Want to apply for U.S. Green Card (A-Form I-551)? Here we have explained every detail regarding filling out your application for U.S. Permanent Residency.
You might be beginning the procedure to settle permanently in the U.S. If this applies to you, you must likely complete Form I-551, formerly known as a Green Card, which is only the document that will allow you to move to the U.S. with permanent resident status. It serves as evidence of a foreign national’s eligibility for permanent residence and employment in the U.S.
You are permitted to remain in the U.S. for a prolonged period with the help of this form. However, the certificate must be revised before it expires and has a maximum validity of ten years.
Processing Time: 6 – 12 Months.
Four basic types of categories can be eligible for this form. These groups contain:
- Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
- Employment-Based Visas
- Green Card Lottery
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
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Form I-551 Required Documents
Every case is unique, and the documentation required will change based on why you submit Form I-551. Among the fundamental documents, you’ll need the following:
- Valid passport
- Birth Certificate
- Financial Documents
- Form I-90 Receipt
- Proof of Permanent Residency
- Appointment Notice
Steps to Apply with Form I-551
You may finish the procedure for getting an I-551 Green Card in just four easy steps!
Step 1: Form I-551 Clearance and Petition is the first step. As soon as you’ve decided whether or not you qualify for Form I-551, you must submit your request to the USCIS and wait for a decision.
Step 2: Other Documents – You might need to provide additional documentation in your case.
Step 3: After receiving official approval, you will be given an immigrant visa number written on your U.S. Green Card.
Step 4: Modifying status is the fourth step for those who have already arrived in the U.S. and are applying. Foreign applicants must abide by the regulations of their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
I-551 Temporary Evidence Stamps
It’s possible that you’ll require documentation of your status if your Form I-90 is still pending. If it is pending, contact the local USCIS office in your area, which is in charge of your jurisdiction.
Under certain circumstances, they may stamp your passport with a temporary I-551 visa. Temporary validation stamps for Form I-551 from the USCIS are typically valid for 6 to 12 months.
The following will be written on this and placed in your passport:
“UPON ENDORSEMENT, SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent will mark your passport once they have viewed the MRIV and you are in the country.
The following information will be displayed on that stamp, also known as the Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp:
- Your status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) — you’ll notice the temporary I-551 designation at the top of the stamp
- Your date of admission
- The date of expiration for your temporary I-551
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