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Consular processing vs. adjustment of status: which is right for you
Once an immigrant petition is approved, there are two ways to complete the process, and the choice has real consequences for cost, timing, travel, and risk. This guide compares consular processing, finishing at a US embassy abroad through the National Visa Center, with adjustment of status (Form I-485) for those already inside the United States.
What you’ll learn
- Eligibility: who can adjust status inside the US and who cannot
- The National Visa Center and consular process, step by step
- Filing the I-485 and the documents it requires
- Advance parole and the EAD: traveling and working while adjusting
- Cost and timeline differences between the two routes
- How unlawful presence and the 90-day rule affect your options
- Situations where consular processing is the only choice
It explains who is eligible for each, how the timelines and document requirements differ, what travel and work authorization (advance parole and the I-765 EAD) look like during adjustment, and the situations where one route is clearly safer than the other. The aim is to help you understand the trade-offs before you commit.
Educational content only, these guides are not legal advice.Read the full disclaimer →
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