Case: I-130/I-485
Applicant/Beneficiary – German
Location: Chicago, IL
Our client entered the United States in May 2019 from Germany under the visa waiver program. As a Visa Waiver Entrant, she was only authorized to remain in the United States for 90 days. Our client and her U.S. citizen boyfriend married at the end of May 2019.
In June 2019, they contacted our office and consulted with us regarding the adjustment of status. After the consultation, they retained our office on June 4, 2019. One main issue in her green card application through marriage was the fact that she came to the United States under the visa waiver program. As our office wrote in our previous success story with a similar issue, under the visa waiver program, citizens of certain countries can enter the U.S. for 90 days without a visa with the condition that the visitor waives his or her right to contest removal (other than on the basis of asylum). The “no-contest” provision of the Visa Waiver Program is fundamental; if someone could enter under the VWP and then contest removability, it would defeat the whole purpose of the Program which is to make it easy for certain nationals to come to the United States to visit and then leave without all the red-tape involved in visa issuance.
Since our client resided in Chicago, IL, her application had a better chance compared to states under the 9th Circuit (see Momeni v. Chertoff). However, it was quite foreseeable that the USCIS field office will exercise its discretion to deny her application because of her visa waiver entry.
Nevertheless, our office filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on June 28, 2019. Our office requested the CIS to exercise favorable discretion in granting adjustment of status. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, the fingerprint appointment, and the work permit all came on time. There was no Request for Evidence. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared them via conference calls. On November 14, 2019, our client was interviewed at the Chicago Illinois USCIS Field Office. Despite the visa waiver issue, the USCIS officer approved her green card application on November 15, 2019. Now, our client becomes a green card holder.