Jacksonville Green Card Attorney

Immigration-Only. Trilingual. Representing Jacksonville Clients Since 2014.

Since 2014, Law Office of Karen Winston, LLC has focused exclusively on immigration law, helping individuals and families throughout Jacksonville and beyond pursue lawful permanent residency. Attorney Karen Winston, a former law professor, is well-regarded before USCIS, immigration courts, and federal judges. Our team includes Associate Attorney Julia Worman, giving clients multi-layer support at every stage. We assist clients in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, and we offer consultations in person or virtually.

Call (904) 740-3690 or reach out online to schedule a consultation.

Green Card Pathways: Understanding Your Options

A green card, formally called a permanent resident card, authorizes the holder to live and work in the United States permanently. It opens access to certain government benefits and, once eligibility requirements are met, the path to citizenship. We handle green card cases arising from family sponsorship, employment-based visas, asylum, and humanitarian programs.

Family Sponsorship

US citizens may sponsor spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents as immediate relatives. Immediate relatives aren’t subject to annual visa number caps, which generally means faster processing than other family categories. US citizens may also sponsor adult children and siblings under the family preference category system, and lawful permanent residents may sponsor spouses and unmarried children. Preference category cases are subject to annual caps and visa bulletin priority dates, so wait times vary by category and country of origin.

Employment-Based Visas

Employment-based green card categories range from EB-1 (individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and multinational executives) to EB-2 (advanced degree professionals and those qualifying for a national interest waiver) to EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals). Many employer-sponsored cases require labor certification from the Department of Labor before an immigrant visa petition can be filed. EB-5 investor visas, which require a qualifying investment that creates US jobs, can also lead to lawful permanent residency.

Asylum

If you’ve been granted asylum in the United States, you may apply for a green card one year after the grant. Qualifying family members of asylees may also be eligible.

Humanitarian Programs

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows abused spouses and children of US citizens or lawful permanent residents, and abused parents of US citizen sons or daughters, to self-petition for a green card without depending on the abuser as a sponsor. U visas and T visas are additional pathways we handle toward lawful permanent residency.

Conditional Green Cards: What You Should Know

If you obtain a green card through marriage to a US citizen and the marriage is less than two years old at the time it is granted, you’ll receive a conditional green card valid for two years. You must file to remove the conditions before that card expires to maintain your permanent resident status. Failing to file on time can result in loss of that status. The same conditional requirement applies to green cards obtained through an EB-5 investment visa.

Why Jacksonville Applicants Benefit from Working with a Local Attorney

Green card applications demand precise, complete documentation. Errors, omissions, or inconsistencies can trigger a Request for Evidence from USCIS, cause significant processing delays, or result in denial. Most applicants are also required to attend a USCIS interview, and preparation for that meeting is a distinct step that many applicants underestimate.

We serve clients throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding area, including Clay County, Nassau County, Fleming Island, Jacksonville Beach, and Nocatee, as well as clients in Georgia. The USCIS Jacksonville Field Office serves Northeast Florida residents for immigration appointments and processing, and our team is familiar with how cases move through that office. Consultations are available in person or virtually, so getting started is straightforward wherever you are.

Green Card FAQs

1. How do I qualify for a green card through family sponsorship?
US citizens may sponsor immediate relatives (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) as well as preference category relatives, including adult children and siblings. Lawful permanent residents may sponsor spouses and unmarried children. Eligibility requires demonstrating a legitimate familial relationship and meeting other requirements under US immigration law.

2. Can I get a green card through employment?
Yes. Eligibility depends on the preference category that fits your situation, whether an employer is sponsoring you or you’re self-petitioning, the job type, and, in many cases, whether labor certification from the Department of Labor is required. Our attorneys can assess which employment-based category applies to your circumstances.

3. What is the difference between a conditional green card and a permanent green card?
A conditional green card is typically issued in marriage-based cases where the marriage is less than two years old, or through an EB-5 investment visa. It’s valid for two years. Before it expires, the holder must file to remove the conditions to receive a 10-year permanent card. Missing that deadline can result in loss of permanent resident status.

4. What are my options after being granted asylum?
Asylees may apply for a green card one year after asylum is granted. Qualifying family members of asylees may also be eligible to apply. Our attorneys can help you identify which family members qualify and walk you through the adjustment of status process.

Call (904) 740-3690 or reach out online to schedule a consultation.