In the area of
immigration law, our office
specializes in processing all types of immigration visas
and petitions including H1B visas, E treaty trader or investor visas,
family residency, employment-based permanent residency visas, asylum,
visa waivers, religious visas, O visas for aliens of extraordinary
abilities, TPS, NACARA, citizenship or naturalization, immigration
court proceedings, deportation or removal hearings, and immigration
consequences from past criminal convictions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If I have a child who is a US citizen, can I obtain legal status in
the US?
You can do this in two circumstances: 1). If your child is over the
age of 21 with the ability to support you, your child can file a
residency petition for you, if you came into the US with a visa. If
you did not enter the US with a visa, you may be eligible for a
waiver (or pardon) that may allow you to adjust to legal status, or
you may also adjust status if you are 245i eligible (see explanation
below of who is 245i eligible); and 2). If you have been in the US
for 10 years and you can demonstrate that your child will suffer an
extreme hardship if you are removed to your native country, you may
file for cancellation of removal or deportation.
I entered the US without a visa (or without inspection), am I
eligible to obtain residency in the US? Or what options do I have to
legalize myself?
There are generally 3 options through which people are able to
obtain legal status in the US: 1). An employment petition; 2). A
petition filed by an immediate family member; or 3). A special
petition such as political asylum or cancellation of removal
(deportation). However, in general, people will fall in one of 4
categories of eligibility:
1). People who entered the US with a visa and are eligible to get
their residency in the US through a family petition (even if the
visa has expired or the visa was not valid).
2). People who entered the US without inspection or visa and are
eligible to obtain residency through family or employment because
they are 245i eligible (see explanation below of who is 245i
eligible).
3). People who came into the US with a valid US visa, with a
current, un-expired I-94 (small white card issued at the time you
entered the US, which tells you how long you are allowed to remain
in the US). These persons are eligible to apply for any other
category of visa. The visa approval will depend on the person
meeting the specific qualifications required by the particular visa.
4). Persons who came into the US without inspection or persons that
came with a visa and the visa has expired, may be eligible to apply
for residency in the US, however, their adjustment of status
petition may require a waiver. A waiver is a “pardon” from the US
government that says that even though you have violated an
immigration regulation you will be granted a green card under
special circumstances. These waivers are generally granted to
individuals with special family connections to the US. These waivers
are most commonly issued at a US consulate abroad.
Can I obtain my residency through employment, if my boss wants to
sponsor me?
To be eligible for an Employment Based Residency, you (the
beneficiary) must meet all of the criteria in one of the three
following categories:
Category I:
Must be living in the U.S. on or before December 18, 2000 (According
to the former INA §245(i) law. Currently there are more than one
proposed amendment to this statute which impose different statutory
date limitations for filing. Therefore it is advisable to initiate
this procedure as soon as possible if the requirements are
fulfilled).
Must have never left the U.S. without permission of The US
Immigration Service
Must have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer, who has
agreed to sponsor the beneficiary for the residency
Must receive a salary equal to or above the prevailing wage offered
for such a position in the State in which the job will be performed
Category II:
Must be lawfully present in the U.S. on a current nonimmigrant visa
Must not have violated conditions of nonimmigrant visa
Category III:
Must be residing outside the U.S.
Must not have been previously deported or removed from the U.S.
Must not be subject to an order of removal, exclusion, or
deportation
How can I obtain a US social security number ?
In order to obtain a social security number, you must file a
application form SS-5 with the Social Security Administration. The
Social Security office will ask for identification and immigration
authorization (evidence of a visa which allows you to obtain a
social security number, a work authorization card, or a green card).
How can I obtain work authorization ?
To obtain work authorization, you must first be eligible for it. In
order to be eligible for work authorization, you must have entered
the US with a visa that allows work authorization. For example, K-1,
V-1, optional practical training, derivative beneficiaries of E, H,
& L visas, etc., or you if you have a residency application pending
and you are eligible to adjust status and there is a visa
immediately available, you may be eligible to obtain work
authorization (the specific point in time at which you are eligible
depends on the specific circumstances of your entry into the US.
You should consult your attorney to identify if you are eligible).
You are not eligible to obtain work authorization with a visitor or
tourist visa.
To obtain work authorization you must file an I-765 application with
the Immigration Service at either a local office or at a service
center. Upon approval of the application you will receive the
authorization in the mail.
