If you are prepared to file immigration forms with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, it may seem as if an attorney can help you get your case approved.
While it is not required by Utah immigration law that every applicant be represented by a Salt Lake City family immigration attorney when filling out forms, it is highly advised to seek legal advice of a lawyer in order to achieve your goals in a timely manner.
Our legal team at Familia America Immigration law firm are about to explain how lawyers can strengthen the chances for a streamlined approval of your immigration-related USCIS case.
The importance of being legally represented when filing immigration forms with the USCIS may not seem obvious to everyone. And it makes sense why, considering that many applicants think, “I doubt that I need any help, as I am capable of filling out forms with biographical information on my own. Plus, I get to save all those money I would have spent on attorney fees.”
But regardless of what forms you are filing with the USCIS – be it Employment Eligibility Verification, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, or any other – there is much more to fill out than just your biographical information.
Our Salt Lake City family immigration lawyer outlines what things an experienced law firm like Familia America Immigration can do to maximize the chances of being successful in your legalization efforts. An immigration attorney:
However, hiring an immigration lawyer does not necessarily mean success in 100% cases, as attorneys do not work at the USCIS and cannot guarantee that your case will be approved, not rejected.
Immigration attorneys do not get a priority before Department of Homeland Security or the USCIS, and cannot guarantee that:
In other words, an immigration attorney is no magician. A lawyer cannot pull out a rabbit from the hat or approve your USCIS petition or case with a flick of the finger. Instead, our attorney here at the Familia America Immigration law firm can help you handle your case, present your case to the USCIS in the most efficient way possible to increase chances of approval, and minimize delay.
Most importantly, our legal team is here to eliminate the confusion of the immigration process by answering your questions during a consultation. Call our Salt Lake City offices at 801-656-9605 or fill out this contact form for a free case evaluation. Se habla Espanol.
The post Do You Need A Lawyer To File Immigration Forms With USCIS? (What Are The Benefits?) appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
Did the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services deny your lawful permanent residence status (green card)? Do not worry, it is not the end of the world, as you can still sue the US government for violating your immigrant rights.
That is what multiple immigrant rights advocates did a few weeks ago. Our green card attorney at the Familia America Immigration law firm reviewed the class action lawsuit against officials of the USCIS and US Department of Homeland Security.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal district court in New York, could have a ripple effect nationwide and subsequently allow tens or hundreds of thousands of immigrants to gain lawful permanent resident status.
In the class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs are suing the US government for its alleged “unlawful” practices against holders of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) visas. Our best green card attorney explain that a TPS visa is given to citizens of certain designated foreign countries that have suffered from civil wars, natural disasters, and other major disruptions. The special temporary immigration status is given to foreigners whose lives and safety is in danger if they return to their countries. These foreigners are allowed to stay in the US until the crisis in their country is resolved.
After President Donald Trump assumed office, TPS visas were canceled for citizens of several designated countries, leaving hundreds of thousands of TPS holders at risk of deportation.
In their lawsuit, the immigrant rights advocates are suing the US government over its alleged violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The lawsuit was filed in the wake of a series of denials of green cards to TPS visa holders under the Trump administration.
The USCIS explained its decision to deny lawful permanent resident status arguing that TPS holders entered the US without going through an inspection and admission process at the border. The lawsuit alleges that the mere fact that the TPS holders have a TPS visa means that they were subsequently inspected and admitted when applying for TPS and being granted the special temporary immigration status.
Estimated tens or hundreds of thousands of TPS holders could be facing deportation in the coming months when their TPS status expires. In order to avoid deportation, such TPS holders are highly advised to speak to a green card lawyer to prevent their removal or deportation from the U.S.
Our green card attorney at the Familia America Immigration law firm explains that it is possible to sue the US government if your green card status was denied or you are facing deportation due to the USCIS or DHS’s misrepresentation of the immigration law.
