Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status Lawyer
Build your life together with a carefully prepared immigration case. Cann Legal Group helps couples evaluate marriage-based adjustment of status, organize their evidence, and prepare the applications their circumstances require. If you are already in the United States and considering a green card through marriage, start with a review of your eligibility and immigration history before you file.
Payment plans are available. Ask about reduced-fee or low bono intake. Explore payment options
Payment plans and reduced-fee intake
Payment plans are available. Cann Legal Group also considers reduced-fee and low bono intake cases. If cost is a concern, tell us when you contact the firm so we can discuss the options available for your matter.
Payment arrangements and any reduced-fee representation are discussed during intake and set out in your engagement. Ask about the scope of representation and your payment options before making a decision.
A clear starting point for your marriage green card
Adjustment of status is the process of applying for lawful permanent residence from within the United States. It may be available to a qualifying spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The correct path depends on more than a marriage certificate.
We work with couples preparing their first filing, spouses with a pending or approved I-130 petition, and applicants who need a closer review of previous filings or immigration complications. If your spouse is outside the United States, an immigrant visa through consular processing may be the appropriate path instead.
Review eligibility before choosing a filing strategy
Our review considers how you entered the United States, your status and travel history, prior petitions, any immigration proceedings, and issues that may affect admissibility. We also review the petitioner’s citizenship or permanent resident status and whether a visa is available for your category.
Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically make every applicant eligible to adjust status. Entry without inspection, past misrepresentation, criminal history, or removal-related issues can require a different analysis. An overstay or previous unauthorized employment should be disclosed and reviewed; do not assume either that it makes filing impossible or that marriage resolves every concern.
Understand the difference between I-130 and I-485
Form I-130 asks USCIS to recognize a qualifying family relationship. Form I-485 asks for permanent residence through adjustment of status. An I-130 approval is not itself a green card and does not give the beneficiary immigration status.
Eligible applicants may be able to file I-130 and I-485 together, or file I-485 while I-130 is pending. Concurrent filing depends on visa availability and the applicable requirements. A spouse of a permanent resident should not assume the same filing rules apply as for a spouse of a U.S. citizen. We identify the sequence appropriate to your case.
Show the real life behind your application
A marriage certificate establishes a legal relationship, but the case also needs evidence that the marriage is genuine. Depending on your circumstances, useful records can include a shared lease or home ownership, joint financial records, insurance, children’s birth certificates, photographs, and other evidence of your life together.
We help you organize the evidence you actually have, identify gaps, and explain circumstances such as living apart for work or limited joint records early in a marriage. The aim is an accurate, coherent presentation of your relationship. Your documents and answers should reflect your actual history.
What working with Cann Legal Group can include
Representation begins with understanding your circumstances and agreeing on the work to be performed. Depending on the engagement, we can help with:
- An eligibility and immigration-history review before selecting a filing approach.
- Preparation and review of the applicable I-130, I-130A, and I-485 forms and supporting documents.
- A tailored evidence checklist and review of the marriage documentation.
- Review of financial sponsorship requirements, including Form I-864 and any applicable exemption or joint-sponsor questions.
- Guidance on required medical examination documentation, supporting applications, and USCIS notices.
- Interview preparation and review of requests for additional evidence within the agreed representation.
We explain what is included in your engagement so you understand the next steps and your responsibilities. You remain responsible for complete, truthful information and for attending required appointments. USCIS decides each application; representation does not guarantee approval.
Plan carefully for work, travel, and the pending case
Filing I-485 does not by itself authorize employment. If you need work authorization based on the pending application, we can review whether an I-765 application is appropriate and when you may lawfully begin or continue working.
Travel also requires separate review. Leaving the United States while I-485 is pending without the required advance parole or another applicable exception can result in abandonment of the application. A travel document does not resolve every immigration risk. Speak with counsel before making international travel plans.
We also review medical and vaccination documentation requirements and help you prepare for any USCIS interview that is scheduled. Any required medical forms must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the current filing instructions.
Questions about marriage-based adjustment of status
Can I apply for a green card without leaving the United States?
Possibly. Adjustment of status is available only if you meet the requirements for your category. Your entry, immigration history, visa availability, and admissibility must be reviewed before deciding whether to file.
Do I need an approved I-130 before filing I-485?
Not always. Concurrent filing may be available when the applicable requirements are met. We review whether you can file together, file while the petition is pending, or need to wait.
Can I apply if I overstayed my visa?
An overstay does not answer the eligibility question by itself. The petitioner’s status, your manner of entry, and other facts matter. A case review is necessary before relying on any exception.
What if we do not have many joint documents yet?
Bring the records you have and explain your circumstances. We can identify other relevant evidence and help present an accurate account of your marriage without suggesting that every couple must have identical documents.
Do we need financial sponsorship and a medical examination?
Many family-based cases require financial sponsorship and medical documentation. We review the applicable Form I-864 requirements or exemption and the medical examination requirements for your application.
Will we have a USCIS interview?
USCIS may require an interview. If one is scheduled, we can help you review your filings, organize updated evidence, and prepare to answer questions truthfully about your relationship and immigration history.
Can I work or travel as soon as we file?
Filing does not automatically authorize either. Work authorization, travel documentation, and any exceptions require separate review. Obtain advice before starting unauthorized employment or leaving the United States.
Do you offer payment plans or reduced-fee representation?
Yes. Payment plans are available, and the firm considers reduced-fee and low bono intake cases. Ask about these options during intake so we can discuss what may be available for your matter.
Official immigration resources
Take the next step with a case review
Bring your immigration records, any USCIS notices, and the marriage documents you already have. We will discuss your situation, identify questions that need closer review, and explain the representation appropriate to your next step. Book a consultation with Cann Legal Group to begin.
General information only; eligibility and strategy depend on the facts of your case.