Immigration Tips

There are hundreds of regulations and they change monthly. Here are only a few tips. See your immigration attorney or visit our office before you make any decision. Read more at http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

Those filing frivolous asylum applications may be deported. You must apply for asylum within a year of arrival in the USA. You must prove a well-founded fear of persecution because of your nationality, political opinion, religion, race, or membership in a particular social group. You should have an attorney's assistance. We will be happy to look at your claim at no charge. If you appear to have a valid claim, we will refer you to an attorney. If your application is accepted for consideration, be absolutely sure that you report to the Immigration and Naturalization EACH TIME you change your address. We will assist you in reporting your address changes at no charge.

You may not be employed until you receive an Employment Authorization Document. You may not have a Social Security number. You may not have a drivers license. Your children may go to school. If you do work you have the same rights as any worker. You have a right to pay as the other workers of your same skill, and you have a right to be paid for overtime. (Time over 40 hours/week except in a restaurant) You should file income tax returns. You may file for a Temporary Identification Number (TIN) Keep pictures, receipts, pay stubs. If you work for cash ask the employer for note showing your name, the employer's name, address, phone, and amount paid. You may want to prove that you lived and worked in the USA. This might go back as long as 20 years. SAVE EVERYTHING.

Undocumented aliens usually cannot become legal permanent residents. We will be glad to assess your situation at no charge and tell you if you have a chance. Watch for a temporary re-statement of 245(i) if you are married to a US Citizen.

Send all address changes to US Immigration and Naturalization Service (USINS). Do not miss any appointment with USINS. Save all documents. This includes notices for appointments, approval notices, every letter and notice from USINS. File a US tax return every year. Keep copies of all your tax returns. Locate and work with an attorney or an accredited immigration practitioner.

United States Citizen brings new rights and responsibilities. We have an information packet on the Naturalization process. We teach 6-session Citizenship Classes at no charge. The Citizenship examination has questions on US History and civics. People 55 and over who have been here 15 years may have an interpreter. We will assist with your Citizenship application packet.

Questions to Ask before you hand out an N-400 Application for Naturalization:

1.How long have you been Permanent Resident?.Must be at least 4 years and 9 months to apply.

2.. Do you have a valid green card now?. If no, they should talk to Cecilia or an immigration Lawyer.

3. Have you ever been deportable or deported?. If yes, They should talk to Cecilia or an immigration lawyer.

4. Have you taken any trips outside the U.S.?.(Even if the trip was over 5 years ago). If one or two trips of less than six months each, OK. If more than that, they are probably OK but should talk to Cecilia or Patti.

5. Have you ever lied to an immigration official about anything? If yes, DON'T give them an application. They should talk to Cecilia or an immigration lawyer.

6. Have you ever failed to file taxes? If yes, they should talk to Cecilia or Patti.

7. Have you ever had any trouble with the police or have you ever broken the law? They must talk to Immigration Lawyer, Cecilia, Marty, or Patti. EVEN IF NO CHARGES WERE FILED, IF THEY WERE NEVER ARRESTED, IF CHARGES WERE DROPPED, IF THEY THINK THE OFFENSE WAS MINOR.

8. Can you speak, read, and write English? If no, they MUST learn, or the time and money they spend on the application will be wasted.

We are not lawyers. We are recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals and have an accredited representative on staff. We refer to a lawyer when necessary and have access to immigration lawyers for technical information. Our charges are nominal or free depending on client income.