Family-Based Immigration

Many people can immigrate to the United States through family members who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders). U.S. citizens can petition for their parents, spouses, children, and brothers and sisters. Lawful permanen… Read More

Consular Processing

Once an immigrant petition has been approved and a visa is available, the person can apply for lawful permanent residence (green card) in the United States. Many people who are in the United States are eligible to adjust their status here. However, t… Read More

Immigration Waiver Applications

In order to obtain lawful permanent residence or enter the United States for any reason, a non-U.S. citizen must be admissible. There are many grounds that render people inadmissible, including criminal convictions (even minor convictions), fraud, an… Read More

Appeals and Motions to Reopen

A deportation order by an Immigration Judge can often be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Similarly, immigration petitions and applications that are denied by the Department of Homeland Security can also often be appealed. Most appeals m… Read More

Naturalization

Naturalization is the process that allows people to become U.S. citizens. To apply for naturalization, a person must be a lawful permanent resident for a required period of time, usually five or three years. The person must also have spent at least h… Read More

Asylum

A person in the United States who has a well-founded fear of persecution in his or her home country is eligible for asylum. A year after receiving asylum, the person becomes eligible for lawful permanent residence. An application for asylum can be fi… Read More

Removal (Deportation) Defense

The Department of Homeland Security puts non-U.S. citizens in removal proceedings (also known as deportation proceedings) for many reasons, including criminal convictions, fraud, and entering and working in the U.S. without permission. However, peopl… Read More

Temporary Protected Status

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows people from certain countries to live and work in the United States temporarily. The U.S. government designates the countries based on armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and tempora… Read More

DACA

The term “deferred action” refers to actions taken by the U.S. government that provide temporary relief from deportation. As a matter of prosecutorial discretion, the government decides on a case-by-case basis whether to enforce a deporta… Read More

Immigration Consequences of Criminal Cases

Many non-U.S. citizens can become inadmissible or deportable due to criminal arrests and convictions. The number of criminal offenses that affect immigrants has increased dramatically. Even people who have lived in the United States as lawful permane… Read More