Consular Processing

Consular processing refers to beneficiaries of an immigration petition applying for a visa at a U.S. Consulate overseas.  It differs from adjustment of status, which is the process by which a beneficiary of an immigration petition who is already in the United States applies to have his immigration status adjusted to “permanent resident” without leaving the country. 

There are different reasons for choosing consular processing over adjustment of status.  Some people choose consular processing because they are outside of the United States at the time that their immigration petition is approved.  Sometimes, people who are already in the United States will choose to leave the country and travel to an overseas U.S. consulate in order to apply for consular processing; the primary reason why an alien would choose to do this is that consular processing is often significantly faster than adjustment of status (consular processing takes an average of 6-12 months, while adjustment of status takes an average of 1-2 years). Consular processing cannot take place until the underlying immigration petition has been approved and visa numbers are available for the alien.

Are you unsure whether consular processing or adjustment of status is the right choice for you?  Call Law Offices of Nicholas Lowry and our skilled immigration professionals can help you to make the best decision for your circumstances!