Successfully obtaining a green card

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Tarasiuk Karolina

Consultant

USA / New York

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Publication date: 21.04.2025

My name is Tarasyuk Karolina, I am a financier from the USA. The key areas of law in which I work are corporate finance, I am an expert in family finance and I specialize in consultations on filling out immigration forms in the USA (Immigration Assistance Provider).

Background: A citizen of Ukraine reached out to me while temporarily staying in the U.S. under humanitarian parole (U4U). His wife, a U.S. citizen, was residing in California. The couple had a legally registered marriage and intended to apply for lawful permanent residence (Green Card) through the adjustment of status process based on their family relationship.

The client had no prior experience with immigration procedures and was concerned about correctly completing the paperwork, providing proof of a bona fide marriage, possible USCIS requests, and the interview process.

Problem:

The need for comprehensive legal support in the process of obtaining a Green Card through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
It was essential to avoid mistakes in the forms, submit a complete application on time, gather sufficient evidence of the marital relationship, and confidently pass the USCIS interview.

A Green Card is the informal name for lawful permanent residence in the United States.

✅ Key rights of a Green Card holder:

1. Permanently reside in the U.S.;
2. Work legally in any state without restrictions;
3. Study at U.S. educational institutions;
4. Receive public benefits (after a qualifying period);
5. Travel abroad and return to the U.S.;
6. Apply for U.S. citizenship after 3 or 5 years (depending on the category).

📌 How can someone obtain a Green Card?

There are several main paths:

1. Through marriage to a U.S. citizen;
2. Through relatives (parents, children, spouses, siblings);
3. Through employment or investment;
4. Through asylum or refugee status (after one year of residence);
5. By winning the Diversity Visa Lottery (Green Card Lottery);
6. Through the U4U program (following humanitarian parole) — if eligible to adjust status.

🟡 A Green Card is NOT U.S. citizenship

You remain a citizen of your home country but have most of the rights of U.S. residents;

You must comply with immigration rules (e.g., extended absence from the U.S. without re-entry permit is prohibited);

Your Green Card can be revoked if you violate the law or immigration conditions.

Solution (with legal support):

• Legal assessment: I held a consultation with the couple, reviewed the client’s immigration history and legal status, verified their marriage documents, and determined the optimal path — concurrent filing of I-130 and I-485.
• Document package preparation:

1. I-130 (petition filed by the U.S. citizen);
2. I-485 (adjustment of status application);
3. I-765 (employment authorization request);
4. I-131 (travel document request);
5. I-864 (affidavit of support);
6. Marriage certificate, proof of joint residence, photos, joint accounts, shared leases, letters, etc.

• Application monitoring: I tracked the progress of the case, responded to USCIS requests for evidence (RFEs), and prepared the couple for the interview — with realistic practice questions and scenarios.
• Interview: The couple successfully passed the USCIS interview. Legal preparation helped them respond clearly and avoid confusion.

Result:

✅ The Green Card was issued 8 months after submission of the application.

✅ The client received work and travel authorization before the final decision.

✅ The couple confidently passed the interview without any additional USCIS requests.

✅ The client was granted U.S. permanent resident status.

Why legal support was essential:

• Error-free filing: All forms were correctly submitted on the first try;
• Strong documentation: A solid evidence package confirmed the legitimacy of the marriage;
• Interview preparation: Prevented stress and ensured consistency in answers;
• Time-saving: The process went smoothly without delays or additional requests.