Green Cards

Skokie Green Card Lawyer

Obtain Permanent Residency Today!

Becoming a permanent resident of the United States can be a complicated process. You must complete numerous applications and often have to endure a lengthy waiting period. Plus, if an your application is denied, you could find yourself waiting even longer.

Whether you are seeking a green card for yourself or an immediate family member, you need a trusted green card attorney in Skokie to help with your case. At Gambacorta Law, our lawyers deliver results-driven counsel to help foreign nationals achieve their immigration goals.

Get started on your application today by calling (847) 443-9303. Our green card lawyers in Skokie are ready to guide you. Contact us today! Services are available in Spanish.

Understanding the Green Card Process

Permanent residency does not happen overnight. It is a time-consuming process that requires persistence and patience. Otherwise, you risk application denial or rejection.

Some considerations for permanent residency include:

First, you will need a non-immigrant visa. This visa must be maintained for several years before you can apply for an immigrant visa. While there are special circumstances that can allow you to skip this step, these circumstances are rare and most immigrants do not qualify for them.
If you marry a U.S. citizen, you still have to wait three years after the marriage date to apply for citizenship. Other cases can take up to five years.
A sponsorship from a family member living in the United States
Proof that you have lived and worked in the U.S. and that you have not posed a threat to public safety by committing a crime
Proof of all USCIS application requirements

How Do I Apply for a Green Card?

There are three ways to obtain a green card: via family members, through your employer, or due to special circumstances, such as applying as a refugee or asylee.

Green Card Via Family

If you have a close relative who is a U.S. citizen or has a green card, you are able to start a petition for a green card. Be aware that if they have a green card, the process will take longer. To begin, your relative must complete the Form I-130 Petition for an Alien Relative and Form I-485 Adjustment of Status. USCIS will review the applications and schedule an interview with you, which typically takes place at the closest USCIS field office or U.S. consulate or embassy.

The interview confirms that the information you provided on your applications are consistent with what you say during the interview. In some cases, the questions may get personal because they want to know about your entry to the U.S., your immigration history, and if you have a criminal history. If all goes well, a Green Card will be issued to you and it will be valid for 10 years. In other cases, you may be required to return for another interview, provide additional information, or your application may be denied.

Can I Stay on A Green Card Forever?

There is no limit on how long you can keep your green card status. Although green cards need to be renewed every ten years, once you secure a green card, you keep your lawful permanent resident status until you either become a U.S. citizen, abandon your status or lose your green card status.

The main ways you can lose your green card status includes:

If an immigration judge issues a final removal against you
You are placed into rescission proceedings. Rescission proceeding take placed in the first five years of obtaining a green card and come about if the U.S. government discovers you were not actually eligible to qualify for a green card.
Your green card status is on a conditional basis such as a marriage. If the conditional status ends your green card status may as well.

Green Card Renewal

Green card renewal is a very important process for lawful permanent residents. Green cards are only valid for 10 years. Although the card has an expiration date, a person’s permanent resident status never expires.

The green card is an official documentation of lawful permanent resident status and may be used as an identification card. That is why it is important to always keep your card up to date. An expired green card makes it difficult to prove that you are a permanent resident, which may affect your ability to travel or to work in the United States.

Renewing a Green Card When Outside of the United States

If you are outside the U.S. and your green card is going to expire within the next six months but you plan to return within one year of your departure from the U.S, you should renew your card as soon as you return to the United States and before the card expires.

If you are outside the U.S. when your green card expires and you did not apply for the renewal card before you left, you should contact the nearest U.S. Consulate, USCIS office, or U.S. Port of Entry before attempting to file Form I-90 for green card renewal.

Alternative: File for U.S. Citizenship

If you are eligible, you may apply for citizenship instead of renewing your green card. The USCIS will allow you to carry an expired green card as long as you have filed the N-400 Application for Naturalization. Keep in mind that if you need to change jobs or travel outside the U.S., renewing your green card would probably be more practical to prove your permanent residence status.

Call a SKokie Green Card Lawyer

Obtaining permanent residency requires the assistance of a dedicated, honest attorney. At Gambacorta Law, our green card lawyers in Skokie understand how important your situation is. We can help you through the process and ensure that your application is as strong as possible.

Schedule a consultation with a green card attorney at Gambacorta Law. Call (847) 443-9303 today! Se habla Español.

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We are extremely grateful to Tim and Gambacorta Law!

Gambacorta Law is the place to go. Tim is wonderful. He connected with his clients at personal level and made us feel at ease ...

Valerie
Amazing Law Office

This is really a wonderful law firm. First of all, we would like to thank Ms. Van for introducing me to the office of lawyer ...

Cuong Pham
Today, I am a US CITIZEN, Thank you Mr. Gambacorta!

Our family was referred to Mr. Gambacorta for immigration issues, since this is public forum so will not go into specifics of ...

Mujahid Kamal
Thank Tim for all your help.

He is wonderful Lawer. He made sure everything go smooth before you have a interview. He is very carefully for your case and ...

Thao
"I can't express how appreciative I am to have found him. My husband is back home with us now and we are celebrating our 8 year anniversary this Friday. Thank you for your sincere dedication Mr. Gambacorta, you brought my family back together."

In 2009 my life ended when my husband was arrested. I was alone with two children, a boy merely 2 years old and a little girl ...

Nicole
"The temple and Khun Tim have an ongoing relationship and I continue to refer Thai people to him when I know that Thai people are in need of an immigration lawyer."

I am the abbott of Wat Phrasriratanamahadhatu, a Thai-Buddhist Temple in Chicago, Illinois and Niles, Michigan. Mr. ...

Anonymous
"Timothy Gambacorta works from his heart and not for the money. He was able to help me renew my Green card which helped me reunite with my family overseas."

Timothy Gambacorta works from his heart and not for the money. He was able to help me renew my Green card which helped me ...

Nina
"I have worked with Tim for almost 3 years and have never been disappointed in any aspect of his work."

Tim's analytical ability and years of experience enable him to provide thoughtful, thorough, and most importantly, practical ...

Hung

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Specializing in Complex Immigration Cases
Willing to Travel to Clients When Needed
Personally Been Through the Immigration Process
Services in Tagalog, Thai, Spanish & Vietnamese

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Skokie Green Card Lawyer

Obtain Permanent Residency Today!

Understanding the Green Card Process

How Do I Apply for a Green Card?

Green Card Via Family

Specializing in Complex Immigration Cases

Willing to Travel to Clients When Needed

Personally Been Through the Immigration Process

Services in Tagalog, Thai, Spanish & Vietnamese