Hopes And Hitches In Consular Processing Of Immigrant Visas

The United States welcomes over a million legal immigrants per year, and about half of them arrive in the United States with a green card in hand through the immigrant visa process. During the pandemic years of 2020-2022, however, backlogs in the immigrant visa process have frustrated applicants, family members, employers, employees, and of course, their attorneys. Green card applicants sponsored by family members principally arrive through the immigrant visa process. They may not be able to enter the United States to "adjust status" to lawful permanent resident within the United States. Other prospective immigrants may have an issue that prevents them from qualifying for adjustment of status (illegal entry among other things), or they may simply travel so much that they do not have time to submit an application while in the United States and wait for travel documents. Thus, many opt to get an "immigrant visa" stamp in their passport that allows the holder to enter