Even those who have been in the US for decades are at risk of deportation due to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies and its ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants nationwide.
If you are a TPS holder and are seeking to become a lawsuit permanent residents, do not attempt to gain a green card without the help of an experienced lawyer. Without legal representation, you are putting yourself and your entire family currently in the US at a higher risk of deportation.
Get a consultation about your particular case by contacting the Familia America Immigration law firm today.
For our Salt Lake City, UT office: 801-656-9605
For our San Jose, CA office: 408-418-6621
Or fill out the form below and we will contact you. Se habla Espanol .
The post Denied Green Card? Sue the US Government For Violating Immigration Laws appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
Yes, you can. Just because you have acquired a green card does not mean that you do whatever you want in the US without the fear of deportation. In fact, green card holders have fewer rights than US citizens, and can be deported for certain actions and violations of immigration laws.
Today, our green card attorney will outline the most common actions that make green card holders deportable . There are certain limitations to your rights, and you must be aware of each and every of them.
However, we have provided just a concise description of the actions that can lead to your deportation. There are many exceptions to every rule, which is why it is advised to speak to a lawyer instead of jumping to conclusions.
Note: just because you have not been caught for any of the following actions and crimes does not mean that you are not in legal trouble and will not lose your green card. Applying for US citizenship one day may reveal all of your past wrongdoings and violations of immigration laws as a green card holder.
Green card holders are not allowed to vote in the US, and doing so by misguiding authorities about your legal status in an effort to vote may make you deportable. There is a huge difference between a USC (United States Citizen) and lawful permanent resident (LPR), as the former have far more rights than the latter, and must not abuse their rights.
Since not all motor vehicle officials know the difference between USC and LPR, they may even encourage you to go to polls in order to vote with your driver’s license even if you are not eligible. That is why knowing your rights as a green card holder is so critical to avoid legal trouble.
It may sound bizarre, but even failure to inform authorities about the change of your address in a timely manner may lead to deportation. Our green card lawyer at the Familia America Immigration law firm explains that as a green card holder, you are given ten days to report a new address form to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Get legal help about how to change your address form, or what to do if ten days have expired and you still have not completed the form by consulting an attorney.
Once you get a green card, you must establish a permanent resident and stay there. Abandonment of your residence within the US and failure to establish a permanent residence can lead to deportation. Our lawyers explains that you may have to prove your permanent residence either when applying for US citizenship or requesting re-entry to the county after cross its borders.
This one is quite straightforward: if you commit a crime, expect consequences, including consequences for your green card status. Depending on the severity of your crime, authorities may take your green card status away from you and make you deportable. It does not necessarily have to be a felony or misdemeanor to put you at risk of losing your green card, as even less serious offenses and crimes can get you in trouble.
If you are convicted of any type of fraud, including fraud in the application process to get a green card, you will most likely be removed from the country. However, as we have mentioned earlier, there are exceptions to every rule, which is why it is essential to consult a green card attorney.
If you are a green card holder and you believe that authorities may have grounds to deport you, speak to a lawyer immediately. Contact the Familia America Immigration law firm to get a consultation today.
For Green Cards in Salt Lake City, UT call: 801-656-9605
For Green Cards in San Jose, CA call: 408-418-6621
Or fill out the contact form below to schedule a consultation. Se habla Espanol.
The post Can You Lose Your Green Card and Be Deported? For What? appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
Foreign nationals interested in working in the United States can apply for a work visa. However, you will need to meet certain requirements and file important immigration documents you may not be familiar with. There are a few categories of work visas available. It is important you hire a Salt Lake City work visa attorney once you are ready to go that legal route.
There are some work visas available including temporary, seasonal, and exchange work visas. It all depends on your skills and the type of employment you are seeking as well as your nationality. Individuals from certain countries may not be permitted to work in the United States. Also, if you have a good relationship with your potential employer or current employer overseas you may have more chances.
