What are the disadvantages of pursuing CP?
CP is that it is far more burdensome to complete than AOS. The CP process is completed through the U.S. Department of State (DOS), not the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The burdens faced in pursuing CP include: 1) Required to travel to one’s home country on short notice in order to complete an interview at the American consulate or embassy; 2) Need for police clearances from each country lived in for six months or more since turning 16 years of age (for a limited number of countries this is waived); 3) Completion of a medical exam in the home country and delays encountered in waiting for those results to be transmitted to the consulate; and 4) No right to legal counsel or and limited opportunity to challenge a denial. CP requires more effort on the part of the individual and family and entails a greater expense and inconvenience associated with the required interview. Please note, however, that our office has processed thousands of individuals through CP without a
