Green Card & Permanent Residency Attorney
From application to lawful permanent resident — handled end to end.
Lawful permanent residency is the goal of most U.S. immigration journeys. A green card grants the right to live and work in the United States indefinitely, to travel internationally with relative freedom, to sponsor close family members, and ultimately to become a U.S. citizen. The path to a green card looks simple from the outside — file the right form, attend the interview — but the eligibility analysis underneath is unforgiving. Prior unlawful presence, certain criminal history, public-charge concerns, and inconsistent past filings can derail a case that otherwise looks straightforward. The work that matters most is the work done before the petition is filed.
What permanent residency really involves
A green card looks simple from the outside. The eligibility analysis underneath — entry, prior filings, criminal and tax history — is unforgiving.
Two paths: adjustment of status or consular processing
Grounds of inadmissibility to navigate up front
Examined at the marriage-based interview
Result — with a path to U.S. citizenship
Source: USCIS Adjustment of Status & Consular Processing manuals
Identifying problems before USCIS does
Our adjustment process begins with a deep eligibility audit — immigration, criminal, employment, and tax history — before any petition is filed.
- Step 1
Eligibility audit
Complete review of your immigration, criminal, employment, and tax history.
- Step 2
Petition packet
I-130, I-485, I-864 affidavit of support, work and travel authorization filed together.
- Step 3
Bona fide marriage evidence
For marriage cases, evidence designed to survive the toughest scrutiny.
- Step 4
Interview prep
Mock interviews so the real one feels familiar and confident.
- Step 5
Conditions removal
I-751 filed at year two for couples married less than two years at approval.
The two main paths — adjustment of status and consular processing
If you are physically in the United States and entered lawfully, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency without leaving — a process called adjustment of status, governed by Form I-485. If you are abroad, or if you are in the United States but did not enter lawfully, you will generally need to complete consular processing through a U.S. embassy in your home country, with the I-130 immigrant visa petition routed through the National Visa Center to the consulate.
The choice between the two paths is not always obvious. People who entered without inspection but who qualify for the I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver may complete consular processing without facing the long re-entry bars that would otherwise apply. People in valid status may have the option to adjust without ever leaving the country. We map each option against your facts before any petition is filed, because the path you start with is hard to change later.
Family-based green cards — the categories and the wait
Most family-based immigration falls into two structures. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouses, unmarried children under twenty-one, and parents of U.S. citizens over twenty-one — are not subject to numerical caps and can generally proceed as soon as the petition is filed. Family preference categories — adult children, married children, and siblings of U.S. citizens, and spouses and children of LPRs — are capped, and the wait time depends on the category and the country of nationality.
For LPR spouses and children, the F-2A category often moves quickly; F-2B for adult children of LPRs is slower; F-3 and F-4 for U.S. citizens' married children and siblings can involve waits measured in years or decades. We track priority dates closely and structure cases so that, when the date becomes current, the supporting filings are ready.
Marriage-based green cards — the bona fides requirement
Marriage to a U.S. citizen or LPR is one of the most common bases for permanent residency, and also one of the most carefully scrutinized. USCIS officers are trained to look for marriages of convenience, and the evidentiary standard for proving a bona fide marriage is high. We assemble joint financial records, joint lease or mortgage documentation, photographs documenting the relationship over time, communications between the spouses, and declarations from family and friends who know the couple.
For marriages less than two years old at the time of approval, the green card is conditional and must be removed of conditions through Form I-751 before its second anniversary. We handle the I-751 as a matter of course for our adjustment clients, including waiver-based filings where the marriage has ended in divorce or where the spouse has experienced abuse.
Inadmissibility, waivers, and other obstacles
Permanent residency requires that the applicant be admissible to the United States. The grounds of inadmissibility are many — unlawful presence, prior misrepresentation to immigration authorities, certain criminal convictions, public health concerns, public charge, drug trafficking, security grounds, and others. Some grounds are waivable; others are not. The I-601 waiver, the I-601A provisional waiver, and several humanitarian waivers exist precisely to address these obstacles.
The analysis must happen before the green card application is filed. Filing first and discovering inadmissibility later is one of the most damaging mistakes we see. Our adjustment process begins with a complete eligibility audit covering immigration history, criminal record, tax history, and prior filings — and we address every issue with strategy, evidence, and waivers as needed before the petition reaches USCIS.
Permanent residency requires that the applicant be admissible to the United States. The grounds of inadmissibility are many — unlawful presence, prior misrepresentation to immigration authorities, certain criminal convictions, public health concerns, public charge, drug trafficking, security grounds, and others. Some grounds are waivable; others are not. The I-601 waiver, the I-601A provisional waiver, and several humanitarian waivers exist precisely to address these obstacles.
— Wogwu Law
The interview, the documentation, and the day itself
Most adjustment cases involve a USCIS interview. For marriage-based cases, both spouses attend, and the officer may interview them together or separately depending on the file. The questions cover the relationship, the household, the financial picture, and the immigration history. Inconsistency between the two spouses' answers is one of the most common causes of denial or referral for fraud investigation.
We prepare every adjustment client through mock interviews tailored to the specific facts of the case. We organize the document file so that the officer can move through it efficiently. We attend the interview with the client whenever possible. The interview is not a test you pass by chance — it is a conversation you prepare for.
What comes after the green card — and how we stay involved
An approved green card is the end of one process and the beginning of another. Conditional residents file I-751 within the ninety-day window before the second anniversary. Permanent residents who travel internationally must avoid abandonment of residency. After five years (or three years for certain marriage-based residents), naturalization becomes available. Each of those steps has its own requirements, and we remain available to clients for the long arc of their immigration life, not only for the green card application itself.
We also handle the issues that come up between major filings — replacement cards through Form I-90, address changes, travel emergencies, returning resident permits when life takes a client overseas longer than planned. Permanent residency is not a final destination; it is a long-term status that needs to be maintained.
Common green card questions
- How long does the green card process take?
- Family-based adjustment in the U.S. typically takes 12–18 months. Consular processing varies widely by country and category, often 12–24 months from I-130 filing to visa issuance.
- Can I work while my green card application is pending?
- Yes — the I-765 EAD filed concurrently with adjustment usually issues 4–8 months after filing. Travel requires a separate advance parole document.
- What if I entered the U.S. without inspection?
- Adjustment is generally not available, but the I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver may allow you to consular process without triggering long re-entry bars.
- Do prior arrests or convictions disqualify me?
- It depends on the offense and timing. Some convictions are waivable, others are not. We audit your record and identify the waiver path before filing.
- What happens at the marriage-based interview?
- The officer reviews your relationship, household, and finances. Both spouses attend. Inconsistency is the most common cause of denial — we prepare you with mock interviews.
What clients say about working with us
"By far the best service I've ever gotten from any law firm. Lisa is simply amazing! She was so knowledgeable and listened to me attentively answering all my questions. If you're looking for someone who's on top of their game give Wogwu Law a call now!"
"Attorney Wogwu is detailed and upfront about explaining your options. She speaks in everyday language that I can understand. She is honest and easy to talk to — and more importantly, she listens without rushing you. I have no hesitation about trusting her for legal help."
"Lisa Wogwu is a superstar! She has been working with me for two years in my immigration practice and I have to say she is amazing. She is a wonderful trial attorney, an incredible wordsmith, and a zealous advocate for her clients. Hiring Lisa is not just a good choice, it is the best one!"
Embark on your immigration journey with Wogwu Law.
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