Proof of Status

This term refers to the legal status of the petitioner in the United States. A petitioner must be a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent resident currently living in the U.S., if he or she wants to bring another immigrant to the U.S. Therefore, a petitioner must present a U.S. passport or a valid green card--residency must not have expired (which may occur if a petitioner has been out of the U.S. for over 6 months). Appropriate evidence is necessary.