What we handle
Every stage, and the questions that come up between them.
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Planning the sequence
A written schedule of filings for the investor and family, updated as figures change.
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Concurrent filing
Filing the green card application together with the petition, when the investor is in the United States and a visa is available.
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Children approaching 21
Protecting a child’s eligibility under the Child Status Protection Act.
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Status while waiting
Keeping a lawful status in the United States, or planning travel from abroad, during the wait.
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Visa availability
Reading the Visa Bulletin for the investor’s country and category each month.
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The final stage
Form I-829 and the permanent green card.
The stages in order
Six stages. We do not quote durations, because they change; we tell you the current figures at each step.
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Preparation
Choosing the project and documenting the source of funds. This stage is in the investor’s hands, and it is often the longest.
Who: the investor and the firm
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Investment and petition
The capital is invested and the petition filed. The filing date is the investor’s priority date.
Who: the firm
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Petition decision
USCIS reviews the petition and may ask for more evidence. Approval confirms the investment qualifies.
Who: USCIS
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Visa availability and the green card
When the priority date is current for the investor’s country, the family applies for conditional green cards.
Who: the firm, following the Visa Bulletin
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Conditional residence
Two years as conditional residents. The investment stays in place and the jobs are created.
Who: the investor and the business
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Permanent residence
Form I-829 is filed in the 90 days before the second anniversary. Approval makes the green cards permanent.
Who: the firm files; USCIS decides
Representative matters
A few recent matters, described without client names.
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Concurrent
Filed the petition and the green card applications together for an investor family already in the United States.
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Child
Preserved a son’s eligibility after his 21st birthday under the Child Status Protection Act.
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Waiting
Planned student and work status for an investor’s family through several years of visa backlog.
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Final stage
Permanent green cards for an investor family who had moved states during conditional residence.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case turns on its own facts.
Common questions
How long will my case take?
We give you the current published figures for each stage and the Visa Bulletin position for your country. Both change, so we update the schedule as they do.
Can I live in the United States while I wait?
Only with a separate lawful status, or through concurrent filing when a visa is available. We plan this at the start.
What if my child turns 21 during the case?
The Child Status Protection Act may preserve eligibility. The calculation depends on dates in the case, so we track them from the beginning.