Quick Guide to the Process
Your path to a U.S.
green card
A client guide to EB-2 NIW, EB-1A and EB-1B petitions: how we prepare your case, what happens after filing, and what to expect at each step.
- Free evaluationWe review your profile and recommend the right category.
- 1I-140 petitionWe draft every document and file your petition with USCIS.
- 2Green cardForm I-485 in the U.S., or an immigrant visa from abroad.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
How we prepare your I-140 petition
Choose your service option
The options differ in how many support letters we draft. We recommend one based on your evaluation.
Strong credentials do not need more letters to be approved. For moderate or borderline profiles, strong letters help strengthen the petition. Filing time depends mostly on how quickly you return information and confirm recommenders.
Who does what
- Answer six questions about your background and work
- Upload your supporting materials
- Provide information for the I-140 form
- Options 2 and 3: list potential recommenders and contact them using our sample emails
- Review and approve our drafts
- Petition letter
- Proposed endeavor statement (NIW)
- Recommendation and testimonial letters
- Employment verification letter
- Complete petition package for filing
You also get our Client Packet with step-by-step instructions.
In our clients' words
More than 13,000 clients have left us five-star reviews. Here are a few recent ones.
I had an outstanding experience with Chen Immigration Law Associates (WeGreened.com) throughout my EB2-NIW I-140 petition.
"Responses to my questions were clear and detailed, generally arriving within 24 hours."
"Chen Immigration Law Associates have been extremely diligent, competent and professional in my EB-2 NIW journey."
"I especially appreciated their clear communication, timely responses, and thorough guidance at each step."
"Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and thorough throughout the EB2-NIW process."
Excerpts from client reviews on wegreened.com · Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Two steps to your green card
- STEP 1
Form I-140
Your immigrant petition. We prepare and file it. Your priority date is set on the day it is filed.
An approved I-140 is not a status. It does not give you visa status or work authorization. Those come with step 2.
Priority dates and the Visa Bulletin
Your priority date is the date your I-140 is filed. Each month the U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which shows which priority dates are current for your country and category.
When demand exceeds supply, a cutoff date is set. This is called retrogression, and no one can predict when it will end. It does not affect filing or approval of your I-140, so filing early secures an earlier place in line.
Think of it like the DMV- 1 Filing your I-140 is taking a number.
- 2Your priority date is your place in line.
- 3 When your number is called (your date is current), you file the I-485 or start visa processing.
- STEP 2, ONCE YOUR PRIORITY DATE IS CURRENT
Green card
I-140 approval is not the green card. At step 2 you must still meet admissibility rules, such as background checks and no immigration violations.
IN THE U.S. Form I-485 Adjust status inside the U.S. You can also apply for a work permit (EAD) and travel permit (advance parole).
In the U.S. with a current priority date
Three ways to time your I-485. In every case, USCIS decides the I-140 first.
OPTION AFile both togetherYour I-140 and I-485 go to USCIS at the same time ("concurrent" filing).BENEFITS Apply for a work permit (EAD) and advance parole right away. Stay in the U.S. on your pending I-485 even if your visa status ends.RISKS If the I-140 is denied, the I-485 is denied, the EAD and advance parole become invalid, and USCIS fees are lost. Filing also shows immigrant intent, which can make later F, J, B or TN visas harder.OPTION B File after the I-140 receiptWe file the I-140. When the receipt notice arrives (up to 30 days), the I-485 is filed with a copy while the I-140 is pending. With our DIY packet, you file this I-485 yourself.BENEFITS Work and travel permits much sooner than waiting for approval. Stay in the U.S. on your pending I-485.RISKS The same as Option A.OPTION C File after I-140 approvalWait for the I-140 approval notice, then file the I-485 with a copy. If you use premium processing, we recommend this option unless you urgently need the EAD or advance parole.BENEFITS No risk of losing I-485 fees if the I-140 is denied.TRADE-OFF No work or travel permit until the I-485 is filed. An I-485 can still be denied after I-140 approval (see the reasons below).USCIS fees for step 2
Form Paper filing I-485, age 14 and older $1,440 I-485, under 14 filing with a parent $950 I-765 work permit, with pending I-485 $260 I-131 advance parole, with I-485 $630 Per person, as of November 2026. USCIS fees are non-refundable and change periodically; check the USCIS fee schedule (uscis.gov) before filing.
Good to knowIn our experience, the I-485 usually takes about a year to be decided.
EAD processing times vary and are very difficult to expedite, so avoid firm plans that depend on receiving it by a certain date.
