The process of obtaining a green card can be time consuming and complicated. Not all foreign individuals are eligible to work in the United States, but if you are, following this list will better protect your green card status.

THE DOs

DO follow the instructions on your Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forms exactly.  If the USCIS didn't think the information was important, it would not have included it on the form.  Failure to provide all of the information requested could result in significant processing delays.

DO attach all the documents called for in the forms and provide appropriate translations where necessary.  In most cases, the USCIS will not process the forms if documents are missing. 

DO follow the USCIS photograph instructions. Your local USCIS office may even have an onsite photographer.  It is worth inquiring.

DO call your local USCIS office, or visit the office personally if you have questions.  You can also access the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/.

DO request an interpreter if you have trouble understanding English.  Many USCIS offices have interpreters on hand.  To be safe, you may want to bring your own interpreter.

DO hire an immigration attorney if you have been previously denied entry to the United States, deported, convicted of a crime, made misrepresentations to the USCIS, overstayed a visa, or are currently in the country illegally.

DO tell your attorney about any previously denied entries to the United States, deportations, convictions, misrepresentations made to the USCIS, unauthorized employment, or overstayed visas.  Your attorney will be able to determine whether any of these problems can be remedied or whether they are significant relative to your current immigration goals.  If your failure to reveal potential immigration problems leads to your filing immigration forms with false information, you could be deported and barred from returning to the United States.