Are you wondering what is the fastest way to receive your green card? There is a special option available to couples who are going through the immigration process that is the fastest way to receive a green card. It’s called direct consular filing.

Direct consular filing is an option where you can skip two offices of immigration and go right to the final office where they will make a final decision on your green card. Typically, couples have to file an I-130 petition proving their relationship. They typically have to file that with USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Once the petition is approved, it moves on to the National Visa Center for document collection before it gets sent to the US embassy or consulate abroad where an officer will make a final decision on the case.

Direct consular filing allows you to skip having to go through the USCIS office and the National Visa Center and do the entire process with the US embassy or consulate abroad. That is why they call it direct consular filing.

The great thing about this is that you not only have less immigration offices involved, you also are able to get a decision often in less than half of the time which is amazing because the green card process is a very time-consuming process. On average, couples receive their green card in five to seven months.

Who is eligible for this process?

Individuals who are married to a United States citizen and the United States citizen has to be living abroad. They have to have an exceptional circumstance. A few examples would be a medical emergency, a military deployment, or a job with short-term notice where they have to relocate to the United States.

If you think you might be eligible for one of these options to file a direct consular file, please reach out to our office. We’d be happy to speak with you about it.

See: Schedule Appointment with Immigration for Couples

You need to make sure you file this application first. If you file something else with USCIS, you will lose this opportunity.