Changing Legal Status- Middle School

These terms deal with the process of changing your legal status.

• Adjustment of Status / 245(a): The process of applying for lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card) while already physically present inside the United States. Section 245(a) is the specific part of the law that outlines the rules for this transition, usually requiring a legal entry into the country.

• 245(i): An older, specific exception in the law that allows certain undocumented immigrants who missed deadlines or entered without inspection to still adjust their status inside the U.S. by paying a financial penalty, provided their original paperwork was filed years ago.

• Advance parole: Special permission that allows certain non-citizens with pending applications to travel outside the United States and legally return without getting rid of or ruining their case.

• Immigration interview: A mandatory, formal meeting where an immigration officer questions an applicant in person to verify that all the information provided on their paperwork is honest, accurate, and meets the standards of the law.