5 Common Reasons for Green Card Denial

The streets in America aren’t exactly made of gold, but that doesn’t make the prospect of living here any less appealing to citizens of countries around the world. One thing the U.S. offers in spades is opportunities: to vote, to learn, to earn, and to enjoy the many freedoms that are denied in other countries across the globe. But the fact that the U.S. as we know it was virtually built on immigration doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s easy to enter the country these days. In fact, the path to citizenship for foreigners is a complex labyrinth of legal forms, fees, and eligibility requirements. So it should come as no surprise that green cards are frequently denied. Here are just a few of the most common reasons why your petition for citizenship might be rejected.

1. Inability to meet requirements. There are many requirements to become a citizen, and you’ll have to meet eligibility standards in categories like employment, health, criminal record, and so on. However, you’ll also have to make sure that you fill out all of your paperwork correctly, file it by set deadlines, and pay all applicable fees in full. Should you fail to meet any of these requirements you can, and will, be denied a green card.
2. Immigration violation. If you have illegally entered or lived in the country in the past, you should not expect to be able to get a green card. This is basically the cardinal sin of the citizenship process and it’s very hard to undo the damage. There’s nothing to say that you can’t find a legal means of correcting the situation; after all, mistakes happen and you may have violated some rule unknowingly during a previous stay. But it can definitely make gaining a green card more difficult.
3. Lack of Visa. In order to enter the country with the intention of residing here, you must have some kind of sponsor, either an employer or a family member who is a resident, for example. However, you still need a Visa in order to enter the country, and your sponsor will have to file the appropriate paperwork to petition for one. If it is denied or held up for some reason, a green card will not be forthcoming.
4. Fraudulent marriage. Hey, you wouldn’t be the first person to try to marry into a green card, and you certainly won’t be the last. But be prepared for a rigorous examination if you try to pass off a fraudulent relationship as a real marriage in order to secure a green card.
5. Flaws in the system. While you can make a number of blunders that lead to a denial of immigration, you shouldn’t be surprised to discover that even if you cross all your T’s and dot all your I’s, you could still be denied a green card. The workers at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are only people, often flooded by requests for legal entrance into the country. As a result they may lose paperwork or proof that fees have been paid, they could misspell your name on crucial documents, and they could send documents to the wrong location (documents meant for your attorney could come to you and vice versa). All of this can hold up the process or even lead to denial. However, having a law firm like Goodin Law P.A. on your side, one that has the knowledge and experience to help you obtain your green card, should make the possibility of errors and other mishaps a lot slimmer.