Expertise in U.S. immigration law, including complex cases worldwide, removal defense, and federal litigation before the U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the consequences of criminal convictions for non-citizens. Extensive legal and practical knowledge of affirmative applications before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including asylum, family-based benefits, and humanitarian applications, including relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), U Visas, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION
Studies show that most immigrants travel to the United States to be reunited with their families. U.S. immigration law, namely the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows individuals to gain permanent resident status, and eventually, citizenship based on their relationship to spouse, parent, child, or sibling who is a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen. U.S. immigration law has changed in many ways, both small and large, over the past decades, and it’s often much more complex than most people realize. If you have family in the United States with lawful status or an application pending before U.S. Immigration, contact an experienced immigration attorney to explore your options.
NATURALIZATION
Lawful permanent residents of the United States are generally eligible to naturalize after holding this status for five years. If you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen, then you are eligible to apply early, after you have been a permanent resident for three years. In both cases, you may submit your application 90 days before you are eligible. Here are a few things to consider before submitting your application for U.S. citizenship:
Arrests and Convictions: Certain arrests and convictions could cause problems with your citizenship application. If you have been arrested or convicted and are considering naturalization, you should obtain a copy of your criminal record and review it with an experienced immigration attorney.
Travel outside the United States: if you have traveled too often or for too long, your application could be denied. Worse, you could be placed into immigration court and charged with abandonment. If you are concerned about your travel history, you should consult an attorney.
Mistakes or misrepresentations in your application for a green card: If the USCIS believes that your application for a green card contains untrue information, it is crucial to consult with an immigration attorney. In such cases, your application could be denied, and you could be sent to immigration court.
REMOVAL DEFENSE
There is no right to counsel in immigration court, which means that the government does not provide you with an attorney, even if you cannot afford to hire one. However, having an experienced attorney advocate for you before the immigration judge is absolutely essential.
