authorized period of stay

If you filed Form I-130 and Form I-485 together for your spouse—along with an I-765 for a work permit—you’ve taken an important step toward legal status. But many people ask: does this protect my spouse from removal or deportation? And do they now have legal status in the U.S.? This article breaks down what a concurrent filing does and does not do, what “authorized period of stay” means, and how your spouse may still be at risk in some cases.