An individual's criminal record has a direct impact on their immigration opportunities. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) performs thorough background checks when initially granting someone a visa to travel to the United States. Background...
Immigration Law
Will you be deported if you get divorced?
No matter how much you might wish it to be otherwise, your head never rules your heart. You can fall in love unexpectedly – and fall out of love just the same. When you fell in love with a U.S. citizen, you really believed that “happily ever after” was in your future,...
2 ways VAWA can help protect abused immigrants
Although crime can happen to any person, some people are more vulnerable than others. Immigrants are often at high risk for certain kinds of criminal activity. People may target immigrants because of a language barrier or because there's an assumption that they won't...
3 benefits immigrants receive from naturalization
Naturalization is a complex and time-consuming process where someone who is a lawful permanent resident becomes a citizen of the United States of America. It involves submitting paperwork to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and undergoing...
Can you help your brother or sister enter the United States?
Legally entering the United States could protect you from instability and violence in your country of origin. It may also open up a wealth of opportunities, from changing your religion to pursuing a college degree. After you legally move to the United States and begin...
Leaving an abusive spouse won’t force you to leave the U.S.
Family-based immigration gives opportunities to many people who want to live in the United States. Those with visas, green cards or citizenship can help their family members travel to the U.S. Joining a spouse or a parent in the U.S. could be the fastest way for...
What happens if you overstay your visa?
If you come to America to live and don’t have permanent residency, you have to be cautious about the length of time you’re allowed to stay on your visa. If you overstay on an expired visa, it is possible that you could face serious repercussions that could potentially...
You can fight the risk of deportation and try to stay in the USA
If you are at risk of being deported, you need to be cautious about how you approach your case and quick to find a solid defense. The good news is that everyone who faces deportation does have a right to a legal defense and to work with an attorney. Deportation is a...
Budget-based immigration reform dies before reaching the Senate
Federal lawmakers constantly adjust and update immigration policies to reflect current social and political concerns. Sometimes, it is far easier than other times to enter the country. In the last year, lawmakers and immigration officials have eased certain...
Do you have to speak English for the naturalization test?
“If you’re going to be in the United States of America, you have to speak English.” You’ve probably heard this or a variation of the phrase at one time or another. Interestingly, America doesn’t have an official language. Spanish, English and many other languages are...