Prematurely Approved I-485 排期未到的 I-485

While I was reading the news this morning, I came across an article at worldjournal.com. The article mentions that USCIS has mistakenly processed some I-485 applications that have not met their priority dates, and how those applicants may lose their green card because of the mistake.

This may be confusing to some green card applicants. First of all, not all green card applicants need to worry about the idea of priority date. For example, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens can concurrently file their I-130 and I-485. Another example is green card applicants who apply under a category of which visa numbers are current and they can apply for adjustment of status immediately after their I-140 is approved. In short, only those who apply for a green card but 1) are subject to the annual visa quota; and 2) no visa number is available immediately to them will be affected by the priority date.

However, if USCIS has approved your I-485 even though your priority date is not curent, it does not automatically mean it is a mistake. In September 2009, the Ammerican Immigrant Lawyers Association (AILA) released a practice pointer and suggested that in some instances USCIS had found, retained, and used a priority date that the immigrant and his/her representative were not aware of. See AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 09092467 (posted Sept. 24, 2009).

Therefore, if you think your I-485 is prematurely approved, contact an immigrant lawyer and have your lawyer file a liason inquiry with USCIS through AILA. That may save you some troubles in a long run and you will not need to worry about losing your green card.

Disclaimer: Information included in this post does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this information does not establish an attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please contact my office and schedule an appointment.

今天早上當我上網讀報的時候，讀到世界新聞網的一篇報導。報導提及移民局錯誤地審批一些優先日期未到的I-485申請，而這些獲得批准的申請人可能會被收回綠卡。

有些綠卡申請人可能不太明白什麼是優先日期。不是所有綠卡申請人都需要擔心優先日期的問題。舉例來說，美國公民的直屬親人可以同時遞交及I-130及I-485的申請。另外，如果工作綠卡的申請人的申請類別之簽證配額尚未用盡，那麼他們的I-140申請獲得批准後亦可馬上申請調整身份。換句話說，只有1)受到簽證配額限制及2)申請類別的簽證配額已經用盡的綠卡申請人才會受到優先日期的影響。

可是優先日期未到而獲得批准不一定代表移民局犯錯。美國移民律師協會在今年9月就曾經表示，移民局在某些案例中，找到及使用一個連申請人及他們的代表都不知道的優先日期！見AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 09092467 (posted Sept. 24, 2009).

所以，如果你收到優先日期未到而獲得批准的通知書，你應聯絡一位移民律師，請律師透過美國移民律師協會向移民局作出書面查詢。這樣可避免將來不少的煩惱及擔心失去綠卡。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本人查詢。

P.S. If you can read Chinese and would like to read the entire article published by worldjournal.com, it can be found at:

上述世界新聞網的文章可在此連結找到：

http://www.worldjournal.com/pages/full_us/push?article-%E6%8E%92%E6%9C%9F%E6%9C%AA%E5%88%B0%E7%8D%B2%E7%B6%A0%E5%8D%A1+%E5%B0%87%E8%A2%AB%E6%94%B6%E5%9B%9E%20&id=4553185-%E6%8E%92%E6%9C%9F%E6%9C%AA%E5%88%B0%E7%8D%B2%E7%B6%A0%E5%8D%A1+%E5%B0%87%E8%A2%AB%E6%94%B6%E5%9B%9E&instance=usbull