Boulder Colorado Immigration And Naturalization Legal Blog

You may feel as if you will always be in danger. If you came to Colorado to find safety and security, you may have felt your dreams shatter when you became the victim of a crime. Whether you were an object of human trafficking or the victim of domestic abuse, the violence may have left you wondering if you would ever trust anyone again. The fact that you are in the U.S. without documentation makes it even more difficult for you.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offer several options, including the U visa program for those who are in the country unlawfully but who are also victims of crimes. The government approves a limited number of U visas each year, and if you applied for the program, you may now worry that you have once again placed yourself in danger.

California readers may be interested to learn that Americans say immigration is the most important concern facing the nation, according to a new Gallup poll. The survey, which was conducted between Nov. 1 and Nov. 11, includes responses collected both before and after the midterm elections.

Gallup reports that 21 percent of survey respondents said that illegal immigration was currently the top problem in the U.S. In October, only 13 percent of respondents said immigration was the country's biggest concern. However, in July, 22 percent of respondents named immigration as their top concern, which was an all-time high. The issue's return to the top of the poll is likely connected to the Trump administration's focus on the caravan of Central American immigrants that were making their way to the U.S. border in the weeks leading up the midterms. President Trump called the caravan a "national emergency" and ordered 5,000 troops to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border to stop illegal crossings.

Preparing for an immigration interview in Colorado or elsewhere can be quite stressful, especially if you have extenuating circumstances that may negatively affect your interview results. Depending on exactly what your circumstances are, however, you may be able to avoid the interview process altogether. That's because there are numerous reasons immigration officials may deem it unnecessary to interview you. 

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officials have the power to waive your requirement to appear at an immigration interview. Unless and until they claim you as exempt, however, you are legally obligated to appear when notified to do so and not showing up for a required interview puts you at risk for immediate deportation.  

It is likely you'd agree that nothing or no one could have fully prepared you for life as an immigrant in Colorado. You may have researched the customs and laws of the state, as well as those associated with life in general in the United States before you arrived; however, there are, no doubt, numerous issues that presented challenges for you as you began your new lifestyle here.  

Such transitions are often stressful but can be less so if you have a strong support system in place. Whether your biggest problems at the moment pertain to personal issues, such as language barriers or confusion about certain U.S. customs, or you are facing a more serious issue, perhaps having to do with your legal status, if you know where to seek support, you may be able to find a solution to your problem.