Immigration and Naturalization:

• Lawful Permanent - A "green card" gives you official immigration status (Lawful Permanent Residency)
  in the United states.
  
  A lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of permanently
  living and working in the United States. If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have
  a relative who is a citizen of the United States or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process.

• Residency - If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have a relative
  who is a citizen of the United States or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process.
  

1. the USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition

2. the Department of State must determine if an immigrant visa number is immediately available to you, the foreign national, even if you are already in the United States. When an immigrant visa number becomes immediately available to you, it means that you can apply to have one of the immigrant visa numbers assigned to you.

3. if you are already in the United States, you may apply to change your status to that of a lawful permanent resident after a visa number becomes available for you. This is one way you can apply to secure an immigrant visa number.

• Visas - A nonresident alien is issued a visa allowing entry into the U.S. However, Canadian and Mexican
  visitors may be allowed entry without a visa. A nonresident alien is a non-U.S. citizen who does not hold a Resident Alien Card.

• I-90 - Replace Permanent Resident

• Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act states that, "Every alien in the United States shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations."

  Moreover, "Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him.

• Any alien who does not comply with the provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."

• What is a Permanent Resident Card?

• A Permanent Resident Card, better known a Green Card, is proof of your legal status as a lawful permanent resident with a right to reside and work permanently in the United States. It also proves of your registration in accordance with United States immigration laws. Permanent Resident Card is also referred to as Form I-551.

• Who Should Renew a Permanent Resident Card?

• One should renew their permanent resident card if they are a permanent resident who was issued a Form I-551 valid for ten years, and that card is either expired or will expire within the next six months.

• How Do I Apply to Renew My Green Card?

• If you are a lawful permanent resident whose ten-year I-551 has expired or will expire within the next six months, you may renew your Form I-90.
  
  
• You may,  request to modify your name on your new card ( marriage, legal name change, or divorce) at the time your application for a renewal card is submitted. A copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order as evidence of the legal name change will be required.

• Adjustment of Status - I am in the United States and would like to adjust status. How do I do that?

• Cuban Adjustment Act - provides for a special procedure under which Cuban nationals or citizens, and their accompanying spouses and children, may obtain a haven in the United States as lawful permanent residents.

• The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1996 (CAA) grants a special process under which Cuban natives or citizens, and their accompanying immediate family (spouse and children), may gain a sanctuary in the United States as lawful permanent residents. The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1996 gives the Attorney General the option to allow permanent residence to Cuban natives or citizens looking for adjustment of status if they have been in the United States for at least 1 year after admission or parole and are admissible as immigrants. Their applications for adjustment of status may be accepted even if they do not meet the normal requirements for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act). Since the caps on immigration do not apply to adjustments under the CAA, it is not necessary for the alien to be the receiver of a family-based or employment-based immigrant visa petition.
  On September 30, 1996, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). It made numerous thorough modifications to the immigration laws. For instance, IIRIRA stated that arrival in the United States at a place other than an open port-of-entry is a ground of non-acceptability. Hence, following grave consideration of IIRIRA, it was established that a Cuban native or citizen who arrives at a spot other than an open port-of-entry may still be entitled for adjustment of status.

• Eligibility

• Cuban natives or citizens can apply for adjustment of status if they have been in the United States for a minimum of 1 year since admission or parole and are permissible as immigrants. The public charge ground of inadmissibility does not apply to applicants filing for benefits under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Nor does inadmissibility for having arrived at a place other than an open port of entry apply. A Cuban native or citizen who arrives at a place other than an open port-of-entry, therefore, is still eligible for adjustment of status as long as he or she has been paroled. If the applicant is inadmissible on any other ground, the applicant is not eligible for adjustment under the CAA unless the applicant is eligible for, and has obtained, a waiver of inadmissibility.

• Information on Family Members

• The CAA applies to the alien’s spouse and children regardless of their country of citizenship or place of birth, provided:

• the relationship continues to exist until the dependent spouse or child adjusts status;
• they are residing with the principal alien in the United States;
• they make an application for adjustment of status under the Cuban Adjustment Act;
• they are eligible to receive an immigrant visa; and
• they are otherwise admissible to the United States for such permanent residence.

• Note that the Immigration and Nationality Act defines “child” so that a person’s son or daughter must be unmarried and not yet 21 years old to qualify as that person’s “child.” Step-children, adopted children, and children born out of wedlock can qualify as “children” for purposes of CAA adjustment, if the claimed parent-child relationship meets the requirements specified in section 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

• Required Documents

• A separate Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, along with the fee, for each applicant;
• A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or other birth record with translation, if available;
• An additional fee for fingerprinting, if the applicant is 14 years of age or older;
• Two photographs as described in the Form I-485 instructions;
• A completed Biographic Information Sheet (Form G-325A) if the applicant is between 14 and 79 years of age;
• A copy of the applicant’s Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94) or other evidence of inspection and admission or parole into the United States;
• Medical with Vaccination Supplement; and
• Evidence of one year’s physical presence in the United States.

• When to File

• An alien may apply to adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident Status under the Cuban Adjustment Act one year and one day after the date he or she was admitted or paroled.

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