We happily received news in mid-January that our client’s application for Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) status had been approved. Our client, Jennifer G., applied for a spouse visa and green card for her husband, Jake, a British National, on October 26, 2012. We attended the visa interview on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. The interview went fine and our client’s various applications were approved on the spot. Amazingly, Jake’s green card arrived on Saturday, January 12, 2013, less than 72 hours after the interview and less than three months after it was filed. This lightning fast turnaround greatly pleased our clients as Jake’s brother was getting married overseas in late January and he needed to receive the green card in order to safely leave the country. Jennifer has a big following on Twitter (@dearinterwebs) and she tweeted “Thanks to the best immigration attorney, @jimhacking, [Jake’s] green card arrived today!” to her 649 followers.
A couple of points need to be made about this case. First, this is an atypical result and we have never had a green card approved this quickly before. In fact, we have several clients who filed before this couple that are still waiting on their interview (thus demonstrating the arbitrary way that USCIS goes about its business).
Also, we had filed a work authorization card and travel document request with the initial applications. Because of delays at USCIS in the issuance of work authorization cards (due to a backlog created by the new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program), Jake received his green card before actually receiving his employment authorization card (which is unusual).
So very happy for our clients.