We are a full-service immigration firm dedicated to providing tailored and reasonably-priced representation, proudly based in the Jersey City community.
U.S. Citizenship
Naturalization - For those Lawful Permanent Residents (or LPRs) of either 5 years or 3 years (if married to a U.S. Citizen or USC) you may be eligible to apply for naturalization, by having resided at least half the time in the U.S., speaking English, passing the civics and history exam, having paid your taxes, and having a clean criminal history. There are some exceptions to each of these requirements.
Declaration of Citizenship - If you are the child or grandchild of a USC, currently residing in the U.S., you may be eligible for a declaration of U.S. citizenship.
Permanent Residence (Green Cards)
Family Based
US Citizen Petitioner - If you are a non-citizen with a USC spouse, parent, child, or brother or sister, you may be eligible for permanent residency. You may be subject to the visa bulletin delays.
LPR Petitioner - If you are non-citizen with a LPR spouse or parent, you may also be eligible for permanent residency, and will be subject to the visa bulletin delays.
Humanitarian Based
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status - Requires both family court proceedings and filing with USCIS, and is available for those minor children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned by one or both parents.
VAWA - Available for individuals who have been the victim of domestic violence by a USC or LPR immediate family member.
Asylum - Available to those persons who cannot return to their home country for fear of persecution based on their political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race, or membership is a particular social group.
Temporary (Non-Immigrant) and Humanitarian Status
Including, but not limited to:
K visas - Fiancés of USCs who have met in person at least once in the past two years are eligible for a 90 day visa to enter the U.S. and marry. NOTE: They are immediately eligible for permanent residency following the marriage to the USC petitioner.
U visas - Victims of a crime that have cooperated in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity that occurred in the U.S. NOTE: They are eligible for permanent residency after 3 years of U status.
Asylum - Individuals present in the U.S. who have a well founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, who are unable or unwilling to return home, and unable and or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country. After one year of asylee status, they are eligible for permanent residency in the U.S.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - Available to those who arrived in the U.S. under the age of sixteen, on or prior to June 15, 2007 and remained present through June 15, 2012 and to the present, while attending school in the U.S. DACA does provide a work permit, but not yet a path to permanent residency or citizenship.
Removal Proceedings (Deportation Defense)
Cancellation of Removal - This relief will terminate proceedings for those who have been in the U.S. at least 10 years, have good moral character, and can demonstrate exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to USC or LPR immediate family members.
Withholding of Removal and Convention Against Torture - Alternatives to asylum that will terminate removal proceedings, but not necessarily lead to a permanent residence status in the U.S.
Waivers - If you have been convicted of a crime and are now subject to removal from the U.S., you may be eligible for an exception or a waiver based upon extreme hardship to a USC family member.
Motions to Terminate - May be filed if you have an immediately available basis for permanent residency.
Motions for Stay - May be filed to halt your deportation based on an existing removal order.
Motions to Reopen - At Immigration Court or Board of Immigration Appeals, for previous removal or deportation proceedings, and may be filed independently, or by requesting a joint filing with DHS.
Criminal Consultation
Criminal Charges - If you have been arrested, charged, or are presently facing criminal proceedings and are not a U.S. citizen, you have a constitutional right to be advised of immigration consequences to any criminal plea or conviction. Our firm has years of experiences working in tandem with criminal counsel to craft strategies to minimize the immigration consequences to a plea or in deciding to go to trial, and to provide the most options for moving forward
Motions to Reopen Convictions - At state or federal criminal court, when there were procedural deficiencies during criminal proceedings for existing convictions, there may be a basis to reopen the criminal proceedings and replea to different charges or dismiss the charges altogether. We have represented clients directly on appeal as well as working in tandem with criminal counsel to obtain the most favorable result.