Green cards
Adjustment of status inside the United States, or consular processing abroad, through family or work.
About green cardsImmigration law · Duluth, Georgia
Your family's case, explained in your language.
El caso de su familia, explicado en su idioma.
Green cards, family petitions, citizenship, work visas, deportation defense and DACA renewals, from licensed attorneys who speak English and Spanish. Start with a free 20-minute consultation.
(770) 555-0113 · Mon-Fri 9 AM-6 PM, Sat by appointment
Models, not clients.
Licensed attorneys
Every consultation is with a lawyer admitted to a state bar, never a notary or a consultant.
English and Spanish
Every meeting, letter and form explanation in the language you are most comfortable in.
Free 20-minute consultation
Bring your documents and your questions. You leave knowing your options and the next step.
Written fee quote first
Our fee and the government fees, in writing, before you decide to hire us.
Practice areas
Six kinds of cases, one team that explains them
Family petitions
I-130 petitions for spouses, children, parents and siblings, fiancé(e) visas and removal of conditions.
About family petitions
Citizenship
Naturalization (N-400), certificates of citizenship (N-600) and preparation for the interview and civics test.
About citizenship
Work visas
H-1B, L-1, O-1 and TN for workers and employers, and PERM labor certification for employment green cards.
About work visas
Deportation defense
Representation in immigration court: bond, cancellation of removal, asylum and appeals.
About deportation defense
DACA renewals
Renewal of deferred action and the work permit that comes with it, filed on time.
About DACA renewalsModels, not clients.
Vera Immigration Law · USCIS fee estimate
Printed from Vera Immigration Law, (770) 555-0113
USCIS fee calculator
What the government fees add up to
Enter how many of each form your family needs. The totals use the official USCIS fee schedule; our own legal fee is quoted separately, in writing.
| Form | Quantity | Filing fee | Biometrics | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-130Petition for Alien Relative$675 each | $675 | $0 | $675 | |
| I-485Adjustment of Status$1,440 each | $1,440 | $0 | $1,440 | |
| I-765Employment Authorization$520 each | $520 | $0 | $0 | |
| I-131Travel Document / Advance Parole$630 each | $630 | $0 | $0 | |
| N-400Application for Naturalization$760 each | $760 | $0 | $0 | |
| Total | $2,115 | |||
The totals need JavaScript. The fee for each form is in the table.
- No separate biometrics fee: it has been part of the filing fee since April 1, 2024.
- I-485 for a child under 14 filing with a parent: $950 paper, $900 online.
- I-765 is $260 if your I-485 filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024 is still pending. Some asylum, parole and TPS work permits carry an extra H.R. 1 fee that cannot be waived.
- I-131 shown for advance parole with a pending I-485. A parole fee may be charged at the border if approved.
- N-400 reduced fee of $380 on paper if your household income is not more than 400% of the poverty guidelines.
Fee schedule as of , checked against uscis.gov on .
Estimate only. USCIS fees change and additional fees may apply in individual cases. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Demo site; check uscis.gov/g-1055 before you pay.
How we work
Four steps, the same for every case
Consultation
Twenty minutes, free, in English or Spanish. We listen, look at your documents and tell you which options exist and which do not.
Case review
If you hire us, an attorney reviews your full history before anything is filed, and you get a written plan with our fee and the government fees.
Filing
We prepare every form and the evidence behind it, you review and sign, and we file online where USCIS allows it.
Follow-through
Receipts, biometrics, requests for evidence, interviews: we prepare you for each one and explain every letter you receive.
Policy tracker
What changed in immigration policy, and what it means for you
Each change is dated, marked with its current status and explained in plain words. Checked against official and primary sources.
- In effectWork permits· Last change:
Annual increase of the H.R. 1 immigration fees
The fees added by Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1) were adjusted for fiscal year 2027 for asylum, parole, Temporary Protected Status and certain work permit applications. They cannot be waived and must be paid separately from the filing fee.
What this means for you
If you file an asylum-related, parole or TPS work permit, check the current fee on the day you mail it: a request postmarked on or after October 16, 2026 without the new fee is rejected. The fee calculator on this site shows the standard filing fees.
Source: USCIS: Form G-1055, Fee Schedule
- In effectFamily petitions· Last change:
New public charge rule takes effect
A DHS final rule replaced the 2022 public charge framework. Officers now weigh the applicant's overall circumstances, including use of means-tested public benefits, with wide discretion.
What this means for you
If you are applying for a green card or an immigrant visa, how you and your household use public benefits can weigh more than before. Before you stop or start any benefit, ask a lawyer how it applies to you: some benefits, and benefits used by U.S. citizen children, may not count.
Source: USCIS: Public charge
- In effectStudent visas· Last change:
Students and exchange visitors get fixed admission periods
A DHS final rule replaced 'duration of status' for F, J and I visa holders. F-1 students are now admitted for the length of their program, up to four years, with a 30-day grace period after it ends.
What this means for you
Check the end date on your I-94 after every entry. If your program runs longer, you must apply for an extension with Form I-539 before that date; staying past it can start unlawful presence.
Source: National Law Review: DHS final rule on fixed admission periods
General information as of October 21, 2026, not legal advice. Laws and court orders change; ask about your own case.
USCIS processing times
How long USCIS is taking right now
Months USCIS took to complete cases in the most recent quarter it has published, next to the same figure from late 2024. Times are approximate, vary by office and change every quarter.
