Family unity is the foundation for many of the U.S. immigration laws. It’s a high priority. Now, the government seeks to reduce the wait time for family reunification, work more efficiently, and to standardize the process.

Mr. Mayorka’s statement explains,

“Currently, children and spouses of U.S. citizens who have accrued a certain period of unlawful presence in the U.S., and have to leave the country in order to become a legal permanent resident of the U.S., are barred from returning to their families for as long as 3 or 10 years.  They can receive a waiver to allow them to return to their families before that period by showing that their U.S. citizen family member would face extreme hardship as a result of the separation.  But under current procedures, in order to obtain the waiver, these individuals must apply from outside the United States after they have been found inadmissible by a Department of State consular officer. This process can be lengthy and discourages individuals who are currently eligible for this waiver from applying.  To address this problem, the USCIS proposal would allow eligible immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to apply for and receive “provisional waivers” of unlawful presence before they leave the United States for consular processing of their immigrant visa applications, significantly reducing the time U.S. citizens are separated from their spouses, or children.”

Reunification Benefits Our Society

It is recognized that a separation of 3 to 10 years can cause a significant breakdown in the family and family support systems. It benefits the U.S. government and society, in general, if families are kept together. Families provide emotional and financial support that the government and taxpayers would otherwise bear the brunt of.

Where to Get Help Bringing Your Family Members to the United States

More details on the new immigration regulations will be published, likely this spring, in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Public comments will be welcome. If you need help, we focus our practice on immigration law and bringing children and spouses of American citizens to the U.S.

Your next step is to contact our office: 513-791-1673, the form below  or  Thomasjr@geygan.com. We will guide you and your loved ones through the immigration process and help you to reunify your family in the United States.

If you’ve ever thought, “Immigration Laws are sooooo confusing,” you’re not alone – and you’re right.  Immigration law is very detail oriented, with lots of rules and procedures, which change continuously.  That’s why we focus our practice on immigration law and don’t try to be experts in all legal fields.

How We Can Help You and Your Family with Immigration Matters

First off, it’s important that you don’t feel alone and that you know you’re in good hands.  So, we explain how immigration procedures work and, specifically, how we will help you.  For instance, you may need representation in immigration court, help bringing a family member to live with you in the United States, or legal assistance to avoid removal proceedings and deportation.

Secondly, we answer all of your questions and address your concerns.  We explain what to expect, and how your specific immigration issue will be handled.  You will never be surprised.  We’ve found that these conversations help our clients to feel increased peace of mind and to sleep better at night.

Third, we guide you through all immigration matters step by step.  You are never alone, even if you need to go to court, have an immigration interview, or file applications with supporting documentation.

Full Disclosure is Required; Confidentiality is Guaranteed

While we, as your immigration lawyers, do all the things mentioned immediately above, you must be active in your immigration case as well.  Basically, this means that you must be completely honest, and disclose all information even if you think it may be harmful to your case.  We can only help you if we know everything.  Just like a medical doctor can only diagnosis and treat a problem if you disclose all of your symptoms, we, as you immigration attorneys, can only understand your immigration issues and determine what legal path to pursue if we have all the facts.  Once we establish the attorney-client relationship, anything you disclose to us will be held in the strictest of confidences, as required by law.

Where to Get Help with Immigration Issues

We focus our practice on immigration law and help people just like you every day.  We will listen to your concerns and answer your questions; you are not alone.

Your next step is to contact our office:  513-791-1673 or Thomasjr@geygan.com.  We will gently walk you through your immigration issues, even representing you in court and before the Department of State.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, the thought of being deported is a scary thing; and, committing a crime can be cause for deportation.  If you’ve been arrested for drunk driving (DUI or DWI), consult an immigration attorney who will work with your criminal defense attorney.  Drunk driving is a serious issue.

Does DUI = Direct Deportation?

Sometimes a conviction for drunk driving will lead to deportation or removal proceedings; however, it others, it may not.  For example, if you killed or injured someone while driving drunk or you have been convicted of drunk driving several times, drove without a license, or there were other aggravating factors, deportation may be an issue.  In other words, your arrest for DUI/DWI may or may not directly lead to you to deportation or removal proceedings.  It depends upon the circumstances.

Does DUI = Indirect Deportation?

If you are arrested for drunk driving, your arrest may show up on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) radar.  If you are not legally in the country or are removable for another reason, you may be subject to deportation.  In other words, your arrest for DUI/DWI may bring you to the attention of ICE who will investigate whether you are in legal status and/or have any other reason to be deported.

