Registry

Registry

Registry is a provision contained in section 249 of the

immigration and Nationality Act. It provides that a person may be granted permanent residence in the

United States

if he or she can prove that they have resided in this country continuously since before January 1, 1972. Departures from the

United States

during this period of time will not preclude permanent residence as long as they are not so lengthy as to constitute an abandonment of residence. There has been a court ruling that persons who originally entered the

United States

legally, do not qualify for the registry benefit; that they have to have been here illegally from the start.

In order to qualify for registry, the alien must show that he or she is a person of good moral character, is not inadmissible to the

as a criminal, procurer, subversive, narcotics law violator, or alien smuggler, and must not be ineligible for citizenship. The application is filed on

immigration form I-485, together with biographic form G-325A, photographs, appropriate filing fees for the application and fingerprints, and evidence that the person has resided continuously in the

United States

since before 1972. No medical exam is required.

If the application is approved, the alien is granted lawful permanent residence status as of the date of the interview. If the application is denied, the applicant may renew the application for registry in removal proceedings before an

immigration judge.

2700 N MacDill Ave. Ste. 218 / 300 S Duncan Ave. Ste.135B

Tampa, FL / Clearwater

(813) 874-2802 / (727) 466-0784

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