Expert green card attorneys serving NYC families and professionals in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Long Island. Family-based, employment-based, marriage green cards, I-485 adjustment of status, and USCIS representation at 26 Federal Plaza.
Comprehensive permanent residence solutions for New York City residents
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21) with no waiting period. Family preference categories for siblings, married children. I-130 petitions, I-864 Affidavits of Support, I-485 adjustment of status for NYC families.
EB-1 extraordinary ability and multinational managers. EB-2 advanced degree professionals and National Interest Waiver. EB-3 skilled workers and professionals. PERM labor certification for NYC employers. Common for Wall Street, tech, healthcare sectors.
Marriage-based green cards for NYC couples. Form I-130 petition, I-485 adjustment, removal of conditions (I-751). Interview preparation at USCIS 26 Federal Plaza. Evidence of bona fide marriage, joint finances, cohabitation. K-1 fiancé visa conversion.
File I-485 to adjust status to lawful permanent resident while in NYC. Work authorization (EAD) and travel documents (advance parole) while pending. Biometrics at USCIS, interview at 26 Federal Plaza Manhattan. Processing takes 12-24 months for NYC applicants.
IR-1 spouse, IR-2 unmarried child under 21, IR-5 parent of U.S. citizen age 21+. No quota or waiting period. NYC interviews at 26 Federal Plaza.
F1 unmarried adult children, F2A/F2B spouse/children of LPRs, F3 married children, F4 siblings. Long backlogs especially for Philippines, Mexico, India, China.
EB-1A extraordinary ability, EB-1B outstanding professors/researchers, EB-1C multinational managers/executives. No PERM required. Popular with NYC finance, tech executives.
EB-2 advanced degree or exceptional ability. EB-2 NIW National Interest Waiver (no PERM). PERM labor certification required except NIW. Backlogs for India, China nationals.
EB-3 skilled workers (2+ years experience), professionals (bachelor's degree), unskilled workers. PERM required. Common for NYC healthcare, hospitality, tech sectors.
Asylum-based green cards (1 year after asylum approval), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), U visa crime victims, T visa trafficking victims, registry, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
Green card processing time depends on the category: Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, children under 21) take 12-24 months from filing to approval with no quota wait. Family preference categories can take 1-20+ years depending on category and country. Employment-based: EB-1 takes 8-24 months, EB-2 takes 2-5+ years (longer for India/China), EB-3 takes 2-6+ years. Marriage-based green cards for NYC couples typically take 12-18 months. Processing includes I-130 petition approval, National Visa Center processing (if applicable), and I-485 adjustment of status with interview at USCIS 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan.
Green card attorney fees in NYC vary by case complexity: Marriage-based green cards cost $3,000-$6,000 including I-130, I-485, I-864, and interview preparation. Employment-based green cards cost $5,000-$10,000+ including PERM labor certification (if required), I-140 petition, and I-485 adjustment. Family preference petitions (siblings, married children) cost $2,500-$4,500 for I-130 filing. Removal of conditions (I-751) costs $1,500-$2,500. These fees don't include USCIS filing fees ($1,760 for I-485, $675 for I-130, etc.). We offer book consultations for NYC green card applicants and transparent pricing.
NYC green card interviews are typically held at the USCIS New York City Field Office located at 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278 in Lower Manhattan. This office handles adjustment of status interviews for applicants in all five NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island), Long Island, and some Westchester County residents. The office is accessible via subway: 4, 5, 6 trains to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station. Bring all original documents including passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), I-94, employment authorization, tax returns, and any requested evidence. Our attorneys provide comprehensive interview preparation and can accompany you to the interview.
Yes. When you file Form I-485 (adjustment of status) in NYC, you can simultaneously file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization). Most applicants receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) within 3-6 months of filing. The EAD allows you to work for any U.S. employer—you're not limited to your sponsoring employer like on H-1B or L-1 visas. You can also file Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document/Advance Parole) to travel internationally while your I-485 is pending. NYC applicants typically receive combo cards (EAD + advance parole combined). You can renew EADs if your green card takes longer than the initial EAD validity period.
For marriage-based green card interviews at 26 Federal Plaza, bring: valid passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, spouse's proof of U.S. citizenship/green card, divorce decrees from prior marriages (both spouses), joint financial documents (bank statements for 2-3 years, tax returns for 3 years, lease/mortgage in both names), photos together throughout relationship, life insurance/health insurance showing spouse as beneficiary, utility bills, correspondence addressed to both spouses at same address. For employment-based interviews: passport, I-94, I-797 approval notices, employment verification letter, education credentials, tax documents. For all interviews: medical examination (Form I-693) in sealed envelope, photo ID, all USCIS correspondence. Our attorneys provide detailed checklists specific to your case.
Yes. NYC employers can sponsor foreign workers for green cards through employment-based categories: EB-1C for multinational managers/executives (no PERM required), EB-2 for workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability (requires PERM labor certification unless qualifying for National Interest Waiver), EB-3 for skilled workers with 2+ years experience or professionals with bachelor's degrees (requires PERM). The process: (1) PERM labor certification filed with DOL showing no qualified U.S. workers (except EB-1 and NIW), (2) I-140 immigrant petition filed with USCIS, (3) I-485 adjustment of status when visa number available. Common NYC sponsors include Wall Street firms, tech companies, hospitals, universities, consulting firms. Processing takes 2-6+ years depending on category and country.
A green card (lawful permanent residence) allows you to live and work permanently in the U.S., travel freely, and apply for citizenship later. Green card holders cannot vote, serve on juries, hold certain federal jobs, or sponsor siblings/married children for immigration. U.S. citizenship provides all rights including voting, running for office (except President), sponsoring more family members, and cannot be taken away (except for fraud). NYC green card holders can apply for citizenship after 5 years (or 3 years if married to U.S. citizen). Naturalization interviews are also held at 26 Federal Plaza. Most NYC immigrants choose to naturalize to gain full rights, easier international travel (U.S. passport), and ability to sponsor more family members.
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old. Parents of U.S. citizens qualify as immediate relatives (IR-5 category) with no quota or waiting period. You file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) for each parent. If your parents are already in the U.S., they can file I-485 to adjust status. If abroad, they go through consular processing. NYC residents typically have parents interview at U.S. consulates/embassies in their home countries. Processing takes 12-24 months total. You must show sufficient income (125% of federal poverty guidelines) to sponsor your parents. If you're only a green card holder (not citizen), you cannot sponsor parents—only spouses and unmarried children.
Whether you're seeking a marriage green card, employment-based permanent residence, or family sponsorship, our experienced NYC immigration attorneys are here to guide you through every step.