This process generally takes from 3 to 4 months after the
application is filed and eligibility is established. You must have a
legal basis to obtain the authorization.
Who is eligible for asylum and what are its benefits?
Aliens who have remained in the U.S. for less than one year and are
part of an eligible “asylum class" (i.e. persecuted due to political
party, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation group, social
group, etc.)
Immediate family members may be eligible for asylum status with all
its benefits such as work authorization and being able to legally
remain in the U.S., as long as they have been named in the alien's
asylum application, even if any of the named family members are not
present in the U.S. at the time the application is filed.
Who is eligible for US citizenship and what are its benefits ?
In most situations, a person is eligible to apply for
Naturalization, if they meet the following requirements:
Applicant has been a lawful permanent resident for five years (or
three years for spouses of United States Citizens)
Applicant is 18 years old
Applicant is of good moral character
Applicant can speak, read, and write English
Applicant must pass a test on U.S. history and government
Applicant was physically present in the U.S. at least half the
requisite time
Applicant has maintained lawful permanent residence continuously
Applicant swears loyalty to the U.S. by taking an oath of allegiance
Benefits include the right to vote for in all government elections
(federal, state and local), and the fact that certain family members
may be immediately eligible to receive citizenship, such as minor
children. Other family members are eligible to receive a green card
with shorter wait periods than family members of residents (see
Family based residency section for estimated wait periods).
My spouse is a legal permanent resident, how long do I have to
wait to get my legal documents ?
Your spouse may apply for your residency immediately, however, you
will have to wait approximately 5 years before you receive your
immigration documentation. Please refer to the visa bulletin
published by the department of state at:
I was arrested by the police, am I going to have trouble with
immigration?
In general any criminal charge may have a negative impact on your
immigration status. Criminal convictions may cause the Immigration
Service to deny an application, to start deportation proceedings or
to detain or imprison an individual. If you are not a US citizen and
you are facing criminal charges you should have your case reviewed
by an immigration lawyer as well as a criminal attorney.
There are two types of criminal charges that are important:
“aggravated felonies” and “crimes of moral turpitude”. Aggravated
felonies are serious offenses involving theft, drugs, and acts of
violence.
Crimes of moral turpitude are those involving an act of moral
deficiency for example shoplifting, fraud, assault and battery with
a weapon and many others.
Any conviction for an aggravated felony or a crime of moral
turpitude can result in deportation or exclusion (denied entry into
the US). In addition, any conviction for any crime may result in a
denial of any application at the discretion of the Immigration
Service.
A conviction is any admission of responsibility for a criminal
charge made in court, even if it is not called a guilty plea.
Generally, if you have been ordered to pay a fine or placed on
probation you have admitted responsibility.
My relative was stopped at an airport (in any US city) and released
to my custody, what are my responsibilities and what does my
relative have to do?
Your responsibility as a “sponsor” is to make sure that the relative
goes to court on the scheduled date or you will loose the money that
was paid to secure your relative’s release. If the released relative
does not show up to court, there are no other risks or penalties for
the sponsor. The relative must appear at all scheduled immigration
hearings or appointments.
What is a Individual tax ID number (ITIN), what are its benefits,
and how do I get it?
An Individual tax ID number is a number issued by the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) to record any taxes which a person who does
not have a social security number owes. The benefit of using an ITIN
number is that it provides an individual with a way to declare and
pay taxes, even if the income earned was reported to an invalid
social security number. This may serve as evidence that a person has
been in the US for a period of time to demonstrate eligibility for
an immigration benefit such as cancellation of removal. It also can
be used to demonstrate work experience to establish eligibility for
a green card based on employment, as well as to provide evidence of
an employers’ ability to pay when sponsoring an employee for a green
card.
To obtain a tax ID number you must file application form W-7 with
the IRS with evidence of identity like a copy of your passport. You
will receive the number in the mail approximately within 1 to 2
months.
Can my employer use my Tax ID number to pay my wages?
No, because he/she is unable to make the mandatory social
security payments with this number. The only way your employer can
pay you using the ITIN number is if you are hired as an independent
contractor, not as an employee. Even if your employer does not pay
you using the ITIN number, you can still file taxes using the ITIN
number.
What is government aid and can receiving it affect my immigration
status?
Government aid is any public assistance or service you receive that
you do not pay for (example: public housing, food stamps, free
medical benefits, etc.). Receiving government aid may prevent you
from obtaining an approval of an immigration petition. Be very
careful before you accept any free government benefit.
