Services
Services for Individuals
We offer a wide array of services for individuals across the nation. Explore our menu below and click to expand each service for more details.
If you are a United States or Lawful Permanent Resident and you want to help a family member immigrate to the United States (or get a Green Card), the first step in the process is to file a family petition with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. During this step, you must show that you have a family relationship with your relative. Only certain types of family relationships can qualify, and visa wait times are variable depending on which family category you and your relative are in. U.S. Citizens can file a petition for their spouse, parent, minor child, adult child, or sibling. Lawful Permanent Residents can file a petition for their spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child.
Filing the petition doesn’t give your relative any immigration status. However, it is the required first step to your family member obtaining permanent resident status. These are general guidelines, and the exact procedure may vary on a case-by-case basis. Our office has extensive experience with family petitions and can help answer questions about the process specific to your case.
U.S. immigration service has created a special process for fiancés of U.S. citizens. This two-step process allows a U.S. citizen to bring their fiancée to the United States on a special fiancée visa, get married, and then apply for a Green Card from inside the United States. In order to qualify for this type of visa, the foreign partner must (1) live outside the United States; (2) be legally able to get married; and (3) have an in-person meeting with their U.S. partner at least once in the past two years. Once the foreign partner arrives in the United States on the fiancé visa, the couple is required to get married within the next 90 days. Once the marriage is complete, the foreign partner can apply for the green card. If the couple decides not to get married, the foreign partner is required to depart the United States.
These are general guidelines, and the exact rules, procedures, and evidence requirements may vary from case to case. Our office understands that every situation is different, and our attorneys have extensive experience with fiancé visas. We are happy to help you understand the requirements based on the specifics of your situation.
Adjustment of Status is the process that allows certain foreign nationals inside the United States to obtain Lawful Permanent Resident status (commonly referred to as a green card). In order to do so, the foreign national must have an approved immigrant petition, their "priority date" must be current, they must be admissible, and they must be present in the United States in a visa category that allows adjustment.
There are many exceptions to these general rules. A thorough analysis of your immigration background is recommended to see if you might be eligible for Adjustment of Status
Consular Processing is the process by which a foreign national obtains a visa to enter
the United States. Although Consular Processing usually refers to obtaining an immigrant visa, or lawful permanent resident status, this process is utilized any time a foreign national needs a visa to enter the United States.
Obtaining an immigrant visa, or "green card," through Consular Processing generally involves several steps. First an application is submitted to the National Visa Center. Next, certain documents and an affidavit of support are uploaded to the NVC online portal. Finally, NVC will schedule the foreign national for an interview at the U.S. consulate abroad.
These are general guidelines, and the exact procedure may vary on a case-by-case basis. Our
office has extensive experience with Consular Processing and has helped many clients navigate its complexities.
If a foreign national marries a U.S. Citizen and applies for a green card, they will be issued a
“conditional” permanent resident status in certain circumstances. The conditional status is valid for two years. Before the end of the two-year period, the foreign national must apply
for a“removal of conditions.” During the removal of conditions, USCIS will re-assess the couple’s marriage to ensure that the marriage is real and not just for immigration purposes. Typically, USCIS requires that the foreign national and U.S. Citizen jointly file the Removal of Conditions. Sometimes, however, a marriage doesn’t last–in which case the foreign national may be able to request a waiver of the joint filing requirement.
These are general guidelines, and the exact rules, procedures, and evidence requirements may vary from case to case. Our office understands that every situation is different, and our attorneys have extensive experience with the removal of conditions process. We are happy to help you understand the requirements based on the specifics of your situation.
Foreign nationals with certain immigration violations may be barred from
immigrating to the United States or from reentering if they leave. The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act lists several broad categories of general inadmissibility, including on health, criminal activity, national security, unlawful presence, prior removals, and others.
In some instances, a foreign national who is otherwise inadmissible may qualify for a waiver, or pardon, of their previous violation. If approved, the individual would be permitted to reenter the United States or apply for a green card, not withstanding their prior violation.
Waivers are complex and many require that the foreign national have a U.S. Citizen spouse or parent who would suffer hardship if the foreign national is not allowed to be in the United States. Our office has extensive experience with waivers of inadmissibility, and have proven strategies to demonstrate hardship even in difficult cases. We understand that every situation is different and take the time with each client to understand all the specifics of the case.
Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen for people who were not born inside theU.S. or to U.S. citizen parents. In order to apply for Naturalization, you must be a LawfulPermanent Resident and meet certain eligibility requirements. After you submit your application, USCIS will call you for an interview. They will confirm your eligibility, and (unless you are exempt) administer an English test and a Civics test.
The English test requires you to demonstrate an ability to read, write, and speak basic English. During the Civics test, you will be asked questions about American history. The questions come from a predetermined list that you can use to study. You will be asked 10 questions from the list, and you must correctly answer at least 6 to pass. After your interview, the last step is to attend a ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to theUnited States.USCIS has prepared some materials to help people prepare for the English and Civics exams. Watch the videos below to see more about what to expect at your Naturalization interview:
Our office handles many other types of immigration cases such as DACA, TPS, Parole in Place,
green card renewals, travel permits, extension/change of nonimmigrant status, and many others.
Our years of experience allow us to think creatively and see solutions that other lawyers might
miss. Our goal is to give you complete, accurate, and honest advice. If you have a question about your immigration situation, schedule a consultation today to speak with one of our attorneys.
