CAN YOU TRAVEL WHILE YOUR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS IS PENDING?
Suppose you are going through the immigration process in the United States. In that case, you already know that the laws are incredibly complicated. It is critical to avoid making any mistakes while waiting for an application to be processed. If your adjustment of status is pending, you are likely to be particularly focused on taking all necessary steps to ensure that you can become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. As such, you know that it is necessary to avoid any actions that could affect your case. Yet various situations can arise while your adjustment of status is pending, and it may be necessary to travel. If you need to travel, can you do so while your adjustment of status is pending? Or can traveling negatively affect your case?
Understanding Adjustment of Status Under U.S. Immigration Law
To understand your rights and responsibilities while your adjustment of status is pending, it is vital to understand with clarity what adjustment of status means. As the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explains, “adjustment of status is the process that you can use to apply for lawful permanent resident status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when you are present in the United States.”
For your adjustment of status to be pending, you will already have applied for a Green Card, which means you will have filed all necessary materials like Form I-485 after determining your eligibility for adjustment of status. Adjustment of status, or a Green Card, means that you can live and work permanently in the United States, and you can start the process of applying to become a U.S. citizen.
If your adjustment of status is pending, you know that you had to show that you were eligible based on one of the requirements under U.S. law, including as the close relative of a current U.S. citizen or Green Card holder, through sponsorship from an employer, through a lottery system, or on humanitarian grounds. Unless you applied for adjustment of status through your marriage to a U.S. citizen, you also likely needed to have a valid visa or be part of the Visa Waiver Program so that you are lawfully in the United States at your time of applying. After going through this complex process, it is critical to ensure that your application is approved and that you do not take any actions that could harm your application. You can use this tool to track the status of an immigration application, petition, or request.
Contact a San Antonio Immigration Lawyer
If you are considering traveling internationally while your adjustment of status is pending, you should know that it is essential to avoid doing so until you have spoken with an immigration lawyer about your case. To be absolutely clear, for most people who are waiting on a Green Card application, traveling internationally while your adjustment of status is pending will mean that you abandon your Green Card application. Do you need assistance obtaining an advance parole document or applying for adjustment of status? Our San Antonio immigration attorneys can help you. Contact the Lozano Law Firm for assistance.
Lozano Law Firm - Abogados de Inmigración
5718 University Heights Blvd #104,
San Antonio, TX 78249
(210) 899-2290
https://www.AbogadoLozano.com/