What are some of the most common problems with taxes that can affect
my immigration status? Why is declaring taxes correctly important
for my immigration status?
Most immigration applications will require the production of tax
records at some point in the process. False or inaccurate
information on your tax returns can have a negative impact on your
immigration status which may result in delays or even a denial. If
taxes have been filed erroneously in the past, you can file
amendments or corrections, which will mean you will be responsible
for paying back any taxes which should have been paid if the taxes
were filed correctly in the first place. Some common bad practices
to avoid include:
1). Misstating filing status. If you are married and living with
your spouse, you cannot file as single, head of household, etc.
2). Declaring dependents who are not dependents according to the
definition in the tax code. You may not claim as dependents
individuals or family members not residing in your house (specially
if they do not live in the US). There are specific conditions that
must be met in order for a person living in your house to be a
dependent. Make sure you review these carefully with your accountant
or tax preparer.
3). Under reporting or not reporting income. All income received
must be reported by law. If you have a household of 4 persons and
you are claiming less than $10,000 or an extremely moderate income,
it is questionable and could lead to an investigation.
Do I need to have my visa stamped on my passport for it to be
valid ?
You do not need to have your non-immigrant visa stamped in your
passport if you are already present in the U.S. A visa approval
notice from the immigration service is sufficient if it contains an
I-94 section at the bottom of the approval (otherwise, you must
travel outside of U.S. to get the visa stamped). However, if you are
currently outside of the U.S. or if you travel outside of the U.S.,
you will need the visa stamped in your passport or a green card in
order to enter or return to the U.S.
What happens if my case or documentation is misplaced or
transferred to another city by the Immigration Service?
You should appear at your local USCIS office and request that your
file be transferred to the appropriate Immigration office or Service
Center.
What happens if my green card expires and I have not received a new
one in the mail? Am I out of status?
No. You are not out of status. However, you must appear before an
immigration officer to obtain an I-551 stamp in your valid passport.
To try to prevent this, you should apply to renew your
residency/green card at least 6 months before it expires.
Note: This does not apply to those having conditional residency (or
2 year resident cards). If you have a conditional residency you must
apply for a removal of conditions with the Immigration Service.
Can I get permission to travel (or advanced parole) while my case is
being processed by the IMMIGRATION SERVICE? What do I need to get
permission to travel?
If you apply for a non-immigrant visa (i.e. H-1B, O, P, L, E, etc.),
there is no permission to travel available while your application is
pending, and your application will be denied if you travel outside
of the U.S.
If you apply for residency through family or employment, you must
request “advanced parole” or permission to travel from the
Immigration Service, before traveling outside of the U.S. However,
not everyone is eligible for this, and the Immigration Service may
grant or deny your request at their discretion.
Eligibility for advanced parole or permission to travel:
You must have been in lawful status at the time you filed your
residency adjustment of status petition
You filed your application for residency/adjustment of status on or
before September 17, 1998.
If you are out of status at the time that you filed for
residency/adjustment of status, you may be able to travel if the
Immigration Service grants you a waiver of inadmissibility.
Note: This is extremely difficult to obtain.
If you are eligible to obtain advanced parole or permission to
travel while your residency application is pending, you must submit
the following:
Application I-131
2 immigration photos (showing your right ear)
the filing fee for the I-131 application (these fees change
periodically)
Supporting documentation to demonstrate the purpose of your travel
(ex: letter from your employer stating you must travel for business,
an invitation to attend a wedding, medical records of an ill
immediate family member, etc.).
Why is my case taking longer than anticipated to be processed by the
IMMIGRATION SERVICE? What does this mean?
The Immigration Service provides estimates for the time necessary to
complete processing an application. However, these are ONLY
ESTIMATES. The processing time is affected by the overall volume of
applications submitted, the number of employees assigned by the
Immigration Service to process particular types of applications, as
well as many other variables. For this reason, it is not uncommon
for applications to take longer to process, than what the
Immigration Service estimates.
Is there a way to pressure the IMMIGRATION SERVICE to work faster
on my case ?
Yes. If there have been unreasonable delays in your case, you may
file a complaint against the Immigration Service in the federal
court, and the court can force the Immigration Service to make a
decision in your case. Bear in mind that this decision can be
positive or negative. You must carefully evaluate with your attorney
if this is worth the added risk and cost of the additional work
required for this complaint.