Other Potential Immigration Related DUI Consequences

Besides deportation or removal proceedings, a drunk driving conviction may have other serious consequences as well:

• You may be placed in jail for weeks or months during removal proceedings.
• Drug or alcohol problems can limit your immigration options.
• Immigration judges will likely look unfavorably upon drunk driving convictions when exercising discretion in your case.
• DUI/DWI will have an impact on your application for release on a bond.

Where to Get Help if You’ve Been Arrested for Drunk Driving

If you are not a U.S. citizen and you have been arrested for either DUI or DWI, it is likely in your best interest to consult both an immigration attorney and a criminal defense attorney.  A conviction for drunk driving, with aggravated circumstances, may lead to removal proceedings and deportation.  And, there are other serious immigration consequences as well.

Immigration is a very specialized area of law; be sure your attorney focuses his or her practice on immigration and helping people like you avoid deportation and other serious consequences of DUI and DWI convictions.

We focus our practice on immigration law and help people just like you.

Your next step is to contact our office:  513-791-1673 or Thomasjr@geygan.com.  We will represent you in court and front of the Department of State, as needed; and we will aggressively fight for your legal rights.  You are not alone.

This bill is very personal to me as during Desert Storm I went to work; picked up my M-16 rifle with 240 rounds of ammunition, 24 rounds of high explosive grenades for my grenade launcher, and two magazines for my 9 mm pistol. After picking up my weapons but before going to my post I received my mail. In the mail was a letter from INS explaining that they have sent my wife’s case to the immigration judge for her to be removed. The reason for this action is that I had the audacity not to show up for a hearing with immigration while I was thousands and thousands of miles away serving my country.

Fortunately I was able to send a letter to the immigration judge showing that I was serving overseas and with the consent of chief counsel’s office the case against my wife was dismissed. The men and women serving this great country overseas need to be given the tools to do their jobs and the understanding of our legal system that they cannot be in two places at one time. No matter how desperately our servicemen and women want to come home and follow our immigration laws, sometimes the needs of the service come first. If this bill becomes law it will allow those serving overseas to do their job and not to worry about a deadline for filing papers or appearing at an interview for their loved ones. It is important to note that this bill does not excuse service members or their families from their legal requirements, it simply extends the time they have to do so while serving overseas.

God bless the United States of America.

It is natural to question the benefit of hiring an immigration lawyer, especially in today’s economy.  However, anytime you are dealing with the legal system, especially a foreign one, it is likely in your best interest to be represented by an immigration attorney.

If you take the following points into consideration, you are likely to view your immigration lawyer fees as an investment in your family’s future and well-being, not as a questionable expense.

An Immigration Attorney is an Investment Because:

* A qualified immigration attorney understands the innermost workings of the legal system as well as the intricacies of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS.)  In addition, he or she knows how to file the appropriate forms, documentation, and fees.

* An immigration attorney keeps abreast of all the law and policy changes, regarding immigration and helping people like you and your family.

* Your immigration lawyer will literally speak the same language as the immigration officials, English.  In addition, he understands the language and terminology of immigration laws and the USCIS.

* You attorney is legally and morally obligated to be on your side, representing your best interests.

* In all immigration matters, the consequences of failure are extreme:  deportation from the U.S., refusal of admittance to the U.S., and/or separation from family.

* Your immigration lawyer can represent you in court, before the USCIS, and in all meetings or other administrative law courts.

* Your lawyer will answer your questions, address your concerns, and set appropriate expectations so as to eliminate fear of the unknown.

* Once you hire your immigration attorney, you can rest assured that you and your family have an advocate who will aggressively fight for your legal rights.  You’re likely to breathe a great sigh of relief, have increased peace of mind, and sleep better at night.

How to Hire an Immigration Attorney

It’s easy to get help.  We will answer your questions and address your concerns.  Call or email our immigration lawyers today (Thomasjr@geygan.com.) We will gently walk you through your immigration issues and aggressively fight for your legal rights.  Call today:  513-793-6555.

At Geygan and Geygan, we focus our practice on immigration matters so we are uniquely qualified to help you and your family.  Success with immigration matters requires a full understanding of the facts, the immigration law, and the current immigration policies.  Our office is located in Ohio, but we are licensed to practice immigration law throughout the United States.  Please contact our office to discuss how we can help you.  All conversations are confidential.