Scottdale, GA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Generally, a Permanent Resident who has been absent from the U.S. for fifteen years should expect to be treated as if he/she had abandoned his residence in the U.S. and consequently abandoned his Permanent Resident status. Having a Social Security Number does not change this.

There is no visa category by which a boyfriend may petition for a girlfriend, but there is a category by which a U.S. citizen may apply for a spouse to adjust status in the U.S. to become a Permanent Resident (to get a "Green Card"), and this is true even if the foreign national spouse may have overstayed her student visa. If you are your girlfriend are contemplating becoming married, then it would be wise for the two of you to consult with an immigration attorney who, after learning all of the relevant details, could advise about immigration eligibilities, options and strategies, and offer legal representation for the application process.

An approved I-140 Immigrant Petition exempts you from the statutory six year limit in H-1B status and allows you to obtain extensions of your H-1B status, in three year increments, until your Permanent Residency application is approved. This exemption would apply to Company A, B and C, even if the PERM/I-140 are sponsored by Company B.