Guiding Clients Through Green Card Applications and Adjustment of Status

Getting a green card is one of the most important—and complex—steps in your immigration journey. We help you get it right from the start.

A Path to Permanent Residency—And a More Secure Future

Green Card Guidance You Can Trust From Start to Finish

A green card, or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, allows immigrants to live and work in the United States indefinitely. It’s often a gateway to citizenship, long-term stability, and the ability to bring family members to the U.S. But obtaining a green card is rarely easy. The legal requirements can vary significantly depending on how you apply—through family, marriage, employment, asylum, or humanitarian programs—and any mistakes along the way can cause delays or denial.


At Pedro L. Salim Law Firm, we help individuals and families apply for green cards with precision and care. Whether you’re applying from within the U.S. through adjustment of status or from abroad through consular processing, we tailor your application strategy to meet the exact eligibility criteria. Our services include form preparation, documentation review, interview coaching, and help responding to USCIS Requests for Evidence or denials.



We also assist clients with more complex cases, including green card renewals, lost or stolen green cards, and conditional residency removals following marriage. If your case involves issues such as criminal history, prior immigration violations, or time spent out of the country, we’ll help you navigate those legal risks and protect your path forward.

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Adjustment, Consular Processing, and Other Paths to LPR Status

We Help You Choose—and Navigate—the Right Process

There is no single way to apply for a green card. In fact, the eligibility categories vary widely depending on how you entered the country, your family relationships, your employment history, and whether you’ve been placed in removal proceedings.


Our attorneys help you determine the most efficient and secure path to lawful permanent residence, including:


  • Family-based petitions, including marriage green cards and K-1 visa adjustments
  • Employment-based green cards and PERM labor certifications
  • Adjustment of status for asylees or refugees after one year of physical presence
  • Green cards through VAWA self-petitions
  • U visa and T visa-based green card applications after crime victim status
  • Waivers of inadmissibility for those barred due to unlawful presence, fraud, or criminal records


For immigrants who must apply through consular processing, we provide comprehensive guidance through the National Visa Center (NVC) and overseas U.S. consulates, including help with DS-260 forms, scheduling, and interview readiness.


We also represent clients in removal proceedings whose green card eligibility is being decided in immigration court, and coordinate with our criminal defense team for clients with prior arrests or convictions.

Apply through a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, child, parent, or sibling. Immediate relatives often have faster processing and no annual visa cap.

If you’re married to a U.S. citizen and already in the country, we can file Form I-130 and I-485 together and prepare you for the marriage-based green card interview.

For green card applicants living overseas, we manage NVC case creation, DS-260 submissions, affidavit of support documentation, and interview prep.

If you were granted asylum or refugee status more than a year ago, we can help you apply for a green card under humanitarian protections.

We assist with self-petitions under VAWA and U visa adjustments for survivors of domestic abuse or qualifying crimes.

If your green card has expired, been lost, or contains incorrect information, we can file Form I-90 and resolve your LPR status documentation issues.

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Essential Evidence for Your Application

Avoid Denials by Preparing a Strong and Complete Green Card File

Green card cases are often denied due to missing information, inconsistencies, or lack of documentation. Our firm ensures that every part of your file meets USCIS or consular standards so your case moves forward without unnecessary delays.


We help you compile:


We also assist clients who are detained while their green card application is pending or whose green card was revoked due to criminal conduct, marriage fraud, or abandonment of U.S. residence. In these cases, early intervention makes all the difference.

Green Card FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Lawful Permanent Residency

  • How long does it take to get a green card?

    Timelines vary by category and location. Family-based cases can take 12–24 months. Employment-based and consular cases may take longer due to backlogs.

  • Can I get a green card if I’m undocumented?

    In some cases—yes. You may be eligible if married to a U.S. citizen or applying through VAWA or asylum. You may also need a waiver or consular processing.

  • Do I need to renew my green card?

    Yes. Most green cards are valid for 10 years. Conditional green cards (2 years) must be converted to permanent status via Form I-751.

  • Will criminal history prevent me from getting a green card?

    Not always. It depends on the offense, when it happened, and whether post-conviction relief may help.

  • Can a green card be taken away?

    Yes. Green cards can be revoked for fraud, abandonment, or serious crimes. We provide deportation defense and representation in such cases.