U.S. Green Card Strategies: Adjustment vs. Consular Processing and Tax Planning for Green Card Holders

Pablo Velez | Velez & Cipriano, PLLC

Pablo G. Velez’s practice encompasses all areas of immigration law, with emphasis on business and family immigration. For over a decade and a half, Mr. Velez has represented and assisted international and domestic businesses, professionals, and individuals from all over the world in the successful filing and petitioning of various immigrant and non-immigrant visas for corporations, families, and investors. He also has significant experience with refugee matters, especially with asylum cases, and has represented clients in removal proceedings before the United States Immigration Court.

Mr. Velez is a graduate of the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New York and speaks both English and Spanish.

J. Terence MacAvery, JD, CPA | Goldstein Jones LLP

Senior tax executive with 40+ years of extensive experience working with U.S. and multinational clients in a variety of industries as a CPA and tax attorney. Of Counsel with Goldstein Jones LLP, Attorneys-at-law since October 2022. From November 2010 to October 2022 as Managing Director at CBIZ MHM, LLC in the tax department in New York City. For the 8 years prior to that a Partner with Hamilton & MacAvery CPA’s. Before those 27 years with KPMG in NYC, the last 16 years as Partner.

Professional background includes highly respected skills in domestic and international tax, strategic planning and analysis, merger and acquisition negotiation and related integration as well as presentations to boards of directors, government agencies, and trade and professional organizations.

I. US: Citizen/legal permanent resident/non-immigrant visa holders/asylees | 1:00pm – 1:15pm

II. Non-immigrant visa holders and asylees become eligible for permanent residency | 1:15pm – 1:30pm

III. Applying for permanent residency – adjustment vs. consular processing | 1:30pm – 1:45pm

IV. Remaining in residency status (rights and responsibilities) vs. making the leap to naturalization | 1:45pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

V. Worldwide taxation for green card holders | 2:10pm – 2:25pm

VI. Foreign asset reporting and compliance | 2:25pm – 2:40pm

VII. Tax treaties and avoiding double taxation | 2:40pm – 2:55pm

VIII. Tax optimization strategies | 2:55pm – 3:10pm