Nashville Green Card Lawyer: Marriage, Lottery, and Status Check Assistance

Green Card Entrant Status Check: Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery

The term “Green Card Entrant Status Check” specifically refers to checking the results of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery), often called the “Green Card Lottery.”

How to Check Your DV Lottery Status

The Entrant Status Check is the only way the U.S. Department of State (DOS) notifies selected applicants. You will not receive a notification by mail, email, or phone.

1. Access the Official Site: Navigate to the official Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website, which hosts the Entrant Status Check (ESC).
2. Enter Confirmation Number: You must use the unique Confirmation Number that was provided when you submitted your entry during the registration period.
3. Provide Personal Data: You will also need to enter your Last/Family Name and Year of Birth.
4. Complete Authentication: Fill in the displayed characters to authenticate your request.

Crucial Note: If you are a DV Lottery selectee, you must act quickly! Selection does not guarantee a visa, and you must apply for and be issued your visa before the end of the fiscal year. If you are in Nashville and have been selected, our lawyers can help you navigate the next steps, including filing for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) if you are eligible to do so in the U.S.

Green Card Marriage Lawyer Nashville: Adjustment of Status (AOS)

For many individuals in Nashville, the path to a Green Card is through marriage to a U.S. Citizen (USC) or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). This process is known as Adjustment of Status (AOS) when the applicant is already in the United States.

A Green Card Marriage Lawyer in Nashville is essential because minor errors or missteps can lead to serious legal consequences, including deportation. Our attorneys specialize in navigating the complexities of marriage-based AOS.

Key Steps in Marriage-Based Green Card

1. Immigrant Petition (Form I-130): The USC or LPR spouse files this form to prove the valid marital relationship.
2. Adjustment of Status (Form I-485): The non-citizen spouse files this application to request a Green Card while remaining in the U.S. This is often filed concurrently with the I-130.
3. Bona Fide Marriage Evidence: You must provide compelling proof that your marriage is genuine (e.g., joint bank accounts, shared bills, photos, leases).
4. The Interview: Both spouses must attend an interview at the USCIS Nashville Field Office where an officer will assess the legitimacy of the marriage.

Addressing Complex Issues

Our Nashville Green Card Marriage Lawyers frequently handle complicating factors that require waivers or special legal arguments, including:

• Unlawful entry or unlawful presence.
• Prior criminal convictions.
• Previous immigration violations or deportations.
• Marriage to a petitioner who is a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), which involves waiting for a current visa number (Priority Date).

Family-Based Green Cards: Petitions by U.S. Citizens and LPRs

Immediate Relatives (USC Spouses, Parents, & Minor Children)

If the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen, they may petition for their immediate relatives (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents). Immediate relatives have a distinct advantage as their visas are not subject to annual numerical quotas, resulting in faster processing times.

Preference Categories (LPRs & Other USC Relatives)

 Other family members of U.S. Citizens (married children, adult children, siblings) and all relatives of Lawful Permanent Residents (spouses and unmarried children of any age) fall into preference categories. This means they must wait for their Priority Date to become current based on the monthly Visa Bulletin.

Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status

We guide Nashville families through both pathways:

• Adjustment of Status (AOS): For those who are already legally present in the U.S. (most common for USC immediate relatives).

Consular Processing: For those living outside the U.S., requiring an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.