Paperback · Professional Edition 2026
Adjustment of status is the procedure by which a noncitizen already in the United States becomes a lawful permanent resident without leaving the country.
Every case under INA § 245(a) turns on the same questions: a qualifying entry, an immediately available visa, admissibility with no § 245(c) bar, and the exercise of discretion. The book takes you through each of them in order.
How the book is organized
- Part IThe legal framework and eligibility.
- Part IIFamily-based, employment-based, humanitarian and special categories.
- Part IIIProcess and procedure: filing preparation and strategy, supporting documentation, the interview, and monitoring, requests for evidence and decisions after filing.
- Part IVIllustrative scenarios, complex case strategies, responses to requests for evidence, and appeals and motions.
- Part VThe toolkit: professional templates, checklists and worksheets, document organization, fees and the 2025–2026 changes, primary sources with an update checklist, a 170-term glossary, and a directory of USCIS and IRS forms.
What you get
- 853 footnotes to the statute, regulations, USCIS Policy Manual, policy memoranda and precedent decisions
- Illustrative scenarios, practice notes and cautions throughout
- Law, fees and forms current through October 29, 2026; items under court challenge on that date are marked
The facts
- Format
- Paperback, 8.5 × 11 in.
- Length
- 201 pages
- ISBN-13
- 979-8-1665-4186-4
- Footnotes
- 853
- Glossary
- 170 terms
- Current through
- October 29, 2026
Who it is for
People preparing their own adjustment case, the families and advocates helping them, and practitioners who want a focused handbook on this one process.
Questions
About this book
What is adjustment of status?
It is the procedure by which a noncitizen already in the United States becomes a lawful permanent resident without leaving the country.
Is this book legal advice?
No. It is a general educational reference. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and every case turns on its own facts. For advice on your case, talk to a licensed attorney or a Department of Justice accredited representative.
Does it cover what happens after a denial?
Yes. Part IV covers requests for evidence, appeals and motions, and Part II of the guide treats review after filing.
I need removal defense, asylum or waivers too. Which book?
Immigration Law: A Practitioner's Guide covers the whole field, including relief, removal defense and appeals.
The best migrant lawyer is you.
Read the idea behind the books, and how to take charge of your own case.