What happens if I move, while the IMMIGRATION SERVICE is still
processing my case ?
You must notify the Immigration Service of your change in address.
If you move out of state, the Immigration Service will likely
transfer your case to the Immigration office with jurisdiction over
the geographical area you moved to, which may trigger delays in the
processing of your application.
Can I start working with my new employer before I finish
transferring my H-1B visa ?
Yes. The law (AC-21) allows an H-1 B visa holder to begin
working with a new employer as soon as his/her transfer application
has been filed with the immigration service, without having to wait
for an approval. However, if your H1B transfer application is
denied, you will be left out of status or “illegal”, making it much
more difficult to return to legal status in the future.
What is adjustment of status ?
It is to change from non-immigrant status or any other immigration
status, to a lawful permanent resident status (or obtaining a green
card).
Who is 245i eligible to adjust status ?
245i eligible means that you qualify under the 245i provision of the
immigration act, for eligibility to adjust your legal status by
paying a penalty fee, if you meet the following conditions:
1). You must have been present in the US before December 18, 2000,
and
2). You must have filed a family or employment based residency
petition on or before April 30, 2001, or you must have been the
derivative beneficiary of such a petition.
Note: Even if your initial petition was not successful, but was
filed on or before April 30, 2001, you may still be 245i eligible
under certain circumstances, and may apply again for residency
through another family or employment petition (consult an attorney
to make this determination).
What is a derivative beneficiary ?
A derivative beneficiary is a spouse or child of an individual who
was named as the primary or main beneficiary of a visa application
or residency petition, if the type of petition allows family members
to be included. For example:
a). My aunt who is a citizen filed a residency petition for my
mother when I was under the age of 21, this means my mother’s spouse
and I are derivative beneficiaries of that application.
b). My father’s employer started a petition for my father when I was
under the age of 21, this makes me and my father’s wife derivative
beneficiaries of that petition.
c). My mother marries a US citizen when I was under the age of 21, I
was named as her child in the petition, however, this type of
residency petition does not allow me to be a derivative beneficiary.
In this case, my stepfather is required to file a separate residency
petition for me, if he wants to petition for my residency.
I was previously ordered deported, but I have not left the US. Is
there anything I can do ?
You can do one of two things: 1). Apply in the court that issued the
order of deportation, for the court to vacate or cancel the order of
deportation; or 2). Apply with the immigration service to waive or
cancel your former order of deportation. If you are outside of the
U.S., you may request permission from the U.S. Attorney General to
re-enter the country.
These are extremely complicated procedures and their success depends
on the individual history and circumstances of the person applying.
Consult an attorney to evaluate if it makes sense to purse any of
these options.
Do I have to notify immigration if I change address ?
The immigration regulations require that all persons who are not
citizens of the US (including residents) inform the US Immigration
Service of any change in their address.
If I am a legal permanent resident, can I file a fiancé petition
for my future spouse who is outside of the US ?
No, only US citizens can file for a fiancée. As a legal permanent
resident you may file for a spouse who is outside of the US,
however, this takes approximately 5 years or more.
If I am in removal proceedings, can I renew my work authorization
?
In some situations you can. For example, if you were:
1). Paroled (or permitted to enter) into the US for the purpose of
applying for asylum.
2). If you have an asylum claim pending, for which you were
previously issued employment authorization.
3). If you are eligible for TPS
4). If you have a residency petition through employment (note: while
you are eligible, the Immigration Service may refuse to issue work
authorization, as the regulations have not clearly defined the
procedure).
How do I renew my work authorization card? How many months before
it expires should I renew it?
To renew your work authorization card, you must file application
I-765 with the Immigration Service, together with the appropriate
filing fees (these vary). You should apply for renewal 6 months
before your work authorization card expires.
If I have an employment residency application pending, can I change
employer and continue with my pending application, if the new
employer is willing to sponsor me?
This is only possible in some very specific situations. For example:
1). If your I-140 has been approved for at least 6 months, you may
change employer as long as the new employer and the new position are
similar to the ones in the original petition, and the new employer
is in the same geographic region as the original employer.
2). If the original employer has changed corporate identity or
merged with a new company and the new employment is with the new
company.
In general however, it is not advisable to change employer while
your residency application is pending.
For more information regarding Immigration Law
contact a Rhode Island Immigration Lawyer at the Law
Offices of James P. Howe
Contact us by
Email or call us today at (401) 788-0600 to speak with a
someone from our firm..
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