This Schedule shows what your next steps may be in the path to obtain your US Citizenship and that of your family, once you have been approved your first immigration case. It specifically shows what the next applications to file may be and what is the earliest time they may be filed, according to the type of immigration case you first had processed. Bear in mind that you should always check with your attorney first, before applying for any immigration benefit to make sure that you qualify as there are always exceptions.
| Case Type: Asylum [1] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| File I-765 (work authorization application) and I-131 (travel authorization application) | At time ofyour Asylum approval |
| File for asylum (I-703) for spouse and unmarried children under 21 even if they are outside the US | At time of your Asylum approval |
| File I-485 (residency petition) | 12 months after your Asylum approval |
| Apply for citizenship (N-400) | 57 months after your residency approval (maybe earlier if you have a US Citizen spouse) |
| Apply for residency of immediate family members not included in your residency petition | At time of your citizenship approval |
| Case Type: Marriage/Conditional Residence [2] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| Petition for all unmarried children even if they are outside the US | At time of your Conditional Residency approval |
| Apply for Removal of Residency Conditions | 21 months after your residency approval |
| Apply for citizenship (N-400) | 33 months after your Conditional Residency approval (if still married to US citizen, otherwise 57 months after Conditional Residency approval) |
| Apply for residency of immediate family members not included in your residency petition | At time of your citizenship approval |
| Case Type: Family Residency other than Marriage [2] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| Petition for residency for spouse & all unmarried children even if they are outside the US | At time of your residency approval |
| Apply for citizenship (N-400) | 57 months after your residency approval (maybe earlier if married to a US Citizen) |
| Apply for residency of immediate family members not included in your residency petition | At time of your citizenship approval |
| Case Type: Employment Residency [3] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| Petition for spouse & all unmarried children even if they are outside the US | At time of your residency approval |
| Apply for citizenship (N-400) | 57 months after your residency approval (maybe earlier if married to a US Citizen) |
| Apply for residency of immediate family members not included in your residency petition | At time of your citizenship approval |
| Case Type: H1B Visa [4] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| File for residency through a Labor Certification Application (LCA) and an employment residency petition (I-140 & I-485) | Concurrently or at the time of your H1B visa approval |
| File for H4 status for spouse & unmarried children under 21if they are outside the US (if they are inside the US, they can apply for the H4 visa at the same time you filed your H1B visa application) | At the time of your H1B visa approval |
| Renew H1B status [5] if no Residency has been granted yet | 6 months before H1B visa expiration, no later than day of expiration |
| Repeat step above as necessary until residency is approved | |
| Case Type: L1A Visa [6] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| File for L2 visa for spouse and unmarried children under 21 living outside the US (if they are inside the US, they can apply for the L2 visa at the same time you filed your L1A visa application) | At the time of your L1A visa approval |
| File for L1A visa renewal | 6 months before your L1A visa expiration date |
| File for residency (I-140 & I-485) | 12 months after your L1A visa approval |
| Case Type: E1 or E2 Visa [7] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| File for E1 or E2 visa for spouse and unmarried children under 21 living outside the US (if they are inside the US, they can apply for the E1 or E2 visa at the same time you filed your E1 or E2 visa application) | At the time of your E1 or E2 visa approval |
| File for E1 or E2 visa renewal | 6 months before your E1 or E2 visa expiration date |
| Case Type: R1 Visa | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| File for R2 status for spouse and unmarried children under 21, even if they are outside the US | At the time of your R1 visa approval |
| File for residency, I-360 & I-485 | At the time of your R1 visa approval |
| Petition for spouse & all unmarried children even if they are outside the US | At time of your residency approval |
| Apply for citizenship (N-400) | 57 months after your residency approval |
| Apply for residency of immediate family members not included in your residency petition | At time of your citizenship approval |
| Case Type: Cancellation of Removal [8] | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| Petition for residency for spouse & all unmarried children even if they are outside the US | At time of your residency approval |
| Apply for citizenship (N-400) | 57 months after your residency approval |
| Apply for residency of immediate family, spouse, or unmarried child under 21 years old | At time of your residency approval |
| Case Type: Citizenship Application, N-400 | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| Apply for residency of immediate family members not included in a prior residency petition | At time of your citizenship approval |
| Case Type: All other visas | |
| Eligible Application | Earliest Filing Date |
|---|---|
| File for visa renewal–Call FitzGerald & Company, LLC to inquire about next action | Usually 6 months before visa expiration, no later than the day of expiration |