Shoreline Immigration

If it was a traffic violation and the person was given a ticket, it is a minor traffic offense, and that should not affect the course of the N-400 form, citizenship by naturalization. Now, if the person was arrested, went to court, showed the license, and had the charges dismissed, there should be no problem with the N-400 application either. But in some cases you have to review the reason why the individual was arrested and determine if that problem hinders the citizenship process. Finally, that at the time of taking the N-400 form, “the legal permanent resident must fill in the complete information. That is, indicate if you were arrested for driving without a license, and then explain that when you went to court the judge dismissed the charge. That shouldn't stop you from becoming a US citizen.

The Central American immigrants who make up the Via Crucis Caravan that crossed Mexico and reached the Tijuana border "have the right to request asylum" and that an immigration judge decide their futures in the United States. The Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds on its website that there are five reasons for asylum, being "persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion".

While the asylum application procedures appear to be simple on paper, the overall legal process is actually quite confusing. Simple mistakes can occur with great repercussions, like when an asylum seeker who is already scheduled for an administrative hearing would end up appearing in the wrong venue or courthouse, which can result in being declared as a no show by the presiding judge, which leads to dismissal of the application.

Congress created Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the Immigration Act of 1990. It is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of specifically designated countries that are confronting an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. It provides a work permit and stay of deportation to foreign nationals from those countries who are in the United States at the time the U.S. government makes the designation. There were approximately 411,000 TPS recipients residing in the United States as of October 2020.

Seeking medical treatment in the United States is a permissible purpose of travel for individuals holding a valid visitor visa; you may find more information here. For questions regarding entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, we refer you to the Department of Homeland Security.

By law, a maximum of 55,000 visas are available each year to eligible persons.

DACA recipients should remember that renewals are still being accepted and approved by USCIS. Those who are eligible to renew should do so. Also, DACA recipients and undocumented youth should seek a full immigration consultation to understand their immigration options.

The Biden Administration issued a new rule on DACA that is set to go into effect on October 31, 2022. This rule was an attempt by the Biden administration to strengthen and protect DACA. This rule will now be reviewed by the Texas court. While the rule technically allows for both initial and renewal DACA applications, USCIS will not process any initials while the DACA litigation continues. This means that if there is no decision in favor of DACA and the current court order continues, USCIS will not approve any DACA initials, even after the rule goes into effect on October 31st.

DACA recipients who currently have an unexpired DACA and are outside of the country on Advance Parole should be able to return safely to the United States as scheduled. Further changes to DACA may impact the ability to travel on Advance Parole in the future.

Yes. DACA recipients can continue to request advance parole so long as they meet the requirements. Individuals who are interested in applying for advance parole should reach out to a trusted legal representative to discuss eligibility and assess the risks associated with traveling in light of potential changes to DACA before deciding to travel outside the United States.

No. The rules for getting and keeping DACA have not changed. If you never had DACA, you cannot get it now. If you have DACA, you can request a renewal that will be valid for two years. Consult an immigration law expert about the best time to apply to renew DACA.

Although TPS is a temporary benefit, registering for TPS does not preclude filing an Adjustment of Status Application. However, eligibility for such an adjustment depends on the "admission" of the beneficiary. The US government defines "admission" as "the lawful entry of an alien into the United States after inspection and clearance by an immigration officer." For this reason, non-citizens who are TPS beneficiaries and who entered the country illegally could not apply for a green card. However, thanks to a new travel authorization document for TPS beneficiaries, some people may be eligible for an adjustment of status, in order to later apply for residency.

If eligible, form I-821 must be submitted and Employment Authorization can also be requested using form I-765. At the time of making your initial application, you must present the following documents: Evidence of identity and nationality Evidence of date of entry into the US Evidence of continuous residence

To be a beneficiary of TPS, it is necessary to be a citizen of a country designated under that category or a person without nationality whose last residence was a country designated for TPS. In addition, you must have been physically present in the US since the most recent effective date of the program, as well as have continuously resided in the US since the date specified by DHS. These are the differences between continuous residence and physical presence, cited by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

Your citations for traffic violations should not be a problem when you apply to naturalize. In the N-400 form, Application for Naturalization, mention your citations so that the interviewing officer knows that you answered all the questions truthfully. If the police ever arrested and/or fingerprinted you for those traffic violations, it could show up in a check with the FBI. Generally, the crimes that affect naturalization have to do with drugs or what the law calls "moral turpitude." The crimes of violation of regulatory statutes, such as traffic regulations, are generally not a problem.

Many factors can slow down your case, including inefficient processing, understaffing, and policy changes due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. During the last administration, USCIS implemented many new policies designed to restrict legal immigration and delay processing. For example, one policy required USCIS officers to conduct duplicate reviews of past decisions, adding unnecessary work to each case. Another example was the imposition of a fingerprinting requirement for certain I-539 applicants. While the current administration has made some useful changes, including noted policies, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the continued slowdown. For example, from March to July 2020, USCIS closed its offices for biometric interviews and appointments, creating a delay, especially for biometric appointments. Many applications, such as I-765 applications for employment authorization documents (EAD), cannot be adjudicated before biometrics are collected.

