Posted on October 01, 2019 in family-based immigration

Immigration issues can be a challenge for anyone, but for some people the stakes are especially high. For example, families who have young children may be worried about how an unfavorable outcome could affect the lives of their children and their future opportunities. Moreover, this process can be very stressful, which is often very hard for kids who may be working through other issues related to immigration (such as difficult emotions due to leaving loved ones behind in another country or adjusting to a new culture). It is critical to do everything in your power to help your kids work through these changes and prepare for what lies ahead.

Your children may have a lot of questions about what is going on and what will happen next. It can be difficult for some parents to answer these questions, especially if they are uncertain about their future as well. For these reasons, it is crucial to comprehensively evaluate your circumstances and do your best to have a solid understanding of the various immigration issues that you will have to take on. Everyone is in a different situation when it comes to immigration, and this is particularly true for families. However, by doing all that you can to succeed with respect to your immigration case and beyond, you may be able to give your children the head start they need in life.

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 Posted on October 01, 2019 in Spouse Visas

If you and your fiancé are looking forward to marriage, there may be many different issues that have to be taken into consideration first, especially if your fiancé needs to deal with immigration issues and obtain a visa. This may be a very exciting time in both of your lives, but there may be a number of legal issues to take into consideration beforehand. The way in which you approach the visa process could play a key role in your fiancé’s ability to obtain a visa and move forward in your relationship, so it is imperative to prepare carefully.

From filing an application to getting a health exam and getting ready for an interview, there are a lot of different tasks that will have to be taken care of in order to help your fiancé work through immigration matters. It may seem stressful, especially if you are dealing with other concerns and stressors, such as planning your wedding or preparing to move to another part of the country after your wedding. With that being said, the visa process should be a top priority, especially since an unsuccessful outcome could be disastrous with respect to your marriage and the future of your relationship.

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 Posted on October 01, 2019 in Firm News

If you are a Texas resident and received your citizenship through a K-1 Visa or through a work permit, you need a Social Security Number. Without a SSN, you cannot report your earnings to the U.S government. If you are not sure how to apply for your SSN, then you are not alone. Fortunately, the SSA makes the whole process simple.

If you apply to work within the U.S, the SSA states that you can apply for anSSN cardat the same time. The application for employment authorization contains a section that allows you to request your SSN. When the USCIS approves the application, the SSA issues you the SSN card. If you already have an SSN, then you receive a replacement card.

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 Posted on September 01, 2019 in naturalization & citizenship

Becoming a U.S. citizen is the culmination of your immigration journey, and the naturalization test is an important component of citizenship. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, almost 757,000 people took the test in the 2018 fiscal year, which is the highest number in the last five years.

The USCIS designed the naturalization test to assess whether immigrants understand the full significance of what it means to be a U.S. citizen and what values Americans hold dear. In particular, you can expect questions that evaluate your knowledge of the basics of U.S. history and government.

American history has played a primary role in shaping the values of its citizens. By studying the country’s past, you can gain a better understanding of the culture and society you are joining.

Knowledge of the structure and function of the government is important because as a citizen, you will have the right and responsibility of voting in local, state and federal elections. You will need to know what your elected representatives will be able to do for you and the country while in office so that you can make informed choices about the candidates you choose to make decisions on your behalf in government.

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 Posted on August 01, 2019 in fiancé visas

Because the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services offers special immigration options for foreign nationals who are married to U.S. citizens, some people in Texas may feel tempted to enter into an arranged marriage just to gain a green card. As FindLaw explains, this is marriage fraud, and the USCIS has methods for attempting to catch those who try it.

One of these is the marriage interview.

Interview information requests

Although the questions vary, The New York Times reports that immigration officers often want the spouses to verify the following information about their relationship in separate interviews:

• When, where and how they met

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 Posted on August 01, 2019 in family-based immigration

As an immigrant living in Texas after attaining your U.S. citizenship, you probably have family members still living in your native country. If you wish to help them gain entry into the U.S., you will be pleased to know that you and they have many visa options from which to choose.

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs explains that family immigration visas fall within two categories, Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas and Family Preference Immigrant Visas.

Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas

These types of visas apply to your immediate family members such as the following:

• The IR-1 visa applies to your spouse
• The IR-2 visas apply to your unmarried child(ren) who are under 21 years of age
• The IR-3 visas apply to any orphan(s) you adopted abroad

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 Posted on July 01, 2019 in green cards

A green card allows an individual to permanently live and work in the United States. If you are eligible for this document, you must follow the application process carefully to successfully receive green card status.

Follow these steps to apply for permanent U.S. residency when you are already living in the country.

Select your eligibility category

The green card process varies based on your eligibility category. You may be eligible as a family member, employee, refugee, crime victim or a member of another group.

File an immigrant petition

Depending on your category, you may be able to file your own petition. Otherwise, a family member or employer must file one on your behalf as applicable.

Check visa availability

The U.S. Department of State allocates a limited number of visas by category. Generally, you must wait until a visa becomes available in your category before moving forward with the green card process.

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 Posted on July 01, 2019 in green cards

A green card allows you to live legally in the United States. With this document, you can make your home in Texas, secure a job and take advantage of other benefits from being a legal immigrant. There are many ways you can secure a green card, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Some methods require you know people already living in the United States while others allow you to pave your own way.

Green cards are available if you are a crime victim or refugee. You may also get one when seeking asylum in the country. If you are a victim of abuse from a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident or Cuban native, then you may also qualify. You may also file for a green card if you have been living in the country since before January 1, 1972 continuously.

If you have a special immigrant status, you may also get a card. Special includes working as a member of the media, a juvenile who has been abandoned, abused or neglected by your parents and religious workers. You may also be considered special if you are a retired employee of NATO or other international organizations.

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 Posted on July 01, 2019 in family-based immigration

If you wish to get married in Texas to someone who is not a U.S. citizen, then there are some things you will have to do to ensure he or she is legally allowed in the country. This involves getting a fiancé visa or a K-1 visa. You may have seen the popular TV show about this topic where people get married within 90 days of their fiancé coming to the country. There is a very good reason that the focus is on those 90 days.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, you have to get married to the person using the K-1 visa within 90 days of them entering the country. However, that is only a small part of the whole process.

Your first step in the process is to file the correct forms and get recognition from the U.S. of your relationship. You may need to provide evidence as well. Once you have an approval of your relationship status, your fiancé can then file for the visa.

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 Posted on June 01, 2019 in green cards

Being legally in the United States and in Texas gives you many perks. You are able to find employment, attend school and take advantage of other benefits. If you have a green card, it is not a lifelong pass to stay in this country. Depending on the type of card, you may have to renew it or you may need to take additional steps to ensure it remains valid.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services explains that you may have a 10-year or 2-year green card. If you have a 2-year green card, you cannot renew it. You will, instead, need to petition to remove the conditions on your card. You may do this if you have a family-based reason by using Form I-751. You may also do this if you are an entrepreneur or an investor using Form I-829.

If you have a 10-year green card, then you can renew it. You will do so using Form I-90. You may file this form either online or through the mail. It is important to plan ahead. When you know your renewal time is coming up, you should start the process within six months to allow enough time to prevent a lapse.

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