Frequently Asked Questions

The timeline to obtain permanent residency depends heavily on your specific immigration category and your relationship to the family sponsor. Usually, the process takes about four to six months if you' re considered an immediate relative—such as the spouse, child, or parent—of a U.S. citizen. It will take many more months, however, if your qualifying relative is currently a green card holder. If your sponsor is a permanent resident, please share with us when your relative can become a citizen, as their naturalization could potentially fast-track your adjustment of status.

Because immigration laws are constantly shifting and any paperwork mistakes can lead to extensive delays or denials, it's vital to have the right legal support on your side. Working with a dedicated immigration law firm in Dallas, TX make sure that that your application is thorough, accurate, and structured for a favorable outcome. At M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC, we provide the personalized attention, clear communication, and tailored legal solutions required to guide you seamlessly through the complicated U.S. citizenship and immigration system.

Securing qualified legal counsel early in your journey is also one of the most effective ways to safeguard your future. According to the American Immigration Council, as of early 2026, only about 33% of immigrants had legal representation by the time a removal order was issued, because there's no constitutional right to a government-appointed lawyer in immigration court, as it's considered a civil, not criminal, proceeding.

To avoid devastating legal hurdles and make sure that your family remains together, you need experienced Dallas green card and visa attorneys who truly understand the system. At M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC, we leverage our years of practice and firsthand perspective into the immigration process to give your case the robust, compassionate advocacy it deserves. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward your brighter tomorrow.

At M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC, our attorney fees are about $2,750 for a standard case. In addition to legal representation, you will also need to account for required USCIS administrative costs, as the government fees are about $2,400. In total, you're looking at an overall investment of about $5,000 to manage the process.

Because we want to provide affordable solutions to our community, we also offer flexible payment plans. These plans allow you to get the vital legal assistance you need right away without requiring you to pay every cent up-front.

Securing the guidance of a knowledgeable immigration attorney in Dallas, Texas, is one of the most effective ways to protect your investment and avoid the intricate paperwork mistakes that lead to costly delays. As an immigrant-led practice, we treat your case with the deep personal attention and compassion it deserves, earning our reputation among the most reliable Dallas lawyers for green cards and deportation defense.

The short answer depends heavily on your sponsor's current legal status. If your qualifying relative is a U.S. citizen, the answer is generally yes. Under U.S. immigration law, spouses, parents, and unmarried minor children of U.S. citizens are classified as "immediate relatives." For individuals in this category, an overstay or a technical lapse in nonimmigrant visa status is typically forgiven when concurrently filing for an Adjustment of Status (Form I-485). This means you're generally permitted to legally remain in the United States while your green card application is pending.

However, if your qualifying relative is a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), the rules are much stricter. Family members of green card holders fall into family preference categories rather than immediate relative categories. In these cases, you're required to strictly maintain your lawful nonimmigrant status in the country until your priority date becomes current and you're eligible to file for adjustment of status. If your visa expires before this point, you could face devastating consequences, including the accumulation of unlawful presence or potential removal proceedings. Therefore, if your sponsor is a permanent resident, we strongly advise you to maintain your status.

Managing these subtle but highly impactful distinctions requires a strategic legal partner who understands the high emotional and practical stakes involved. As dedicated immigration law attorneys in Dallas, TX, the firm at M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC is here to guide you through these complicated legal hurdles. Our founding attorney, Kavi Mathew, possesses firsthand experience as an immigrant who moved to the U.S. and went through the process to become a naturalized citizen. This unique perspective shapes our entire practice, driving our deep passion to protect and reunite families.

Yes, absolutely. Because immigration law is federal, our legal services aren't confined by state lines or geographical boundaries. At M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC, we proudly and effectively represent clients across the entire country.

We have designed our workflow to be entirely seamless, no matter where you're located. We will mail or securely transmit all the documents you need to review and sign, providing clear instructions at every step. Furthermore, our commitment to your case doesn't stop at the Texas border—our attorneys routinely travel to attend USCIS interviews with our clients across the United States to make sure that their rights are fully protected during these critical meetings.

Even though we're a trusted Dallas immigration law firm, our core mission is to provide affordable, compassionate, and reliable advocacy to families nationwide. Distance will never be a barrier to securing your future and building a brighter tomorrow. Contact M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC today to schedule a consultation, and let us help you manage your immigration journey from anywhere in the United States.

The short answer is that a past citation or criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify you from naturalization, but it depends entirely on the specific nature of the crime, when it occurred, and how it was resolved. Under U.S. immigration law, minor infractions like traffic tickets are handled very differently from serious criminal offenses, but any encounter with law enforcement must be evaluated carefully before you submit your paperwork.

While minor traffic citations that have been fully resolved rarely prevent you from becoming a citizen, more serious offenses present severe hurdles. For instance, "crimes of moral turpitude" (acts committed with an intentional intent to do harm) or aggravated felonies can act as an automatic bar to citizenship and may even trigger deportation proceedings. Additionally, the single most damaging mistake an applicant can make is hiding or omitting a past incident. USCIS conducts thorough background checks using your fingerprints across national and international databases. If they discover that you provided false or incomplete information about your history, your application will almost certainly be denied.

Because managing the intersection of criminal defense and immigration law is incredibly complicated, you should never guess when it comes to your status. Partnering with a dedicated immigration law firm in Dallas, TX, is the safest way to evaluate your record and make sure that your path to naturalization is secure. At M Mathew Law Firm, PLLC, we treat your case with the deep personal attention, empathy, and honest communication you deserve.