a spouse, parent, child, or sibling a green card. The first step in petitioning for a family member is filing an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. But, what happens next? The answer to this question depends on where the person is located, and if they are here in the United States - whether they are eligible to file for adjustment of status.

Changing your address with USCIS

The most important thing in immigration is to make sure that you change your address with USCIS within 10 days of moving. It does not matter if you change your address with the United States Postal Service, you must change your address with USCIS. You can do this online, or with a paper copy of the AR-11 form. This form can be found on the USCIS website here: https://www.uscis.gov/ar-11. If you do not change your address and you are placed in removal proceedings, you may be ordered removed from the United States in your absence. This can create huge obstacles for your path to staying in the United States. Therefore, until you become a United States citizen, always change your address with USCIS!