Green Card & Permanent Residency in Houston
Can your U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child petition for you? Permanent residency almost always starts with family. As a green card lawyer in Houston, we walk with you step by step — from the I-130 family petition to your interview at the USCIS Houston Field Office.
Two roads to your residency: choose the right one from the start
Most family-based green cards begin with a petition: a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child over 21 files Form I-130 for you. It is the first step of our family petitions service and the foundation of nearly every green card case in our immigration practice.
After the petition, there are two roads. The first is adjustment of status, which lets you complete the entire process without leaving the United States. The second is consular processing, which ends with an appointment at a U.S. consulate in your home country — for many Mexican families, in Ciudad Juárez. Which road is yours depends largely on how you entered the country and your immigration history.
If you entered without inspection or have something on your record, don't assume you have no options: waivers exist for some situations and can open the door. But don't assume everything is fine either — choosing the wrong process can cost you years or put you at risk. That's why the first thing we do is evaluate your full case and tell you the truth about your options, before filling out a single form.
Evaluate my path to a green card
From your family's love to your green card
01. Evaluate the right path
We review your manner of entry, your history, and your family situation to decide whether adjustment of status inside the U.S. or consular processing is right for you — before you spend a single dollar on forms.
02. Family petition
We prepare the I-130 petition filed by your U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child, with the evidence that shows your family relationship is real and in good faith.
03. Green card application
We build your complete, consistent residency application, with every supporting document reviewed, to reduce the risk of denials, requests for evidence, and delays.
04. Work permit while you wait
In many adjustment of status cases you can apply for a work permit and a travel permit while your green card is pending, so you can keep providing for your family with peace of mind.
05. Interview prep with a mock interview
We run a mock interview for your appointment at the USCIS Houston Field Office, with the questions officers really ask, so you walk in confident and without surprises.
Questions about permanent residency
The adjustment of status process in Houston doesn't stand still while you wait. In many cases you can apply for a work permit and a travel permit (advance parole) with the same filing. On our blog we explain how a work permit works while your immigration case is pending.
And residency doesn't end with approval: if you've been married less than two years, you will receive a 2-year conditional green card, and the conditions will later need to be removed with Form I-751. We also help you renew your green card when it's about to expire. We serve families across Houston — East End, Magnolia Park, Gulfton, Pasadena — in English and Spanish.
I'm married to a U.S. citizen — can I get my green card?
Often, yes: marriage to a U.S. citizen is one of the most common paths to permanent residency. But the right path depends on how you entered the country and your immigration history, so it's worth having a lawyer evaluate your full case before you file any forms.
Can I work while my green card application is pending?
In many adjustment of status cases you can apply for a work permit (EAD) along with your green card application and work legally while you wait for a decision. Every case is different, which is why we review your situation before telling you what you can request and when.
What if I entered the country without papers?
Entering without inspection does not automatically mean you have no options. Waivers and other paths to residency exist for some situations — and for others they don't yet. The fair thing is to tell you the truth from the start: we evaluate your case honestly and explain what is possible and what is not, before you spend money on the wrong process.
How long does it take to get a green card?
It varies widely depending on the type of petition, your country of origin, and the workload at USCIS or the consulate. Some cases move in months and others take years. At your appointment we give you a realistic expectation based on your situation — not a promise.
Is my green card conditional if I got married recently?
If your residency is approved before you reach two years of marriage, as a general rule you receive a conditional green card valid for 2 years. Before it expires, you must ask to have the conditions removed with Form I-751, usually together with your spouse. We stay with you through that stage so you don't lose your residency over a missed filing.