how can a immigration lawyer help become a resident or citizen?

^{Here are the other general ways that an immigration lawyer can help your case:}

• Assist with citizenship tests.
• Obtain immediate access to citizenship in emergency situations.
• Represent you in court.
• Help you start a business in another country.

Who can a citizen help to immigrate to the United States?

Who Can a Citizen Help to Immigrate to the U.S.? If you are either a native-born or a naturalized U.S. citizen, and you have relatives who were born in another country, you may, in certain cases, be able to help them obtain U.S. lawful permanent residence (a green card).

Can a naturalized US citizen help a relative get a green card?

If you are either a native-born or a naturalized U.S. citizen, and you have relatives who were born in another country, you may, in certain cases, be able to help them obtain U.S. lawful permanent residence (a green card). Please answer a few questions to help us match you with attorneys in your area.

Can a green card holder help a family member immigrate?

If you started out with a green card and then became a naturalized U.S. citizen, you probably noticed that your rights to help family members immigrate were then quite limited. A green card holder can sponsor (file an I-130 petition for) only his or her spouse and unmarried children; but no one else.

Can international citizens work in the US with a green card?

International citizens who wish to work and reside permanently in the U.S. on some type of employment visa will need a specific type of permit commonly called a “green card.” Employment-based green cards are issued when the applicant has a permanent employment opportunity in the U.S. and the employment meets qualifications for sponsorship.

How do immigrants become residents?

Naturalization is the process through which an immigrant to the United States can become a U.S. citizen. Only certain immigrants are eligible: those who either have been green card holders (permanent residents) for 3–5 years or meet various military service requirements.

Can a lawyer speed up citizenship process?

The immigration process can be intimidating and take a long time, but hiring an immigration attorney to support you with your case can speed up the process and help you meet your goals.

Why is an immigration lawyer important?

Immigration lawyers interpret the law, help you analyze your own rights, possibilities, and strategies, and guide you (or if applicable, your sponsoring U.S. family member or employer) through every step of the complicated immigration process. U.S. immigration laws are extraordinarily tangled.

How do immigrants become permanent residents?

Find out if you're eligible. If you are eligible, file Form I-485 - Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status with USCIS, including all supporting documents and fees. USCIS will review your application and schedule an interview with you. Once issued, your Green Card will be valid for 10 years.

Can immigration lawyer speed up process in USA?

An immigration lawyer cannot magically speed up your applications process once it has been submitted, however by hiring an immigration lawyer you can greatly decrease your chances of unnecessary delays caused by mistakes in your application.

Do I need a lawyer to get my citizenship?

Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship? No. You can file USCIS forms yourself, including Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which can be submitted online. However, some people choose to seek assistance from a lawyer or Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)-accredited representative.

What does immigration law handle?

Immigration laws regulate who can enter the country and how long they can stay, in addition to determining what legal rights and responsibilities noncitizens have while they are here. The Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Is it worth using an immigration lawyer?

Immigration services can be just as complex, and it is likely worth the expense to hire an immigration lawyer for immigration questions and processes to avoid unnecessary staffing and legal employment compliance hurdles.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

What does it take to become a U.S. citizen?

To apply for U.S. citizenship, you must have physically lived in the United States for at least half of five years (more specifically, 913 days, or roughly 2.5 years) or at least half of three years (more specifically, 548 days, or a little over 1.5 years) if you're married to a U.S. citizen.

What is the easiest way to get a green card?

The simplest way to get a Green Card is through the Green Card Lottery. The U.S. Department of State gives away 55,000 Green Cards through the Diversity Visa Program every year.

What are the requirements to become a U.S. citizen?

Become a U.S. Citizen Through NaturalizationBe at least 18 years of age at the time you file the application;Have been a lawful permanent resident for the past three or five years (depending on which naturalization category you are applying under);Have continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;More items...•

What Is an Immigration Lawyer?

An attorney who focuses on immigration laws, policies, and procedures is considered an immigration lawyer. Immigration laws regulate who can come into the United States, how long they can stay, and what their legal responsibilities and rights will be during their stay.

Can an Immigration Lawyer Help With Immigrant Visa Processing?

The process for obtaining a visa is complex with multiple steps, so an immigration attorney will be able to walk you through the process, making it easier to understand. There are also many different types of visas, and a skilled attorney will know which one is best for you or your family member.

Can an Immigration Attorney Help Adjust Your Immigration Status?

Yes. An immigration lawyer can help you apply for a green card or transfer your visa to a green card. A skilled attorney will help you determine if you’re eligible for a green card.

Can an Immigration Lawyer Represent You in Deportation Proceedings?

Facing deportation is scary and confusing, and it can be overwhelming. Deportation proceedings mean that the government has started the process to have you removed from the United States. Having a knowledgeable immigration attorney on your side can help alleviate the stress and provide you with a little more hope.

Can an Immigration Attorney Help With Family-Based Immigration?

Absolutely! Skilled immigration lawyers can help you and your sponsors with a variety of family-based immigration issues and processes. They can assist you in obtaining visas for your fiance, complete parent-child petitions, help with sibling petitions, walk you through Form I-130 immigration petitions, and finalize marriage-based visas.

Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer?

Three main reasons should be considered when looking at hiring an immigration lawyer. These include:

What can an immigration attorney do?

An experienced immigration attorney can walk you through the correct steps to apply for work permits, marriage licenses and citizenship, without allowing mistakes that derail your chance to get these crucial documents authorized by the proper parties. 2. They Are Seasoned by Experience.

Why is it important to hire an immigration lawyer?

One of the most important benefits that hiring an immigration lawyer can offer is less tangible than the others. The help of an expert that has experience making immigrants' dreams into realities cannot be understated. You see, it's invaluable to hire someone that's done it before for thousands in the same position as you find yourself now.

What happens if you don't follow immigration laws?

If you don't follow these laws during your time in the country, you could be deported before your visa is expired or after acquiring permanent resident status. A skilled immigration lawyer can help understand these laws so you don't endanger your status as an immigrant with residency in the United States. 6.

Is immigration law a process?

As anyone that's gone through the process will tell you, navigating any area of immigration law is not an endeavor you'd want to go through alone. There is an extensive paperwork process that goes along with immigration that even natural-born U.S. citizens would struggle with, let alone immigrants from other countries for whom English is not their first language.

Can an immigration lawyer help you?

Immigrants have a more difficult time trying to find legal employment than the average American, let alone a job that earns a competitive salary in the United States. An immigration lawyer can assist you in the process of applying to jobs, interacting with human relations staff, and seeking employment opportunities.

Who can start the immigration process?

family members for whom you might have already started the immigration process, including your spouse and unmarried children, who will be able to immigrate immediately, and. other family members, including your parents, married children, brothers, and sisters, for whom you now can start the immigration process.

What is the purpose of being a citizen?

Helping Other Family Members Immigrate to the U.S. Becoming a citizen allows you to start the immigration process for certain family members other than your spouse and unmarried children. These include your parents, married children, and brothers and sisters. (It doesn't, however, include family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, ...

How long does it take to get a green card?

Unfortunately, even immediate relatives must go through a lot of application paperwork before they can get their green cards. The process often takes a year or more to complete. You can't avoid the paperwork. But at least you'll know that their cases are progressing as fast as possible.

Can I sponsor my spouse with a green card?

citizen, you probably noticed that your rights to help family members immigrate were then quite limited. A green card holder can sponsor (file an I-130 petition for) only his or her spouse and unmarried children; but no one else. In fact, you may have filed petitions ...

Can I get a visa for my married children?

However, they will be considered your preference relatives, meaning that your petition won't get them a visa or green card anytime soon.

Can you advance a green card application?

Instead, you can advance them forward. In other words, you don't have to file a new petition, and they don't have to lose their place in line. If they have become immediate relatives, they can jump straight to the head of the line and continue with the final stages of their applications for green cards.

Can a foreign born spouse apply for permanent residence?

That means they can apply for lawful permanent residence right away, with no annual limits and no waiting lists to de lay their progress .

How long do you have to have a green card to get citizenship?

Employees seeking citizenship will need to have an active, valid green card for at least five years before they start the citizenship application process.

How do I get a green card?

To get a green card, foreign employees need either an immigrant visa or a duel-intent visa. An immigrant work visa is for immigrants coming to the U.S. to fill a full-time, indefinite position and typically involves work that requires unique skills. Employees must fall within one of four occupational categories to gain permanent residency on the basis of their employment. Employees must either be: 1 Priority workers, such as internationally acclaimed athletes or artists, renowned academics, or multinational executives ( EB-1 visa) 2 Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional ability, such as those who have a rare skill or specialty ( EB-2 visa) 3 Professional or skilled workers, such as workers holding college degrees or skilled laborers not available in the U.S. ( EB-3 visa) 4 Special Immigrants, such as religious workers or some physicians ( EB-4 visa)

How long can an employee stay out of the country?

During those five years, the employee can’t be out of the country for more than 30 months total or more than one year at a time. An employee who wishes to apply for naturalization must be at least 18 years old and of “good moral character,” which typically means they haven’t had any run-ins with the law.

What is dual intent visa?

Some temporary work visas are considered “ dual intent .”. This means that a foreign worker can come to the U.S. to fill a temporary work position and then either simultaneously or sometime later complete an “adjustment of status” to get on the path to permanent residence . The H-1B, L-1, and O-1 work visas are examples of dual-intent visas.

What are the categories of employees that can be considered for permanent residency?

Employees must either be: Priority workers, such as internationally acclaimed athletes or artists, renowned academics, or multinational executives ( EB-1 visa)

Can I work on the same visa again?

They can, however, return under the same visa later to do seasonal work again. An employer can sponsor a worker who was previously here under an H-2A or H-2B visa to come to the U.S. under an immigrant or dual-intent visa, but that will be a separate matter.

Do you need an employer sponsor for an EB-1 visa?

First preference work immigrant visas (EB-1 visa applicants) do not need to have an employer sponsor them.