A joint sponsor — or a financial co-sponsor — is a U.S. citizen or green card holder (permanent resident) who agrees to take on the legal obligation of financially supporting an applicant for a family-based green card. Enlisting the help of a joint sponsor is typically an option when the income (and assets, if any) of the “primary sponsor” and their household alone cannot meet the minimum financial requirement for a family-based green card.

The K-1 visa allows the foreign-born fiancé of a U.S. citizen to travel to the United States to marry their partner within 90 days of arrival. The foreign spouse can then apply for a marriage green card.

The cost to file your DACA application, whether it is a first time or a renewal application, is $495.

Created in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program protects thousands of young immigrants who arrived or stayed in the United States illegally before their 16th birthday from deportation. . In addition, DACA also offers beneficiaries, known as dreamers (dreamers) work authorization. As of December 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported a total of 636,390 DACA recipients, who are nationals of more than 195 countries. A majority of dreamers come from Mexico (81%), followed by El Salvador (4%), Guatemala (3%), Honduras (2%) and Peru (1%).

DACA, an acronym for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a policy that protects around 800,000 young people — known as “DREAMers” — who entered the United States unlawfully as children. The program does not grant them official legal status or a pathway to citizenship, but it does allow them to apply for a driver’s license, social security number, and work permit.

Attempting to get a Green Card is a crucial process. Any slight mistake could result in a failed attempt. Immigration Lawyers have helped thousands of individuals to successfully get U.S. permanent residence.

A U-Visa lets victims of crimes who meet certain requirements stay in the United States. A U-Visa provides the following benefits: • You can legally live in the United States for four years. After three years of having a U-Visa you can apply for a green card to stay in the U.S. permanently. (And if you get a green card, you can eventually apply to become a U.S. citizen). • With a U-Visa you can get permission to work in the United States. • Some of your family members might also be able to get a U-Visa. • With a U-Visa you might be eligible for certain public benefits in some states.

TPS is a type of temporary immigration benefit that is given to foreign nationals of certain countries facing such internally dangerous conditions as armed conflict, natural disasters, or other untenable problems. If you are a citizen of one of these designated countries, TPS approval provides you with a work permit and protection from removal from the U.S. for as long as your home country remains under TPS authority by the DHS. TPS designations by DHS can remain for months, years, or indefinitely; these designations are automatically renewed unless a termination decision is made in advance by the DHS.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Justice ruled this Monday that undocumented immigrants who entered the country without authorization and are covered by a Temporary Protected Status (TPS), are not eligible to receive the Legal Permanent Residence or green card (LPR ). But it leaves the door open for those who entered the United States legally and then became undocumented when their visas expired, because they can demonstrate legal admission to the country in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

If you currently live in the United States and want to work for a U.S. employer while your family-based green card application (Form I-485) is pending, you will need a work permit first.

A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how he/she will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are: Bill by the hour Contingent fee agreement Flat fee agreement Depending on your specific legal situation, it’s possible that only one type of fee structure is available.

For any immigration interview, such as for citizenship, a green card, or a visa, “failing” an interview” usually means that you will get another chance. However, if you fail again, the government will likely cancel your application. If you fail an interview, you should consider talking with an immigration attorney to better prepare and go over your options.

K1 visas were created to eliminate unnecessary separations between a foreign-citizen fiancé and a U.S. citizen, which may be caused by delays in the usual processing of immigrant visas of the foreign fiancé.

Among the most commonly requested visa for U.S. entry is the K1 visa which is a nonimmigrant visa issued to the foreign-citizen fiancé or fiancée of a United States citizen for purposes of permitting the fiancé to enter the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen petitioner (sponsor) within 90 days from arrival and to file the requirements for the adjustment of status.

J1 visa also called an “exchange visitor visa” is generally used for students in specific educational exchange programs approved by the government. This visa is for people who want to train in the U.S. for purposes of applying the skills they learned in their home countries upon their return. F1 visa is more common among university students. Most students are automatically eligible for an F1 visa as long as they are admitted by the academic institution of their choice.

Our immigration lawyers practice a handful of specific services. Please visit our website to learn more at: https://ljhlaw.com/

Setting up a consultation is as easy as calling us directly, or visiting our website.

Our office is located in Houston, Texas.

Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9-5 PM.

According to a government official who spoke with journalists to provide background information, the TPS application costs $50. In addition, there will be an $85 biometric screening fee, and if authorization is required of work, which costs an additional US$410. In total, applying for TPS has a cost of US$545. The cost for minors is US$50.

Certain criminal offenses will almost always disqualify you from DACA. These offenses include felonies, significant misdemeanors, and three or more non-significant misdemeanors. You also won’t qualify if the U.S. government thinks you’re a threat to public safety or national security. It is still possible to gain approval if you have these offenses on your record. But, you must show exceptional circumstances to gain DACA approval. Exceptional circumstances are those beyond your control. Cruelty against you or a relative counts as an exceptional circumstance. Severe illness or death in your family is also an exceptional circumstance. Felony Felonies lead to over one year of prison time. They are offenses at the federal, state, or local levels. If you have committed at least one felony offense, you likely won’t qualify for DACA. Please consult with an Immigration Lawyer to help you with the DACA renewal.