San Diego Adjustment of Status Attorney

Helping Immigrants Adjust Their Status in Chula Vista and North County

Many immigrants hope to build permanent lives with their families in the United States, but seeking and securing a green card for each individual family member is not a practical approach. Fortunately, the spouse and children (unmarried and under the age of 21) of a green card beneficiary can often move to adjust their status under Section 245(a).

At the San Diego Immigration Law Office APC, we are committed to helping families stay together in the United States. Adjusting an entire family’s status can be complicated, and a simple mistake can lead to significant delays and other serious consequences.Our San Diego Family Immigration Attorneys understand how to effectively navigate this process and will provide compassionate legal support from beginning to end. You will have direct access to Attorney Elorza, who will diligently advocate for you and fight to secure your family’s green cards as quickly as possible.

Contact Our San Diego Law Firm Today or call (619) 473-2506 to schedule an initial consultation. Flexible payment options are available, and we offer our legal services in English and Spanish.

Securing Your Family's Future: Adjustment of Status in the U.S.

A nonresident can potentially get a green card through family immigration, employment immigration, the Diversity Visa lottery, asylum status, refugee status, U visas, or one of several other processes. Once their initial petition is approved and a green card becomes available to them, an applicant must either complete consular processing if they are abroad or request an adjustment of status if they are located in the United States. 

Adjustment of Status is often the preferable process, as you do not have to leave the country in order to get your green card. To successfully obtain an Adjustment of Status, an applicant must be physically present in the United States at the time they submit their paperwork, and they must not have entered the country unlawfully. In most situations, an applicant must also continue to have a valid visa at the time they submit their Adjustment of Status application. Finally, if an applicant is inadmissible for any reason, they must obtain the applicable waiver before proceeding. 

An exception to the “valid visa” rule exists if you are the spouse, parent, or unmarried child (under the age of 21) of a U.S. citizen. So long as you lawfully entered the country, you can petition for an Adjustment of Status even if you are currently unlawfully present in the country. 

Requesting an Adjustment of Status under Section 245(a) allows spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) to get green cards without them having to meet additional eligibility requirements or going through more immigration processes. In other words, if a principal beneficiary qualifies for a green card and is preparing to apply for an Adjustment of Status, their spouse and qualifying children can petition with them. This allows the applicant and their immediate relatives to efficiently get green cards, putting all of them one step closer to citizenship.