Now: April to June 2026 (fiscal year 2026, third quarter). Then: October to December 2024.
| Form | Case type | Months now | Months then |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-130Spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen | Spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen | 13.0 | 14.3 |
| I-130All other relatives | All other relatives | 43.3 | 33.6 |
| I-485Family-based green card | Family-based green card | 7.0 | 9.4 |
| I-485Employment-based green card | Employment-based green card | 6.0 | 6.9 |
| I-765Work permit with a pending green card | Work permit with a pending green card | 6.4 | 2.2 |
| I-765Work permit for DACA | Work permit for DACA | 4.1 | 0.4 |
| I-765Work permit, pending asylum | Work permit, pending asylum | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| I-765Work permit, all other categories | Work permit, all other categories | 3.3 | 1.0 |
| I-751Removal of conditions | Removal of conditions | 22.6 | 21.6 |
| N-400Naturalization | Naturalization | 9.5 | 5.5 |
| I-129FFiancé(e) petition | Fiancé(e) petition | 9.0 | 6.1 |
Source: USCIS quarterly data on completed cases. Your case can take more or less time. For the current estimate at your office, use the USCIS processing times tool. USCIS processing times tool
Full table and what the numbers meanThe firm, in numbers
1,240
Consultations last year
61%
Of them held in Spanish
5
Attorneys
5
Languages spoken in the office
Sample figures, demo site.
Renata Olmedo
Managing attorney · 16 years in practice
Leads the family practice: marriage and parent petitions, adjustment of status and naturalization. Reviews every new case herself before the firm quotes a fee.
- Bar admission
- Georgia
- Practice areas
- Family petitions, Green cards and Citizenship
- Languages
- English and Spanish
Demo persona. A real firm shows its actual attorneys and bar admissions here.
Resource library
Guides, checklists and official sources
Filter by topic, country and type at the same time. A filtered view has its own address, so you can send it to a relative.
Type
Showing 8 of 8
GuideGreen cards
Adjustment of status, step by step
Who can adjust inside the United States, what is filed with the I-485 and what can stop a case.
ChecklistFamily petitions
I-130 document checklist
Proof of status, proof of the relationship and translations.
GuideNaturalization
Naturalization: are you eligible yet?
The five-year and three-year rules, trips abroad and what the interview covers.
GuideDACA
DACA renewal: when and how
The 120 to 150 day window, the forms and the current court situation.
GuideRemoval defense
You received a Notice to Appear: what now
Your rights, the first hearing and the relief that may be available.
GuideFees and fee waivers
USCIS fee calculator
Twelve common forms, paper or online, with a printable estimate.
GuideTPS
Temporary Protected Status by country
Current designations, re-registration periods and court orders. Official page, in English.
Especially for: Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Nepal, Burma (Myanmar), Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria
Official source
VideoNaturalization
USCIS videos on the naturalization interview
The agency's own channel, with interview and test videos. In English, some with Spanish versions.
Official source
In their words
Sample reviews
Sample review
“They explained every form to my mother in Spanish and to my husband in English, at the same table. We finally understood what we were signing.”
Sample review
“They called back the same afternoon, and the written quote showed their fee and the USCIS fees separately. No surprises.”
Sample review
“Before my interview they walked me through the questions twice and told me plainly what could go wrong. I went in calm.”
Sample reviews, demo site. They describe how we work, never a case result. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Questions
What families ask us first
Is the first consultation really free?
Yes. The first 20 minutes are free, in person, by phone or by video, in English or Spanish. You leave knowing your options and the next step. If you hire us, you get our fee in writing first.
Are you notarios?
No. We are licensed attorneys. In many Latin American countries a notario is a lawyer, but in the United States a notary public cannot give legal advice or prepare immigration cases. If someone who is not a lawyer offers to file your case, ask to see their bar license.
How much does USCIS charge?
It depends on the forms. Our fee calculator uses the official USCIS fee schedule of October 16, 2026; filing online is usually $50 cheaper per form. Some fees can be waived or reduced.
Can I work while my green card is pending?
Often yes, with a work permit (I-765) filed with or after the I-485. Whether you qualify depends on your category and history.
Can I travel while my case is pending?
Usually only with advance parole, and leaving without it can end an adjustment application. DACA recipients and people with a past removal should talk to a lawyer before any trip.
I received a Notice to Appear. What should I do?
Do not miss any hearing, keep your address current with the immigration court, and get legal advice quickly. Some people qualify for relief they did not know about.
Do you take cases outside Georgia?
Immigration law is federal, so we can help with USCIS cases anywhere in the United States. Court cases depend on where your hearing is.
Will you guarantee my case?
No lawyer can honestly guarantee an immigration result. We will tell you plainly what helps your case, what hurts it and what can go wrong.
Free consultation
Book a free 20-minute consultation
Tell us a little about your case and when to reach you. A member of our team calls or writes back within one business day, in the language you choose.
(770) 555-0113 · Mon-Fri 9 AM-6 PM, Sat by appointment
Consultations are given by licensed attorneys. We are lawyers, not notaries. In the United States a notary public cannot give legal advice.
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On a real firm's site, our team would call or write back within one business day, in the language you chose.
No attorney-client relationship is created by using this website or contacting us through it.