You may also choose immigrant visa processing abroad instead, leaving the U.S. only for the medical exam and interview.
OUTSIDE THE U.S.Immigrant visa Processed through the National Visa Center and a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Filing from outside the U.S.
You complete step 2 through immigrant visa processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Mark immigrant visa processing on your Form I-140. If adjustment of status is selected instead, you will need Form I-824 (USCIS fee $590, about 6 to 8 months) before NVC can take your case. If there is any chance you will be abroad when your priority date becomes current, choose immigrant visa processing.What happens, step by step
- 1I-140 approvedUSCIS sends your case to the National Visa Center (NVC), usually within 6 to 8 weeks.
- 2Fee invoice from NVCArrives by email once your priority date is current on the Dates for Filing chart: $345 per person.
- 3DS-260 and documentsSubmit the online form and supporting documents for you and each dependent. NVC review currently takes at least 60 days.
- 4Interview scheduledWhen your date is current on the Final Action Dates chart. The wait for an appointment can be several months.
- 5Immigrant visa issuedEnter the U.S. before the visa stamp expires, usually 6 months from issue but possibly sooner.
- 6Green card arrivesPay the USCIS Immigrant Fee ($235 per person). Your card is mailed to your U.S. address within 30 to 60 days.
TYPICAL TOTAL5 to 7 months from I-140 approval. Not guaranteed: timing depends on NVC, consulate availability and any administrative processing.
Choosing a consulateList your preferred consulate on the I-140. A consulate outside your home country is possible but not guaranteed; NVC may assign one in your home country.Clients in IranChoose Ankara, Abu Dhabi or Yerevan. In our experience none is better than the others, so pick the most convenient.Your familyYour spouse and children can enter the U.S. with you or after you, but never before you.Financial documentsAn affidavit of support is needed only if you own 5% or more of the company that filed your I-140.Fees as of November 2026
- 1
Family, visas, travel and jobs
Your family
- Who qualifies. Your legal spouse and unmarried children under 21. Each needs their own I-485 or immigrant visa; green cards are not automatic.
- Getting married. Marry before you become a permanent resident and your spouse can be included. Marrying later means a separate, much longer family case.
- Dependents on H-4, F-2 or J-2 lose status when you lose yours, for example when you use the I-485 EAD or your I-485 is approved.
Changing jobs
- NIWyes
- It is self-petitioned. Keep your new work aligned with the proposed endeavor in your petition.
- EB-1Ayes
- Also self-petitioned. Stay in the same or a similar field.
- EB-1Buse caution
- It is employer-sponsored. Leaving before your I-485 has been pending 180 days generally prevents approval; after that, a same or similar job may qualify under AC21.
Your current visa
A denied I-140 or I-485 does not cancel a valid current status, but the filing itself shows immigrant intent.
Traveling abroad
- On H-1B, H-4 or L-1, you can travel with a valid visa stamp.
- On O-1, you can travel after filing the I-140.
- On F, J or TN, travel after the I-140 is risky if your date is current; if not, travel with caution and be ready to show home ties.
After filing the I-485, O-1, F, J and TN holders should wait for advance parole before traveling abroad.
General information, not legal advice for your situation
Step 2 fees and how to get started
Our attorney fees for step 2
| Service | Primary | Each dependent |
|---|---|---|
| I-485 adjustment | $1,850 | $1,250 |
| Immigrant visa processing | $2,700 | $1,800 |
Up to $300 more for complicated cases. Your I-140 fee covers the I-140 only. Prefer to handle step 2 yourself? Ask about our DIY packet.
If your I-485 is denied, we refund our attorney fee, unless the denial results from client issues such as a missed biometrics appointment or an improper RFE response.
If your I-140 is denied before I-485 work begins, we refund the I-485 attorney fee.
Why an I-485 can be denied after I-140 approval
- 1Criminal history
- 2Security concerns, such as ties to a terrorist organization
- 3Certain communicable diseases, such as TB
- 4Misrepresentation on forms or documents
- 5Public charge: unable to support yourself in the U.S.
- 6Missed appointments, such as biometrics
- 7Out of status or unauthorized work for over 180 days since your last lawful entry
- 8No longer working in the same or a similar field as your I-140
- 9An unmet J-1 home residency requirement (212(e)) without a waiver
- 10Current Communist Party membership, or membership in the last five years
Reply to your evaluation email to request your retainer, or call 888.666.0969 (toll free). Cases can be prepared and filed quickly, with premium processing available.
General information, not legal advice for your situation. Government fees and timelines as of November 2026 and subject to change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.