Establishing Legal Permanent Residency in Massachusetts

An immigration lawyer can be immensely helpful when you’re seeking to establish legal permanent residency (also known as a green card or ‘LPR’) in a foreign country. At Horrigan & Norman Law, Attorney Nancy Norman knows what it takes to help individuals seeking a green card establish their legal residency here in greater Boston area. Our immigration law office is bilingual (hablamos Español!) and fluent to help many Spanish-speaking persons in the Northeast. Below are some reasons why you might need an immigration lawyer for this process:

Complexities of Gaining a Green Card

Immigration laws can be intricate and often subject to frequent changes. A knowledgeable immigration lawyer can guide you through the complex legal requirements, ensuring you meet all necessary criteria for obtaining permanent residency. In the same breath, each immigration case is unique, and an immigration lawyer can assess your specific circumstances, identify potential challenges, and develop a personalized strategy for your green card application.

An immigration lawyer can also help in filing proper paperwork. Incorrect or incomplete paperwork can lead to delays or denials. A lawyer can help you fill out forms accurately and submit the required documentation, minimizing the risk of errors. In many court systems, paperwork is filed in English, and while most individuals filing for legal permanent residency are bilingual, some are not. Our bilingual office can assist in understanding each document that you’re signing and filing. Not only can Attorney Norman help with your paperwork, but an experienced immigration lawyer can inform you about the various pathways to permanent residency, helping you choose the most suitable one based on your personal and familial qualifications and goals.

In some cases, there can be complications in gaining a green card. Situations change, such as the need to apply from outside the country, job status, family status and more. If complications or disputes arise during the application process, having an immigration lawyer by your side can provide valuable legal representation, ensuring your rights are protected. Additionally, if your application is denied, an immigration lawyer can guide you through the appeals process or assist in seeking waivers of inadmissibility.

Eligibility for Green Card Applicants in Massachusetts

The first step in gaining a green card or legal permanent residency status is to determine which category of green card you are eligible for based on your relationship with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member, your employment situation, or your refugee/asylum status. Once you’ve chosen your pathway to a green card, you must file Form I-130 (Family Sponsorship) or Form I-140 (Employment Sponsorship). If you are being sponsored by a family member who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, they will need to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. If you are being sponsored by an employer for a specific job, they will file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. Your next step in eligibility is to wait for your priority date (employment-based) if you are applying through an employment-based category, you may need to wait for your priority date to become current before proceeding further.

If you are not an on an employment-based application file, you can file Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) or DS-260 (Consular Processing). Depending on whether you are in the United States or outside the country, you will either file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, if you are already in the U.S., or DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, if you are outside the U.S. This is the main application for the green card itself.

After filing all of the legal paperwork and receiving a priority date, the applicant will attend a biometrics appointment where fingerprints, photos, and signatures will be taken, and, in some cases, you may be required to attend an interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer.

Contact Attorney Nancy Norman of Horrigan & Norman Law Today

Once your green card application is in and approved, your legal permanent residency status can help you gain many freedoms of living and working in the States, including the ability to accept an offer of employment without restrictions, own property, receive tuition assistance for public colleges and join the armed forces. If the pathway to a green card seems too overwhelming, you may want to seek legal counsel in obtaining your LPR status. Get in touch with Attorney Nancy Norman in the Lynn and greater Boston, MA area today! We’ve helped many individuals in the Northeast states receive green card status with ease.