Simply put, it allows you to travel and work in the United States. In order for a foreign national to come to the United States legally, he or she must first obtain a US visa. Depending on the category of your visa, you may also be allowed other privileges. Although having a visa is not the final step and it does not guarantee entrance in the country, you will be able to demonstrate your eligibility to seek entry in the United States.
If you were offered a job in the United States, you may be able to become a green card holder or permanent resident. However, you will need to meet some requirements such as a certification to demonstrate there aren’t national workers qualified or available in your place of employment. As long as no American workers are displaced, you may be authorized to work in the United States indefinitely.
There is an annual green card lottery program that awards 50,000 green cards to applicants from all over the world. You can register online. However, this opportunity is not eligible to natives from some specific countries.
There are also temporary work visas available to foreign workers in non-agricultural fields, as long as there are not enough American laborers to fill these positions. However, there is a limit of 66,000 visas a year for this category.
Educated foreign nationals have the opportunity to apply for a temporary visa in order to work for an American employer. However, these workers should have a good relationship with their employer based in the United States and must also work in a specific occupation. The cap for this category is 65,000 visas a year.
There are also visas available for agricultural workers who wish to work in the United States on a temporary basis as long as there aren’t enough domestic workers to perform this type of job.
For more information on how to apply for a US work visa, contact Salt Lake City work visa attorney Gloria Cardenas.
The post The ABCs of US work visas appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
As millions of immigrants and refugees from all over the world pour legally or illegally into the United States, some American citizens fear they may be displaced from their jobs or their wages undercut by the government. This wrong view of immigration has pushed immigration policies to the far-right. So now immigrants in the United States are afraid they will not have access to employment due to their background or immigration status.
Recent studies by economists clearly demonstrate that immigration has not led to fewer employment opportunities for American workers. On the contrary, economists argue that both wealthy and poor immigrants have had a positive impact on our economy. They have helped reduce the price of some products, provided new services and labor source, and created investment and employment possibilities. There is also a small positive impact on the wages of American workers by helping the economy. These are findings that may seem a bit odd to some lawmakers but if they take into account statistics from American companies and the arrival of cheap labor, they will have to conclude immigration is a good thing for America.
Immigration will not displace American workers but rather encourage the growth of our economy. Immigrant and domestic workers generally look for different types of jobs. It is good for companies to have different types of workers. The less educated immigrants, for example, prefer jobs such as cashiers, tellers, floor clerks, and manual tasks or physical labor. So immigration can help produce more jobs. American restaurants owe many of their jobs to underpaid immigrants. Also, many farm workers are immigrants. Some Americans ignore the fact that without underpaid immigrants there might not be strawberries in the United States.
There is only a small negative impact on the wages of the less-skilled American workers. Immigrants may displace some domestic workers in low-paying jobs. But some economists argue that the impact could be positive as well. Many studies confirm that the wages of American workers have actually increased with the arrival of immigrants.
Immigrant workers looking for a job can expect to find opportunities in several industries such as:
Not every HR manager will understand the complexities of a work visa. It is important you hire an experienced Salt Lake City work visa attorney if you are an immigrant planning to work in the United States. Once you have secured your visa, you can provide your potential employer with your immigration status. It is important you go to your interviews with documents that provide your immigration status.
If you have questions about working in the United States, call us today and we will explain the requirements for a work visa. For more information regarding your situation, talk to Salt Lake City immigration attorney Gloria Cardenas.
The post Immigrants aren’t stealing American jobs appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
It is common seeing undocumented immigrants being targeted by criminals due to their illegal status. These abusers ignore that non-citizens can seek legal protection under specific immigration laws that may apply to these trying circumstances. Immigrant victims of crimes can seek a temporary legal status with a U visa . This visa provides a legal status to crime victims that would like to collaborate in the investigation of criminal activity.
