Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The official forms required by the U.S. government depend on your personal situation and travel history. The basic forms you will need are the I-94, which is a record of arrivals and departures for the Department of Customs and Border Protection and all previous I-797 forms. The I-797 form is the approval which was granted for you to enter the United States on all previous occasions. An Adjustment of Status, form I-485, will most likely be needed, and will signal permission for the government to perform a series of background checks. During the Green Card process, you will most certainly have to submit to biometric testing where examiners will take fingerprints, photographs and eye-scans. When submitting your application, do not forget the application fee as your Green Card will not be processed without it.
You must have documents in your application notarized to prove they are genuine. If you hire an attorney, many times the attorney will be able to notarize documents, which saves time and money. In all cases of Green Card applications, you must photocopy every page of your passport and have it notarized, including all previous visas, and the identity page. You should also include any documents that support your reason for applying for permanent residence, such as academic degrees, and licenses to practice your profession.
Evidence in support of your application is the most variable part of the Green Card process. Strong evidence would be a resume, academic awards and notarized transcripts, and if possible, a letter of intent to hire from a potential employer. In almost every case, applicants must also provide copies of bank statements and paychecks that should be stamped and signed by the bank branch or your employer. A good application also has several letters in support of the candidate. These can be from your sponsor, employer, friends and relatives. Each should be personal in nature, but professionally presented and signed with contact details.