Resources
Immigration Resources
Plain-language guides and answers to common immigration questions. We explain the numbers on your documents, what affects processing times, how fees work, and the concepts behind common filings — written for clients in Columbus and Central Ohio.
USCIS Forms
Official form names, plain-language explanations, and direct USCIS links for the forms we help with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about services, fees, timing, walk-ins, languages, and what Asal can and cannot do.
Immigration Guides
Simple overviews of family immigration, green cards, work permits, citizenship, and humanitarian filings.
Numbers & Documents
Alien Registration Number (A-Number) Explained
What an Alien Registration Number (A-Number) is, where USCIS prints it on your green card, EAD, and notices, and how to read it correctly. Plain-language guide.
Permanent Resident Card Number Explained
What the permanent resident card number is, how it differs from your A-Number and card number, and exactly where USCIS prints it on your green card.
USCIS Receipt Number Explained
Decode your USCIS receipt number—what the IOE, MSC, EAC, and other prefixes mean, where to find it on Form I-797, and how to use it to check case status.
USCIS Online Account Number Explained
What a USCIS online account number is, how it differs from your receipt and A-Number, where to find it in myUSCIS, and why some paper forms ask for it.
Green Card Number Explained
"Green card number" can mean the card number, USCIS#, or A-Number. Learn which is which, where each appears, and which one a given form is really asking for.
How to Read Your Green Card
A field-by-field walkthrough of a Permanent Resident Card: category codes, USCIS#, card number, dates, and the machine-readable zone—explained in plain language.
Form I-797, Notice of Action Explained
What Form I-797 Notice of Action is, the difference between I-797, I-797A, I-797B, and I-797C, and what to do when each type arrives in your mailbox.
Form I-94 Explained
What Form I-94 is, how to find your I-94 record online, why the "admit until" date matters more than your visa, and how to fix I-94 errors.
Processing Times
I-130 Processing Time: What to Expect
How long Form I-130 takes, what drives the wait (relationship category, service center, country), and how to check your own current estimate on USCIS.gov.
I-485 Processing Time: What to Expect
How long Form I-485 adjustment of status takes, what affects the timeline, the role of visa availability, and how to check your current estimate on USCIS.gov.
N-400 Processing Time: What to Expect
How long Form N-400 naturalization takes from filing to oath, what affects the timeline, the interview and test steps, and how to check your USCIS estimate.
I-90 Processing Time: What to Expect
How long Form I-90 takes to renew or replace a green card, what the receipt notice does for your status, and how to check your current USCIS estimate.
I-751 Processing Time: What to Expect
How long Form I-751 takes to remove conditions on residence, how the receipt notice extends your green card, and how to check your current USCIS estimate.
K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Processing Time
How long the K-1 fiancé(e) visa takes across its stages—I-129F, NVC, and the consular interview—what affects timing, and where to check official estimates.
Fees & Costs
Green Card Renewal Cost (I-90 Fee)
What goes into the cost of renewing a green card with Form I-90—filing fee, biometrics, and fee-waiver options—and how to verify the current amount on USCIS.gov.
Cost to Apply for Citizenship (N-400)
What it costs to apply for U.S. citizenship with Form N-400, what the fee includes, fee-waiver and reduced-fee options, and how to confirm the current amount.
Green Card Cost: What to Budget
What contributes to the cost of getting a green card—form fees, the medical exam, and related expenses—and how to confirm each current figure on official sources.
How-To & Concepts
Adjustment of Status Explained
What adjustment of status means, who is eligible, how Form I-485 works with companion forms, and the steps from filing to your green card—in plain language.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
What an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is, who needs one, how Form I-765 works, EAD categories, and renewal timing—explained in plain language.
How to Write a USCIS Cover Letter
How to write a clear USCIS cover letter for your application packet—what to include, a simple structure, and common mistakes to avoid. Plain-language guide.
Immigration Lawyer vs. Form Preparer
Learn when you need an immigration lawyer, what a form preparer can do, and how to choose honest immigration help in Columbus, Ohio.