Once it is time for the green card to be processed, the individual proceeds to final green card clearance paperwork — to be processed for the employee and his or her family. At this stage, we provide all biographical, criminal and medical data to ensure that the person(s) immigrating are not excludable from the US for medical, criminal or other reasons. There are two ways to clear for the green card:
1. Adjustment of Status on US soil, under CIS.
2. Immigrant Visa Processing in the US consulate overseas, under DOS.
1. Adjustment of Status (AOS). Most clients are filed as an “Adjustment of Status” on US soil once the Employee’s Priority Date** becomes ‘current’ based on DOS’s Visa Bulletin [*explanation below]. We file the Form I-485 adjustment forms (usually with the Form I-765 interim work permit and the I-131 travel permit, but note that travel is allowed only if there were no status problems leading up to this point).
OR
2.Immigrant Visa Processing (IVP). Alternately, a client may consular process for the green card called Immigrant Visa Processing or IVP or CP (Consular Processing). IVP is started when the Priority Date becomes current (explained up top). If immigration strategy changes midstream, dictating that the employee should use IVP instead of adjusting status on US soil, our service will switch to a process that interfaces with the National Visa Center and the consulate. This option is better in a few situations (certain Canadians, or employees who had problems maintaining temporary work status). It depends on specific facts.