When you are immigrating to a new country, hiring an immigration lawyer should be at the top of your list of things to do. You may feel like you’re in over your head, particularly if English isn’t your first language. That’s why you need an immigration lawyer.
There are many benefits to having a lawyer help you through the process. Immigration lawyers can help you determine all of your options for your path to citizenship, including marriage and work visas. They understand all the laws and facts surrounding immigration and have a clear understanding of the entire intricate process of applying for citizenship. This means they can explain it to you in detail, and also that they can help ensure that your application is properly filled out and ready to be filed before you submit it. An immigration lawyer can also be of help to you outside the process of applying for citizenship. They can help you find a legal job. Once you’re a permanent U.S. resident, or have a work visa, you still have special laws that apply to you. Your immigration lawyer can help you know and understand these laws so that you don’t unintentionally endanger your status in this country and find yourself deported. If it should come to an issue of deportation, however, your attorney can help you with that, too.
1. Application Denial
There are several reasons your citizenship application can be denied: no basis for eligibility, grounds of inadmissibility, failure to properly deal with the application requirements, and more. An immigration lawyer can first ensure that you use a viable option to request citizenship, and make sure that you have all the information, required documentation and other things you need to apply. They can go over your application and ensure that everything is properly filled out and nothing is missing or inaccurate.
If your application is denied, your immigration lawyer can help you with the appeal process. There is a limited window of time in which you can file the appeal, so it’s important that you have a lawyer who can help you do that. Alternatively, your attorney may believe a better option is to simply re-file the application and try again. Your attorney will know what your finest option is if your application has been denied, and because time is of the essence in this situation, you don’t want to try to go it alone. You may not be able to find the information you need on your own in time. An immigration lawyer will already know the law and be able to move things forward quickly.
2. Convictions
Prior criminal convictions are not necessarily grounds for green card denial. A recent felony is likely to get your application denied, or conviction of an aggravated felony. But a relatively minor felony conviction that happened a decade ago may not. An immigration lawyer can help you determine whether your prior convictions will present a problem for you or not.
Additionally, conviction of a felony after you’ve been granted citizenship can still lead to deportation. Your attorney can assist you in pleading your case in immigration court to try to avoid deportation. It is critical that you not attempt to defend yourself in immigration court.
3. Deportations
There are many reasons an immigrant may be deported. While it may be unavoidable in some cases, after fighting so hard to become a citizen of this country, you should have an attorney on your side and fight just as hard to stay. There are numerous ways that your immigration lawyer can try to prevent deportations. Depending on your circumstances and the reason given for deportation, your lawyer may be able to apply for political asylum, get a waiver of removal, ask for prosecutorial discretion, or get a U visa, among other options. They can also help you prove that there’s no reason for deportation if that’s the case.
4. Marriage
Spouses of U.S. citizens may qualify for a marriage-based green card. The laws surrounding a green card based on a marriage are complex and incredibly detailed. Additionally, whether your spouse is a citizen or legal permanent resident makes a difference. If they’re a legal permanent resident, whether they entered the country legally also matters. It’s important to have an attorney who understands all those intricacies and can ensure that your green card doesn’t get denied for a small error. Depending on the circumstances, you may be issued a conditional 2-year green card. Your attorney can also help you remove the conditions after the two year period has expired.
5. Visa/Green Card
Visas or green cards are essential for those from another country who wish to live and work in the United States. But the conditions under which you can get one, the requirements to meet, and the application itself can be overwhelming when English isn’t your first language, and you’re trying to learn and understand the customs, culture, and language of a new country. An immigration attorney can help you ensure that you meet the requirements, fill out all the paperwork properly, and get through the process as smoothly and quickly as possible. Because your lawyer understands the laws, you don’t have to and can focus on acclimating to your new life as you apply for citizenship. The advantages of using an immigration lawyer for your Visa/green card application far outweigh the expense.
6. Children
Maybe you’re an immigrant who has children. Maybe you are the child of an immigrant. Perhaps you’re a U.S. citizen who wants to adopt a child from a foreign country. Whatever the case, an immigration lawyer can help clear the way and make the process as easy as possible. If you are an illegal immigrant who has had a child in the U.S., the idea that your child’s U.S. citizenship gives you citizenship is a myth. An immigration lawyer can assist you with the process of applying for citizenship, however, and try to make your citizenship a reality. There are many benefits to applying for your green card with an attorney.
7. Smoother Citizenship Process
The immigration process is a tough one. If you’ve never applied before, don’t know much about it, or have already been denied once, it can be overwhelming. It’s stressful, with many documents that need to be collected and an interview that needs to be cleared, among other things. An immigration lawyer can give you many advantages that you won’t have without their help. They can walk you through the process, go over your paperwork to ensure you have everything you need and that everything is properly filled out. They will help you prepare for your interview, understand how long the process should take, and if the worst should happen, help you re-apply or appeal an application denial. An attorney will ensure a smoother citizenship process. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but your chances improve greatly with the help of a good attorney. If you need legal assistance you can also find additional legal aid here and you can search for a lawyer here.