Ms. Y entered on a visitor visa and then married a green card holder. Because of the long backlog, she needed to keep maintaining lawful status. She extended her visitor status, changed to student status, and applied for a green card once her priority date became current.

She had to keep bridging her status throughout a long backlog, since any gap would affect her eventual eligibility for a green card.

She applied for an extension before her visitor status expired, then changed to student status to maintain status. When her priority date became current, we filed the I-485, EAD, and advance parole together.

The work permit was approved in just 23 days, followed by advance parole, giving her day-to-day freedom no different from a green card holder's (I-485 filed August 2024).