New York Green Card Lawyer

Green Card Services in the New York City Metro Area

Obtaining a green card is a monumental milestone for immigrants seeking permanent residency in the United States. Navigating this highly rigid legal system demands a fierce advocate who understands what this achievement means for your family's future. 

Ureña & Associates is a premier law firm focused exclusively on immigration and naturalization law. Founded in 2017, we completely reject one-size-fits-all legal strategies. Instead, we provide compassionate, strategic representation tailored specifically to your unique goals.

Our legal team has successfully represented over 30,000 clients globally, and our staff speaks English, Spanish, Arabic, French, and Portuguese. Call (845) 932-0679 or contact us online to schedule a case consultation with a New York Green Card lawyer today.

From Asylum Status to a Green Card in New York

Winning asylum is not the same as receiving a green card. An asylum grant gives you asylee status, which allows you to live and work here lawfully and protects you from being returned to the country you fled. Permanent residence is a separate application that comes afterward.

After 1 year of physical presence in the United States following your grant, you can apply to adjust your status. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 who were part of your case can generally apply with you. The application asks you to demonstrate that you still qualify as a refugee, that you have not settled permanently in another country, and that nothing in your record would block admission. Where something does, a waiver may be available. One detail that surprises most people and works in your favor is that approval is backdated by one year, which moves up your eligibility for citizenship.

Withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture are different. Both can stop a deportation, but neither creates a path to permanent residence on its own. If you hold one of those, your next move is worth discussing with an attorney who can look at your full history.

Overcoming Application Hurdles & Denials

The federal government heavily scrutinizes every visa application, and minor paperwork errors frequently result in devastating delays. Our attorneys manage the document-heavy filing process from start to finish. We prepare you comprehensively for your government interviews and gather the critical evidence necessary to prove your eligibility. If United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issues a Request for Evidence, we swiftly gather the required documentation to keep your application on track.

When complications arise, you need a law firm with a strong litigation background. Principal Attorney Rafael Urena is a highly regarded litigator who tackles complex constitutional matters head-on. He has a proven track record of upending hundreds of government attempts to deport noncitizens and has successfully persuaded federal courts to award some of the largest preservations of immigrant visas in history. We leverage this extensive background to protect your right to live and work permanently in this country. 

How to Keep Your Green Card Valid After Approval

A green card requires maintenance. Long trips abroad can raise questions about whether you meant to give up residence, certain criminal matters carry immigration consequences long after the court file is closed, and the card itself expires on a schedule that no one reminds you about. Residents who learn these rules early avoid the kind of problem that surfaces at the worst possible moment, usually at a port of entry or across the desk at a naturalization interview years later.

We raise those obligations while your case is still open rather than after, and we stay reachable when a question comes up long after the approval notice arrives. For many clients the next step is citizenship, and we handle the eligibility review, the application, and the preparation for the interview that follows. Whether you are applying for the first time or protecting a status you already hold, the first conversation at our Brooklyn office costs nothing.

Call (845) 932-0679 or contact our team online today to schedule a case consultation with a Green Card lawyer in New York.