Immigration Reform Is Getting Rid Of Visas For Brothers & Sisters

May 23, 2013 By Tom Jr.

Growing up I was the oldest of the four kids in my family. I used to pick on and fight with my two brothers and my sisters. I was the typical older brother. I could pick on my brother and sister, but no one else could. When we all get together the conversation always includes something I did to one of them, and usually some fight I got into with someone else to protect them.

Sounds a lot like your time with your family right? You may fight with your family, but you protect your family against everyone else. Well now it is time for you to step up and protect your brother and sister from the United States Congress. The evening of May 21, 2013 The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill out of committee for immigration reform. For many people this is great news, BUT it is tragic for your brother and sister. Part of the deal the Senators made with themselves was to eliminate the visa category that allows you to help your brother and sister.

Fortunately for your family this bill is not yet law, so you still have time to act. If you file the necessary papers you can still have the peace of mind you have protected your brother & sister.

If you do not how will you feel? Guilty?

If you do file in time you will have the satisfaction of knowing your brothers and sisters will be able to make a better life for themselves here in the United States. How sure am I of this? I am in the same situation. I filed for my wife’s three brothers, to make sure they, and their family will have a chance at a safer and better life here in the United States.
Family4 end

Filed Under: Family based Immigration, Green Card, Immigration, Reform/New Laws

Changing your name. Advice to newlyweds, when dealing with immigration

May 17, 2013 By Tom Jr.

A common question I as newlyweds when they come to my office to discuss getting a “green card” is what is your name? This question often causes a lively conversation about whether a woman can/should/must change her name when she gets married. In the application for a “green card” there is no requirement for the spouses to have the same last name, and in fifteen years of practicing immigration law, I have never had an officer ask why someone has or has not changed their name.
Where there have been questions, and issues is when the name change is done in some areas but not all. Part of the job of USCIS is to perform background investigations on both the petitioner and applicant. Inconsistencies and conflicting information need to be explained to the officer’s satisfaction. When the officer issues a request for evidence, this slows the process of obtaining employment authorization (work card), travel permission and the green card. An unanswered request for evidence will most likely cause the “green card” application to be denied.
Because of all of the places a name change is needed, we have created a name changing kit for our clients who are either getting married or changed their name as part of the naturalization process. This kit includes:

A notice of name change, this can be used with all of your commercial accounts such as work, banks charge card companies and the like
A change of name with Social Security
A change of name with the IRS
A change of name for your Ohio driver license
A change of name for your U.S. passport and
If you are a lawful permanent resident (“green card” holder) a change of name for USCIS

This name change kit is free for anyone to access, just fill out your first name and email address and I will email this to you right away. If you would like to speak to me about the possibilities of our office representing you, please feel free to contact me. My office information is on this website and you can reply to the email I will send you.

andmarried

Filed Under: Citizenship, Family based Immigration, Family Member, Family Visas, Green Card, Immigration, Naturalization

¿Qué significa la Acción Diferida para tu futuro?

May 14, 2013 By Tom Jr.

No todos los jóvenes cumplen con los requisitos de la iniciativa “Acción Diferida para los que Entraron al País Siendo Niños.” El obtener la mejor asesoría legal puede ayudarte a decidir si la Acción Diferida es la opción adecuada para ti. No te dejes engañar. Los notarios o consultores no certificados no están autorizados para prestar asesoría legal y pueden perjudicarte. Si cumples con los requisitos, la Acción Diferida puede ser una gran oportunidad para que puedas construir un futuro brillante. Sin embargo, el proceso conlleva también algunos riesgos.

Filed Under: Immigration, Reform/New Laws, Soap Box

How U.S. Citizens Can Help Family Members Get Green Cards

May 9, 2013 By Tom Jr.

Family

If you are a U.S. citizen, you are allowed to bring members of your immediate family to live permanently in the United States. There are a number of steps to this process, but your family members do not have to wait for a visa number.

The following people are considered to be immediate family members:
•   Your husband or wife
•   Your children, if they are unmarried and under the age of 21
•   Your parents (as long as you are over 21)
If your family member is already in the United States

To be eligible for permanent residency, your family member must have entered the United States legally or been paroled into the United States. If your family member’s visa has expired or if he or she entered the country without documents, then you should speak with a lawyer before filing any immigration documents.

There are two main forms required to get a green card for an immediate family member:
• Form I-485 is the application for a green card. The person who is applying for the green card fills this out, often with the help of a lawyer. The I-485 is a lengthy form that requires a number of supporting documents. To complete the entire application, the applicant will need to submit a birth certificate, photographs, a copy of the visa documenting that the person is in the United States legally, and a form from a doctor showing the results of a medical examination.There is also an extra Biographic Information Form that must be included in the application packet.
• Form I-130 is the petition filed by you, the U.S. citizen, asking for your immediate family member to be granted a green card. This form must be submitted together with proof of your U.S. citizenship and proof of the family relationship between you and the person applying for the green card. These extra documents can be challenging to put together, and the immigration service will study them very carefully to make sure that the family relationship is legitimate. If you are petitioning for a green card for your husband or wife, there are many ways you can prove the marriage is real. These include birth certificates for any children you have or proof that you have lived together or shared a bank account. You can even include wedding photos and sworn statements by people who attended your wedding.
These two forms can be submitted at the same time, or the I-130 can be turned in first. Depending on which method you and your lawyer choose, certain requirements and extra forms may be involved.

After receiving the I-485, the immigration service will contact the green card applicant and ask for fingerprints. The fingerprint information must be sent in before the I-485 will be processed. In-person interviews of both the applicant and the U.S. citizen sponsor are also required.

If your family member is not yet in the United States

If your family member is not yet in the United States, the procedure for getting a green card is slightly different. If you are in the United States, you will first have to file Form I-130 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If you are not in the United States, you and your family member must file all paperwork with your local consulate.
Come in for a free consultation
Working with the immigration service is never simple, and we’d be happy to help you get green cards for your family members. Fill out the form below or give us a call to learn more.

Please look at what our clients say about our immigration services Click Here!

Filed Under: Family based Immigration, Green Card, Immigration, Uncategorized

Immigration and Entrepreneurship: A Conversation with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

May 6, 2013 By Tom Jr.

The linkage between entrepreneurship and immigration has been proven by numerous studies as has the linkage between entrepreneurship and economic development. Why then can’t we make it easier for entrepreneurial immigrants to stay in the United States?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency responsible for administering immigration benefits, invites you to attend a highly interactive town hall meeting to discuss the issues at the nexus of immigration law, entrepreneurship, and innovation, including policies and practices to make the U.S. a welcoming place for innovation driven entrepreneurs. The program will feature a panel from the local entrepreneurial community who will discuss their experiences, as well as time for Q&A to discuss ideas to enhance current policies and programs.