Immigration Lawyer in Tampa

EB-2 visas are employment-based visas meant for individuals who have an advanced degree or possess some exceptional ability in a unique field. If a foreign worker may be considered of national interest to the United States and its economy, they may apply for a national interest waiver (NIW) as part of their EB-2 visa petition. USCIS officers are asked to determine whether the applicant and their job are of substantial intrinsic merit to the United States, whether the benefits of the applicant’s work would be national in scope, and whether the PERM certification process requirement would negatively impact national interests. To qualify for a national interest waiver, an applicant must have a proposed endeavor that is of national importance to the United States and be well-positioned to execute their proposed endeavor.

When an individual is granted asylum in the United States, they are allowed to remain in the country so that they are protected from prosecution and potentially death in their home country. But not everyone qualifies for asylum. In order to qualify, an individual must show that they are a refugee who is unable to return to their country of origin because of fears of prosecution. This fear must be well founded. If you’ve faced past persecution, it is much easier to prove to the United States government that you’re likely to be persecuted once again. For legal guidance throughout the asylum process, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our law firm.

The threat of deportation or removal from the United States is a terribly frightening concept. In removal proceedings, immigration judges are meant to take impartial stances when deciding whether an individual should be deported from the United States. While agents of the Department of Homeland Security present arguments for why your loved one should be deported, you must have an experienced deportation defense attorney representing your family’s interests and fighting back against government lawyers. As your legal representatives, we will consider many possible defense strategies, including applying for asylum, seeking adjustment of status, applying for cancellation of removal, and more.

Green card holders with no special circumstances can apply to become U.S. citizens five years after they have obtained their lawful permanent resident card. Additionally, the green card holder must have physically lived in the United States for at least thirty months of those five years. Others seeking US citizenship may have a longer or shorter period to wait before they can apply. For example, if you are married to a U.S. citizen and have been married for at least three years and lived with that spouse the entire time, you can apply to become a U.S. citizen three years after obtaining your green card. Military service can also affect how long an individual must wait before applying for US citizenship.

If you are a green card holder and you’re married to a foreign national who is seeking a green card of their own, it is possible to apply for a marriage green card. The first step of the marriage-based green card process is to submit a Petition for Alien Relative to the USCIS. The legal permanent resident filing the petition is the sponsor, and the spouse seeking their green card is the beneficiary. If the foreign national spouse is living in the United States with their green card-holding spouse, the next step is to file for an Adjustment of Status. This is to establish that the foreign spouse is eligible for a marriage-based green card. There are several extra steps along the way, and it is highly recommended that you and your spouse retain professional legal representation from experienced immigration attorneys.

The primary difference between immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas is that immigrant visas do not expire, whereas non-immigrant visas do. An immigrant visa is a path toward permanent residency in the United States. Immigrant visas are typically granted employment-based immigration or family-based immigration and are based on the criteria of allowing an individual to work in the US indefinitely. Non-immigrant visas, on the other hand, grant an applicant only a limited amount of time to live and work in the United States. Non-immigrant visa applicants must prove to the US government that they have no intention of being indefinitely in the country and do intend to return to their country of origin.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is an immigration law that allows the spouse or child of an abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to self-petition for a green card. To qualify for VAWA, you must have a family relationship with an abusive U.S. citizen or green card holder, you must reside in the US at the time that the VAWA petition is filed, you must have suffered abuse at the hands of your spouse or parent, and you must be an individual of good moral character.

Family sponsorship is one of the most common forms of immigration to the United States. Family-sponsored visas and family-based petitions allow those in the US to sponsor their family members so that they may hopefully eventually become green card holders in the United States. The petition process is far from simple, and you would benefit from legal representation.