Whatever you want to call it, Covid 19, the Coronavirus, is Causing havoc! Status Alternatives for Americans Dev Banad Viswanath, Esq.
We already talked about how the pandemic has made it hard for consulates to process visas. Visa suspension indefinitely at most US consular locations. However, the question of what options are available to individuals who are already in the United States remains.
Some people have granted approval to immigrant petitions. People who initially wanted to file for an immigrant visa due to their schedules and conveniences may now consider whether they are eligible and can file for adjustments of status (I-485 applications), such as I-130 and I-140 petitions if visa numbers are available. For those who are already in the United States, adjusting their status is a perfectly reasonable way to continue their journey toward legal permanent residency. Consider whether they are eligible for an adjustment of status if they find themselves in a predicament regarding how to proceed with the process of obtaining permanent residence. The National Visa Center is also continuing to process immigrant US Visa. Therefore, you can continue to process your visa application through the NVC if your estimated interview date is between nine months and one year away. However, keep in mind that applicants may need to redo their police clearance certificates, and medical evaluations, and possibly add current tax information to the affidavit of support documents in the future because visa appointments cannot be scheduled at this time.
Additionally, parents of US citizens are considered close relatives, so they may not require an interview to obtain an adjustment of status green card. As a result, individuals who file on behalf of their children can continue to do so and may in fact receive their green cards without any delay caused by the coronavirus. In addition, applications for the N-400 Naturalization Applications and the I-751 Removal of Condition Applications are continuing as usual. In any case, no meetings will be planned for the not-so-distant future. Since no interviews will be scheduled in light of the processing timelines, it is perfectly acceptable to begin the procedure now. These are applications and petitions that can be submitted at any time.
We can either keep the current status for those in less-than-permanent circumstances or look into Extensions of Status and Changes of Status to Other Visa Categories. In point of fact, there are a lot of people who are in the United States on a B1 or B2 Visitor Visa but are unable to travel; for those people, it might be wise to apply for an extension. Or, if someone has used up all of their time on their current visa or status, a status change might be a very good way to let them stay.
In fact, we are seeing a lot of people with B2, F1, OPT, J1, H1, and L1 status who need to apply for a change to another visa category or an extension of their status in order to keep their legal status and authorized stay. These choices are promptly accessible and never require a meeting so there are no postponements.
Please consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney if you or a loved one are concerned about your visa status or want to protect yourself.
