Officially put into effect in July of 2002 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Concurrent Filing allows for an alien to file a Form I-485, or adjustment of status application, at the same time as a Form I-140, or immigration petition. This may be done as the visa numbers are currently available for the alien’s preference category. The immigration lawyers at the New York City law firm of Berd & Klauss, PLLC have extensive experience handling concurrent filing and will walk you through the entire process, leading you to a favorable resolution.

Immigration law matters can be complicated, so it’s important to enlist the help of experienced attorneys who are dedicated to navigating any complexities. There is a decent amount of information involved in the concurrent filing of the two immigration forms, all of which the immigration lawyers are well-versed.

The only restriction in concurrent filing is the visa number must be immediately available for the EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 category in order to file the I-485 application. Numbers are generally available for the EB-1 category, which means that an I-485 can be filed at the same time. The EB-2 category numbers have a backlog of nine months, so it’s advisable for any alien not from mainland China or India to file concurrently. Visa numbers for EB-3 categories tend to be backlogged several years, so concurrent filing is not often utilized in this scenario.

Family members can also file a form I-485 along with the principal alien. Applications for Employment Authorization or Advanced Parole can also be along with the Form I-485. For more information regarding concurrent filing, as well as other immigration services, visit Berd & Klauss, PLLC online.