You are currently living in the US on a provisional visa and you might be thinking that it’s best to wait to get a green card. Or maybe you’re hoping for less processing time in the future or better immigration policies. These are all understandable ideas, but they might come at a cost if you do not apply yet. We’ll see in this post what are the cons of waiting for your green card application.
1. Longer Wait Times
This is one of the biggest dangers of waiting to get your green card, you could face processing time. The green card applications have a lot of backlog and already over 300,000 applications are sitting. The later you apply, the further down the ladder you’ll fall, where it could be years before your application is even considered. And if there are immigration reforms or new applicants, that could cause further delay. The sooner you apply, the earlier you will be closer to your green card.
2. Changing Eligibility Requirements
There’s another potential reason you might be late with your green card application, eligibility requirements might change. Immigration laws change all the time and what will give you a green card today may not in a few years. New policies or political winds might make the standards more rigid – such as higher incomes or more rigorous educational requirements. If you hold out, then you will not get the window of opportunity under the current rules, and will be difficult to qualify again.
3. Limited Legal Assistance
Time is everything when it comes to a green card, both as far as immigration laws are concerned and as far as legal assistance is concerned. Immigration law is sometimes complicated, and immigration lawyers or nonprofit lawyers might be very sought after at certain times. Too long and you might have to wait longer or have fewer options to get qualified legal help. If you apply when immigration is not crowded, you might get quicker and more efficient service from lawyers and legal centers, and your application will take longer to process.
4. Expiration of Temporary Visas
You’re on a short-term visa in the U.S. and delaying your green card application means your visa expires before your green card is issued. If you do not get your visa in time, you will lose your legal status and may be penalized, fined, or deported. This can be very dangerous if you work-based or school-based temporary visa. Reducing the speed of your green card application will disrupt your plans and result in unneeded confusion for you and your family.
5. Family Separation and Uncertainty
There is also a big danger in not applying for a green card that your family will be split up. If you have family members overseas, it may take longer still for you to get the approval to reunite. Even the immigration regime can change family reunions. You will delay the green card process and not have any chances to bring your family members to the United States – lengthening the physical and psychological effects of separation.
6. Financial Consequences
Waiting too long to apply for your green card can add up to unexpected expenses. The cost of applying for an immigration visa will go up with time so waiting will get you a steeper bill when you eventually apply. Also, if you wait, then you’ll miss out on better-paying employment that requires legal immigration status. You will not have access to the types of work or opportunities you would enjoy if you did not have a green card. Apply early, you’ll secure your immigration at current rates and possibly save money down the line.
7. Missed Educational and Career Opportunities
The greatest risk of waiting longer for your green card is what happens to your job and education. : You’re going to have to be a legal immigrant to get jobs or school. The longer you hold off on your green card, the fewer opportunities you’ll have to work or advance in your career to give yourself a chance for a better life. And, if you put off applying for the program, you risk not being able to finance your long-term plans, such as homeownership, retirement, and financial security for yourself and your family.
Waiting for a green card isn’t exactly a foolproof strategy, and it’s the key to a couple of serious headaches. Whether it’s longer wait times or eligibility revisions, financial and professional hardships, and much more, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t wait to apply.
Applying early will keep you out of unnecessary uncertainty, save you money, and ensure you have the freedom to do what you do best: your career and your own. Consider the pros and cons of delaying your green card application and then decide what will help you secure your life in the United States.