The U Visa has become an amazing resource for law enforcement, especially for illegal immigrants who fear deportation if they report suspicious criminal activity. Undocumented immigrants who assist the police in criminal investigations can request a temporary legal status. These illegal aliens are crucial in the efforts to investigate and prosecute unreported crime.
Crimes such as domestic violence and sexual assault are included in the protection. Also, some undocumented immigrants tend to experience crimes related to wage fraud and illegal trafficking. This visa is a great way to stop these crimes and offer protection to the victims. One of the most important protections this visa offers is protection against domestic abuse. Some illegal immigrants are afraid of reporting this category of violence because they are afraid of being deported. Criminals like to take advantage of these unique circumstances and continue the abuse.
In order to qualify for this visa, the applicant will have to meet certain requirements such as being the victim of one of these crimes:
There are many other types of crimes that may also qualify for protection under a U Visa. You should consult with your Salt Lake City victim visa attorney who can study your circumstances in order to determine if they qualify for receiving protection under a U Visa.
The non-citizen victim needs to file some forms that will help him or her attain the temporary immigration status. Form I-918, for example, can be filed only after obtaining a certification for federal or state law enforcement, including local authorities or anybody else involved in the investigation.
Family such as spouses, children, and siblings can also file for this petition. Also, the criminal doesn’t have to be a United States citizen in order to report the crime. Victims who are not in a relationship with the abuser or who have been in an abusive relationship with a non-citizen cannot seek protection under VAWA but they may still qualify for a U Visa.
There is a limited amount of U Visas granted every year, therefore, it’s important you hire an attorney that will help you speed up the process. This is an amazing opportunity that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country 4 years and may also seek extensions, depending on the circumstances surrounding the case. U Visa holders also qualify for a work permit in the United States. For more information about how you can obtain a U Visa contact our firm and schedule your initial case evaluation with Salt Lake City immigration attorney Gloria Cardenas.
The post Protecting victims of crime with a U Visa appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
Although the children of illegal immigrants should not be blamed for their parents’ decisions, this is not always the case. Undocumented children often have to face the same fate as their parents. If the children of undocumented immigrants were born in the US they may have some luck. However, children that were born in foreign countries are still categorized as illegal immigrants.
The DACA program has helped some of these children remain in the United States temporarily but it’s not sure if this protection will continue under current strict immigration laws. To find out about how you can obtain permanent residency for you and your family, contact immigration attorney Gloria Cardenas.
Undocumented immigrants can be deported any time if immigration authorities find out about their current immigration status. In most cases, both the parents and their children can hire an attorney to protect their rights. It’s not common for immigration authorities to go after the children but rather immigrants with criminal records. Even in such cases, illegal immigrants are entitled to hire an attorney. There are many options available to undocumented immigrants that only an experienced immigration attorney will be able to explain after carefully analyzing the circumstances of your immigration case.
If you are an illegal immigrant and your child was lucky to be born in the United States, there is something called “birthright citizenship” where your child can be conferred right away. There have been efforts to change this law but it’s still valid. Some wealthy immigrants have abused this law and come to visit the United States in order to give birth on American soil and automatically grant the citizenship to the foreign baby. In spite of many immigration reforms, the birthright citizenship stills stand and will not undergo changes anytime soon.
Undocumented children are legally allowed to attend school just as permanent residents and citizens do. They are actually commanded to do so under current state’s laws. Even public schools can’t create barriers and withhold a good education from these children. Undocumented children can also have free breakfast and lunch or any other benefits the school is offering to the less fortunate children.
This is a program established by President Obama in 2012. The programs allow children who came to the United States as children to receive two years of protection from deportation. He wanted to extend the protection period to 3 years in 2015 but due to many lawsuits, it’s still awaiting approval. DACA is not a way to get a green card but rather an opportunity to buy time and hire an attorney that will help you get one.
This is only possible after the child turns 21 and meets other requirements. Some parents think having a child born in the US can automatically help them get a green card but that’s very far from the truth. Ask an immigration attorney about your rights under current immigration laws.
