How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Applying For a Green Card
Green Cards are issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), who has set instructions and filing fees that must be followed stringently--otherwise, your application may be denied or delayed.
Below are some tips on how to avoid the most common mistakes that result in a Green Card application being delayed or denied.
1. Not making sure you are eligible for the immigration category you are applying to. Depending on your type of immigration--through a family member, employment, or investment--you must meet certain criteria before applying for a Green Card. To check whether you are eligible for a Green Card, go to www.uscis.gov/greencard
2. Relying on outdated information. Immigration forms and fees change from time to time. Although USCIS may accept older versions of certain forms, they will not accept an incomplete payment. Check current fees at www.uscis.gov (Click on "Immigration forms").
3. Submitting incomplete documentation. Green Card forms require that you submit supporting documentation such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, employment verification letters, etc. The more documents you can submit to strengthen your case, the better. Always double check that all the supporting documentation is included in your packet.
4. Failing to sign your immigration forms. Many times you fill out your forms but forget to sign and date them--this may be especially true when you are filing your dependents--forms (they must sign their own if they are not minors).
5. Filing non-English documents without translations. Every non-English document--diplomas, birth certificates--must be accompanied by an English translation--it does not need to be official.
6. Not filling out your checks correctly. Immigration fees should be made payable to Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services--not the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which was the agency's old name. Also, payments must be done with money orders or cashier's checks--not personal checks.
7. Paying an immigration lawyer for what you can do yourself. Immigration lawyers charge you thousands of dollars for filing a stack of documents that you collect in the first place. Unless your case is very complex, you should file for a Green Card by yourself.
Published by Diego Pineda
Diego has been a science writer for some years now, writing mostly about immunizations and infectious diseases. Before becoming a science writer, he wrote both fiction and nonfiction in South America. Visit... View profile
- Requirements to Get a US Green Card Through Employment or FamilyWhat you need to have before you can think about applying.
- Immigration from Within the U.S. Based on Marriage to a United States CitizenWhile U.S. Immigration law is certainly complicated, a lawyer is not always necessary to complete this process.
- Employment and the I-9 FormThis is an overview of the change to the I-9 procedures for documenting employees in 2007
Conquering the Maze of CitizenshipThis is what happened when I, an American Citizen and English speaker, attempted to wade through the mucky maze of USCIS.GOV; the website for the Immigration and Naturalization...- Immigration & XenophobiaI believe that Mexican immigration should be allowed to continue. If the United States is worried about the bifurcation of its culture, it should look to itself for solutions...
- How to Navigate the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web Site
- Information and Tips on How to Apply for a Green Card Through Marriage Without a L...
- Applying for a Green Card by Marriage
- From Green Card Holder to US Citizen
- What Happens After a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is Granted
- Facts About Green Card Lottery
- What to Do when Your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Does Not Show Up
4 Comments
Post a CommentDo I receive my Residence Card the next days or do I have to wait uncertain time ?
You're so right about #7! There's really no need to get a lawyer to help you. All they will do is drain your bank account. All you need is found on the USCIS website.
Sophie
ACTUALLY THEY DO RECEIVED A PERSONAL CHECK!!!
Not filling out your checks correctly. Immigration fees should be made payable to Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services--not the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which was the agency's old name. Also, payments must be done with money orders or cashier's checks--not personal checks
My daughter recived CIS letter to contact if not getting Green Card in 30 days after this letter. She didn't get her Green Card. Attempts to call 1-800-375-5283 are unsuccessfull due to inability to dial three first letters.
What to do?
Thank you