A blog about U.S. immigration matters by Paul Szeto, a former INS attorney and an experienced immigration lawyer. We serve clients in all U.S. states and overseas countries. (All information is not legal advice and is subject to change without prior notice.)

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Thursday, January 7, 2021

Green Card Application Window for Liberians Extended


Good news for  Liberians who are under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)! The opportunity to apply for a green card under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) law was initially set to expire on December 20, 2020, but has now been extended for another year.

Liberians and certain family members will now have until December 20, 2021 to file for permanent residency. Any I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) application received after that will not count under LRIF. 

LRIF is a great opportunity for TPS/DED Liberians to gain permanent residence in the U.S. In general, I-485 applicants need a sponsor usually through family (Form I-130) or an employer (I-140), but LRIF takes care of this part by providing a unique qualification category for certain Liberians. However, applicants should note that it is still a lengthy process and a lot of evidence is required to demonstrate admissibility. Some general information on Form I-485 can be found here

Qualifying applicants should take advantage of this extension to apply for US green cards as soon as possible. When in doubt, do not hesitate to seek professional advice from an immigration attorney. 


(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule legal consultation.) 

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