Premium Processing

Premium Processing Service guarantees the processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications within 15 calendar days for a $1,410 fee. Within the 15-day calendar period, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) will issue an approval notice, or where appropriate, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence or open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation. If the notice requires the submission of additional evidence or a response, a new 15 calendar day period will begin upon the delivery of a complete response to the request for evidence or notice of intent to deny to CIS.

Unfortunately, this service is only available for a few petitions and in limited circumstances. Please contact Grzeca Law Group to discuss the availability of utilizing premium processing to ensure a rapid response from CIS on a petition.

Employment Authorization Document

Certain individuals require an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to be eligible to work in the U.S. based on their nonimmigrant classification (such as J-2) or based on a pending permanent residence application.

An EAD authorizes certain foreign nationals to obtain employment in the U.S. It is also a document that may be used to determine employment eligibility when companies are completing I-9 Forms for new employees. An EAD is obtained by submitting an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) and supporting documents to the appropriate Service Center in the U.S.

Though there are many complicated rules surrounding this document, Grzeca Law Group is ready to assist with its filing and answer any questions that may arise.

Advance Parole

Permanent residence applicants who are currently in the U.S. have the opportunity to apply for an Advance Parole travel document as part of their Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (I-485). The Advance Parole document is presented upon reentry to the U.S. in lieu of a visa as authorization to reenter the U.S. It also allows applicants to travel in and out of the U.S. without abandoning a pending permanent residence application.

Generally, an Advance Parole document is valid for one year, but it may be renewed as long as the permanent residence application is pending.

Grzeca Law Group routinely applies for this valuable travel document on behalf of our clients concurrently with an I-485 application.

Reentry Permit / Maintaining Permanent Residence

In order to maintain status as a U.S. Permanent Resident, certain rules govern any periods of absence from the U.S. A valid Permanent Resident Card ("green card") is sufficient documentation to re-enter the U.S. after any temporary trips abroad, provided that the absence from the U.S. is less than one year. For absences longer than one year, certain steps must be taken prior to leaving the U.S. in order to ensure that status is preserved and secure re-entry. These include applying for a Reentry Permit with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) while in the U.S., as well as taking steps to demonstrate that there is no intention to abandon U.S. residence.

Upon receipt of the Reentry Permit application, CIS will issue a Notice instructing the applicant to appear for a Biometrics/fingerprinting appointment at a CIS office in the U.S. Although applicants may request to reschedule this appointment, they are not permitted to select the new date and time. Ultimately, applicants will be required to return to the U.S. to complete the Biometrics prior to the issuance of the Reentry Permit.

If you are a permanent resident or an employer planning to transfer a permanent resident outside the U.S., please contact our office well in advance of any prolonged trips outside the U.S. so that we may assist in applying for a Reentry Permit and any required biometrics appointments be completed prior to departure. In addition, we would be happy to counsel on the other subjective factors that the government may consider when determining whether an individual intends to maintain U.S. permanent resident status.

Entry/Exit Issues

Arrival to and departure from the U.S. triggers some of the nation's most complex immigration regulations. Due to the "double check" system in the U.S., where foreign nationals are often interviewed at a Consulate or Embassy abroad when applying for a visa and then again at the border when seeking entry to the U.S., each entry is actually a request for a benefit from the Government. Grzeca Law Group has significant experience in the various nuances of specific and numerous regulations that can impact our clients when entering the U.S.