Nearly two decades ago, Gabriel* moved to Silicon Valley from his native Paris to open and head up a new office for his French company.
Gabriel applied for an E-2 Visa for Treaty Investors. Although an E-2 is a nonimmigrant—or temporary—visa, it can be extended indefinitely as long as the conditions under which it was granted remain in place. That was fine with Gabriel, who built up and grew the Silicon Valley office of his company—until last year.
Yearning for a career change and making plans to marry his girlfriend, who is living in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, Gabriel decided it was time to get a green card. He wanted to leave this business and have the freedom to work for other companies. He also wanted a green card so he can sponsor his F-1 girlfriend after they get married for permanent residence in the F-2A category by filing an I-130. So, he applied for a diversity visa.
Diversity Green Card
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program awards green cards to immigrants from countries that have low rates of immigration to the U.S. through a lottery process. Applying for a diversity visa offers a quick path to a green card for immigrants and their immediate family. Citizens of countries in six regions, including Africa, Asia, and Europe, are eligible. Citizens of France, like Gabriel, are eligible.
Gabriel submitted his application by last fall’s deadline. In May, he found out that he had been selected in the diversity visa lottery. That meant he had until September 30, 2018—the end of the federal government’s fiscal year—to get his green card. But these days, it can take six to eight months just to schedule a green card interview. So, Gabriel reached out to the Alcorn Immigration Law team for help.
As soon as Gabriel became eligible to file his papers, we helped him prepare and file a comprehensive package of his Adjustment of Status Form I-485 and supporting documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for his green card.
Green Card Interview
As spring and summer passed and Gabriel’s interview remained unscheduled, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We reached out to USCIS to expedite the green card interview process. Within two weeks, Gabriel attended his green card interview with one of our attorneys by his side. His green card came in the mail a few weeks later. We are very happy for him and his fiance. They will now be able to permanently call the United States their home.
As an Immigration and Nationality Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization, I’m familiar with all aspects of U.S. immigration law, including strategies for expediting decisions on visa and green card petitions. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. If you have any questions or found this post helpful, please let me know in the comments section below. Looking forward to hearing from you!
* To maintain confidentiality, the name of the client has been changed, and details may have been omitted or slightly altered. Our success in a case does not predict nor guarantee the outcome in your legal matter. The result portrayed above was dependent on the facts of that case. Results will differ based on different facts.
