Moving to the United States is one of the most sought-after topics on social media these days! And the most questioned topic is how and how long it takes. Obviously, such a move is not easy, especially to the United States, the preferred country for Brazilians when it comes to making a choice. However, it is a lengthy and somewhat complicated process. There are various options to obtain a visa for permanent residence, and each of them is very specific according to the purpose, whether for business, work, study, or family.
All of them require steps, from filling out forms, petitions, necessary documentation, interviews to obtaining the visa or Green Card. Everything is meticulously analyzed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – USCIS. This is a step that takes a considerable amount of time in the process, as more evidence and documents may be requested at times.
Once approved, depending on the case, different and no less complicated stages are reached. If the applicant is in another country and is waiting to obtain the visa, they need to meet all the requirements for the interview at the U.S. consulate, and for that, more forms and documents are required. Attorney Ingrid Domingues McConville, with over 28 years of immigration experience, states that this is a stage that requires patience from candidates, as anxiety increases. Even with the case approved, there is the possibility of being denied in this new stage. Currently, the wait is longer due to the accumulation of previous years, which ends up requiring more time to complete the process, which actually only ends when you “step” on American soil.
When the American visa applicant is already in the United States and requests a change of status, the process, after approval, is usually a bit faster because it waits for the interview while completing the required procedures, such as biometric exams. This is a stage that is also currently taking longer than usual due to the backlog of processes from previous years.
Whatever the process, the type of visa, or a change of status, the important thing is to be well-informed and well-assisted by a competent professional in the field of American immigration. There is a lot of information disseminated on social media, blogs, YouTube videos, etc., that are not always reliable. Therefore, it is important to check sources, dates, and names at the very least. Consulting a lawyer in the field is the first step to prepare for a safe and efficient change.
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- Ingrid Domingues-McConville founded DM VISA LAW – Domingues McConville, P.A. in 1995. She has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1995 and a member of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. Ingrid earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. With 28 years of experience in Immigration Law, Ingrid has represented clients throughout the United States and worldwide, addressing both business and family immigration matters. She has helped companies and individuals obtain visas and permanent residency in the United States. Ingrid plays a significant role in the Brazilian community in South Florida and throughout the United States, providing much-needed guidance and legal advice.