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Brunswick Georgia

Immigration Attorney in Brunswick, Georgia

What is the Difference Between Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing?

Adjustment of status (at an immigration office the U.S.) and Consular Processing (through a U.S. Embassy abroad), are the two major processes available in applying for Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status., commonly referred to as a “green card.”

Adjustment of status requires that the applicant have a visa immediately available, and usually also requires the applicant be admitted, inspected, or paroled. When someone enters the U.S. without inspection, they typically will not be eligible to file for adjustment of status and may need to consular process instead, unless they are adjusting through a special provision of the law such as INA § 245i, or through a VAWA self-petition, U-visa, T-visa, or other qualifying basis for adjustment of status.

If someone entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI) and does not seek to adjust under one of the categories which exempts EWI, they may need to consular process. Often the person will require a provisional waiver for the time they spent in the U.S. without authorization. The provisional waiver is applied for and approved before the person departs the U.S. for consular processing. In addition to persons who entered without inspection as described above, consular processing is also the procedure for persons already overseas who intend to immigrate to the U.S. 

Whether you or your loved one should consular process or apply to adjust status in the U.S. can be a complicated issue and should be assessed by an immigration attorney given the severe consequences for following the wrong procedure. At the Law Office of Karen Winston, we have successfully helped hundreds of clients through both of the above processes. 

Get started with our experienced and compassionate immigration team today. Call us at (904) 740-3690 or contact us online today.

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  • From the first call with Karen and throughout the green card process, the steps were explained to me. They were exceptional when putting together all the documentation of my case and I got my green card without an interview.
    - Carina P.
  • "We are extremely satisfied and grateful"

    I highly recommend Karen Winston's office because thanks to their excellent work, my husband and I are finally at peace after a long immigration process. We have been with this office since 2020, and although my case was not easy, Karen and our assigned paralegal Florencia were always there to help us and answer all our questions. Thanks to their effort and professionalism, I was able to obtain my green card after a long wait, but Karen was always there to provide us with the best solution. She fought for our case, and thanks to her, I feel relieved to have successfully completed my immigration process and to know that I can be here with my husband and start building a family without worrying about the uncertainty of my pending process. We are extremely satisfied and grateful. I also recommend Florencia because her attention was incredible; we felt like she was a friend throughout this process. She was always there with us, letting us know every step of our process, providing us with the tools, and gathering all our information to strengthen our case. Thank you, Karen, thank you, Florencia, and thank you to the entire team for making us feel like family. We felt supported at all times, and we are very happy to have gone through this with you.

    - Natalia V.
  • Ms. Winston even gave us her personal contact in case anything were to happen in customs. They are very reliable and very easy to get a hold of. We will be starting the green card process with them soon!
    - Morgan R.
  • Karen Winston helped me secure a visa for my fiancee to come to the USA in 2018, and now her team has delivered once again with a visa for my sibling. I was so relaxed because they had everything taken care of.
    - Emmanuel O.

    What Sets Us Apart

    Ethical and Trusted Representation
    • High Success Rate

      Over almost 15 years of service, Karen Winston has an impressive record of keeping families together.

    • Reputation for Excellence

      As an attorney and former law professor, Karen Winston is well-respected before USCIS, courts, and judges.

    • Immigration Is All We Do

      We focus exclusively on Immigration services and are fully prepared for whatever your case may need.

    • Trustworthy Representation

      Our dedicated team truly cares about each client, and we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.

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