United States immigration laws are notoriously complex. In addition to the plain bases of ineligibility, even a minor mistake on your green card application can lead to a denial. In fact, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies thousands of green card applications each year.
In 2021, UCSIS denied over 25 percent of the petitions they received. If your green card application was denied or delayed, a Chicago immigration attorney can help.
The average foreign national, or even U.S. born American, will have limited knowledge of U.S. immigration law, and that includes our nation’s specific rules, procedures and applications.
Immigration lawyers in Chicago are well-versed in immigration law. They can help you navigate the immigration application process to avoid making a mistake that delays the process. If you’ve already been denied a green card, a Chicago immigration attorney can help you through the process of appealing your application, or perhaps re-submitting your filing with deficiencies corrected.
Keep reading to find out more about why your green card may have been denied and what an immigration law firm in Chicago can do to remedy the situation.
Why Was My Green Card Application Denied?
Foreign nationals require a green card to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. Getting denied a green card can be demoralizing and have significant consequences for applicants.
Rest assured, you still have options after your green card gets denied. To help you understand what might have happened, here are the most common reasons why green cards get denied.
Failing To Meet Application Requirements
The simplest reason your green card may have gotten denied is that you did not meet the application requirements. This can happen if you failed to provide the required information or the information you provided was inconsistent.
Job Change After Filing
If your green card application is based on your employer’s job offer and an approved I-140 visa petition, a recent change of employment or job position can present problems if all requirements are not complied with. Specifically, among other requirements, you will need to have had an I-485 application pending for 180 days or more and any new employment must be in a similar or identical position as the one described on your I-140 petition.
Missed Immigration Appointments
After you file for your green card, you are required to attend a series of appointments. These include fingerprinting and in most cases, interviews. Failing to attend any of these appointments can result in a denial.
Criminal Record
Have you committed a crime of moral turpitude? This could be drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, fraud or related offenses. Committing any of these types of crimes can often present insurmountable obstacles to getting a green card.
Immigration Policy Violations
In many cases, your green card could get denied if you have ever violated U.S. immigration policy. It is a violation to enter the U.S. illegally, fail to attend removal proceedings, or violate the terms of a visa.
Security Issues
The U.S. government takes extreme precautions to avoid allowing entry to anyone who has violated or is likely to violate U.S. security laws. An applicant’s connection with a terrorist organization, espionage, or sabotage, can lead to your green card application could get denied.
Low Income
Your green card could get denied if USCIS thinks it is likely you will become dependent on government services. They are not likely to approve a green card for an applicant who lacks a financial sponsor with adequate employment and/or financial resources.
Health Issues
Certain health issues can cause a green card denial. If you have a communicable disease or are otherwise a threat to yourself or others, your applicated could get delayed or denied.
Human Error
USCIS is not an infallible organization. Sometimes, though rare, it is possible to get denied a green card because of an internal organizational mistake. Make sure to read your denial carefully to make sure you weren’t denied in error.
How Can a Chicago Immigration Attorney Help?
In addition to providing legal expertise, an immigration lawyer in Chicago will represent clients in court and advise them about their legal rights.
The role of an immigration law office in Chicago, IL is to protect your case, to help reverse unjust denials and ultimately prevent you from being deported. But that’s not all. Here’s what else an immigration attorney will do for you.
Prepare Paperwork
As previously mentioned, green card applications require a significant amount of complicated paperwork. Any minor error can lead to a denied application.
When you work with a Chicago immigration attorney, they will handle all of the paperwork for you. This relieves you of the burden of doing it yourself and the stress of worrying about whether you did it correctly.
Your immigration lawyer will make sure the information you share with the United States government is consistent, clear, and truthful.
It is essential that the information on all of your forms matches. Contradictions in information presented can cause the government to question your eligibility and put in doubt the applicant’s trustworthiness.
Protect Your Rights
Your immigration attorney will analyze and interpret your rights. They will make sure to explain your legal rights and options in terms you can understand. It is important that you know what’s happening as well as your lawyer.
An immigration lawyer in Chicago will explain their legal strategy and guide you through the application or appeals process.
If you’re facing deportation, a lawyer will ensure you exhaust every possibility to help you remain in the U.S. They will gather evidence, track down witnesses, write briefs on your behalf, and represent you in court.
File an Appeal
In the event a green card application gets denied, a Chicago immigration attorney can help file an appeal. If you make a mistake on your appeal, you could end up back in the same situation or worse.
The chances of getting a positive outcome after a denial increase when you enlist the help of an immigration lawyer.
The time you have to appeal your case is limited. Typically, you will need to appeal within 30 days of notification of the denial, although that timeline can be shorter in some cases. Don’t waste any time; talk to an immigration lawyer as soon as you receive a green card denial.
Consult an Immigration Law Firm in Chicago
Green card denials aren’t uncommon. They can happen for a wide variety of reasons. A minor mistake on your application can result in a denial as easily as a criminal conviction.
Whether you are getting ready to apply for a green card or have had your green card application denied, a Chicago immigration attorney can help.
Get the peace of mind you deserve and talk to the best immigration attorney in Chicago. Schedule a free consultation with the Law Offices of Richard Hanis today.