How To Work With Dinsmore & Shohl LLP To File Your (And Any Family Members') I-485 Application To Adjust Status To Lawful Permanent Resident

If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) has approved an employment-based Immigrant Petition on your behalf or Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has informed you that we expect that the CIS will do so soon, you should review the following materials to begin the process of preparing your Application for Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residence. This is the last stage of your "Green Card" process.

What Can You Do To Maximize the Chances of Filing Your Permanent Residence Application As Soon As Possible?

We are eager to help you file your application. We have designed the following guidelines, suggestions and materials to make the process as efficient as possible. Please take the following steps:

Review Our Instructions

Please review Instructions to Our Checklist of Documents Needed to Apply for Adjustment of Status in the U.S.

Complete the Forms in Part A of Our Checklist

Please work with your family members, if any, to complete and sign the application forms listed in our Part A Checklist at your earliest opportunity. If you have questions about an item on the form, or do not understand a question please put a "?" in that space or write your question in that space and send us the completed forms as listed below. Your completed forms will simply be "drafts" so you may complete them in your own handwriting (typing is not required). One of our paralegals or assistants will contact you to clear up any questions that you have not answered if we cannot find the answer in your immigration file.

Return the Forms and Other Part A Items to Us As Soon As Possible

The sooner that you supply us with the completed forms and other Part A items, the greater your chances will be of filing more promptly.

Make Your Medical Examination Appointment

When Dinsmore & Shohl LLP instructs you to begin work on your Adjustment of Status application you should make an appointment for your medical examination. The CIS will provide you with a list of CIS Approved Physicians who can complete the required medical examination for you and your family members. You should call the CIS helpline at 1-800-375-5283 for a list of Approved Physicians in your area. You will need to bring Form I-693 with you for the examining physician to complete. Please make your medical appointment very soon since a CIS Approved Physician may be unavailable on short notice.

Send All Supporting Documents Listed in Part B to Us As Soon As Possible

The supporting documents for your case are listed on Part B of our checklist and include the sealed medical envelopes, photographs, Birth, Marriage and Marriage-termination Certificates, complete passport copy, I-94 card, and other specified items. Please make sure that all copies are clearly legible.

Make No Foreign Travel Plans

Once you and your family file your Permanent Residence Application with CIS, you will not be able to travel outside the U.S. until either: (1) you have received an I-485 Adjustment of Status Application Receipt Notice from CIS; or (2) the CIS has issued you an Advance Parole Travel document and Employment Authorization Card. Do not travel abroad until we advise you that it is safe for you to do so. Once we file your Application for Adjustment of Status, we will mail you a file copy of your case for your records and help you to file any travel and work document applications, if necessary.

Let Us Know In Your Return Materials of Any Changes or Travel Inside the U.S.

To help you to file your application as soon as possible, it is important that we be able to reach you at all times. Delays in reaching you may result in our not being able to file your application as quickly as we both would like. In addition, last minute address, family (such as marriage) and job changes can cause the need to revise all documents, and will impede our filing your case. Therefore, please alert us to any recent or upcoming address changes, job changes, salary changes, or other factors that we should know about.

Further Suggestions

Please note any questions in your responsive materials or cover letter. If you believe that there is an unusual situation that merits our involvement, please include a brief explanation so that we have an advance understanding of your situation if we need to contact you.

The Goal

We are eager to help your employer and you prepare and file your (and any family members') application as quickly as possible. We are confident that if you follow these instructions, we can work together to file the case. Thank you for your cooperation.