The post Can children of undocumented become citizens? appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
College is the next step in an educational career of many teenagers and getting into a good school is the first hurdle. Now, can you imagine getting accepted to not one but all 8 Ivy League schools? That is exactly the case with 17-year old Cassandra Hsiao. She has chosen to attend Yale pursuing an Arts degree with an emphasis on theater. She wants to focus on writing for the theater. She is a high school senior and is editor-in-chief of the school newspaper which has gained her some notoriety. She uses her words to change the way immigrants especially Asian immigrants are viewed in society.
At a young age, Cassandra’s parents enrolled her in various art and music classes. She continued to be interested in the arts as she grew through writing and journalism. Cassandra quickly felt out of place in her new country because of the way she looked and the way she spoke. She didn’t feel like she fit in with other American born Malaysians and some have recently come out to say that since she left at such a young age she cannot possibly identify with the culture. During her high school career, she became editor-in-chief of the school magazine and an active member of the Los Angeles Times High School Insider as an entertainment journalist.
Her admissions essay tells the story of coming to a new country at five years old and having to learn a new language and culture. The language was a major barrier and she had to not only learn English for herself but also teach her parents how to speak it. She struggled to balance the two because sometimes the way she spoke at home would transfer into the way she spoke to teachers and friends. This caused her to be made fun of and made it harder to adapt. Her essay also depicts how hard it was for her mother growing up and having to learn a new language in a country where even the teachers publicly humiliated her instead of helping her. The two began helping each other mend their broken English so neither would be made fun of when out in public.This created a bond and motivation for Cassandra. She began to use her words to fight against bullies and discrimination. The essay ends poetically with an expression of a crooked house being home. Her essay was impactful not only to school admissions but also to society and those who read it.
The story of Cassandra Hsiao is amazing and on that, not many can relate to. She is a Dreamer which is a child who came here at a very young age from another country. Cassandra grew up in this country and with new immigration laws, she could have some legal troubles if she has not obtained any documentation for residency or citizenship.
A Salt Lake City Immigration attorney can help ensure she can finish school after working so hard to reach her goals and begin changing the outlook on Asian Americans.
The post Malaysian-Taiwanese Immigrant Student gets Accepted into 8 Ivy League Schools appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
This is one of the most crucial steps to obtaining a K1 Fiance Visa. Although the questions are straightforward, and the interview typically lasts only 15 to 30 minutes, it’s good to be prepared and understand what’s expected from you and your fiancé. Honesty is a key factor as lying during the interview will cause other consequences that may slow down the whole process. Focus on the general questions asked and be prepared to answer them. A Salt Lake City fiance visa attorney can help you figure it all out and make the whole process easier for you.
During the k1 visa interview you will be asked questions about you, your significant other, and about your relationship. Some questions you will be asked include:
You will also be asked specific questions about your relationship and wedding arrangements:
Individuals who hire a professional tend to be more calm during the interview as they already know what’s expected from them. But even when you are prepared, anxiety is natural. It’s part of being human. Remember some officers may think you are falsifying information. There is so much fraud they have to deal with. It’s just difficult to know who is honest and who is not. Whatever you do, be honest with yourself and with the person conducting the interview. You have nothing to hide. Your relationship should be transparent and your good intentions evident. All you want to do is get married and live a happy life together.
There comes a time when you realize you can’t do everything on your own. We are here to help you and to offer the best advice. Gloria Cardenas understand complex immigration laws and knows how they can work on your behalf.
The post Your K1 Fiance Visa Interview questions appeared first on Immigration Attorney Salt Lake City | Familia America.
Attorney Gloria Cardenas brings more than 30 years of experience in immigration law to help protect the rights of clients and their family members. She and her knowledgeable team at Familia America work diligently behind the scenes to help process fiancé visa applications as quickly as possible. To learn more, contact the legal professionals at Familia America in Salt Lake City and schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
