Immigrants make up more than ten percent of the United States population.
Immigrants aren’t the only people who might need legal advice from an immigration attorney, either.
Let’s go through the most common reasons for hiring an immigration lawyer in Chicago.
1. Applying for a Green Card or Citizenship
A green card (a nickname for a Permanent Resident Card), is a document issued by the government that allows a person to live and work permanently in the United States.
A green card grants the holder certain rights and privileges. These include the ability to apply for a driver’s license and open bank accounts, and protection from deportation. It also provides the ability to apply for U.S. citizenship after a set time period.
To obtain a green card, an individual must go through a process called “adjustment of status” or “consular processing“. This will depend on their current immigration status and various other requirements.
The eligibility requirements and the process may vary depending on different factors. These can include the legal category of the applicant, their qualifications, their family relationship, or their job offer.
A green card doesn’t grant you all the rights of full citizenship, so once you get your green card you might want to take things a step further.
A lawyer who specializes in green card or citizenship applications can help you navigate the legal process. They help ensure that your application is complete and accurate. They can also represent you in court, if necessary.
2. Defending Against Deportation or Removal Proceedings
A lawyer who specializes in defending against deportation or removal proceedings can help you navigate the legal process and defend your right to remain in the country.
They can help you understand the grounds for deportation or removal. They can then help you build a defense against the charges.
A Chicago immigration attorney can also help you seek relief from deportation or removal. This could involve the cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, or withholding of removal. Or where there is no legal basis for the pending removal proceedings, the attorney might be able to succeed in having the proceedings terminated.
They can represent you in court and help you prepare for any hearings or interviews that may be required as part of the deportation or removal hearing process.
3. Filing for Asylum or Refugee Status
Filing for asylum or refugee status is a complex legal process that requires the assistance of a qualified immigration lawyer.
An asylum seeker is a person who is seeking protection in another country because they have been persecuted or have reason to fear persecution in their home country.
This could be because of their race, religion, nationality, political stance, or membership in a particular social group.
Refugee is a legal term that refers to someone who qualifies for asylum, but in more common usage is an individual who has had to flee their home country because of persecution, war, or violence.
A lawyer can help you understand the eligibility requirements for asylum or refugee status and can guide you through the application process. They can also help you prepare for and attend your asylum hearing. And they can represent you in any appeals or follow-up proceedings.
5. Applying for a Work Visa or Student Visa
When applying for a work or student visa, it is often helpful to consult with a lawyer who specializes in immigration law. An immigration lawyer can go through and help you understand the requirements and process for obtaining a visa. They can assist with completing the necessary paperwork and gathering the required documentation.
Additionally, a lawyer can help you navigate any legal issues that may arise during the application process and represent you in any appeals or hearings that may be required.
They can help ensure that your school or employer has given you the right information and filled out the paperwork correctly.
6. Obtaining a Waiver for Certain Immigration-Related Issues
A waiver is a legal avenue that allows a person who is ineligible for a visa or other immigration benefit to be considered for the benefit despite the ineligibility.
Waivers can be used to overcome a variety of immigration-related issues, such as prior immigration violations, criminal convictions, or health-related issues. Depending on the type of waiver, the requirements and the standard of proof may be different.
7. Obtaining a U-Visa for Victims of Crime
A U-visa is a nonimmigrant visa that is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered substantial abuse or pain as a result of the crime. They also must be helpful to law enforcement in the planned investigation or prosecution of the crime.
To apply for a U-visa, the victim must first obtain certification from a qualifying law enforcement agency that they are likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.
A qualified immigration lawyer can help guide you through the process of obtaining this certification and filing the U-visa application.
They can also help you with any other legal issues related to your status as a crime victim, such as filing for a restraining order or seeking compensation through a victim compensation program.
It is important to note that U-visa is capped with a limit of 10,000 grants per fiscal year, although applicants may have an opportunity to obtain an Employment Authorization Document during the time their case is pending. An immigration attorney can help determine whether the cap has been met yet along with the best strategy for obtaining an Employment Authorization Document while you await review of your U visa filing.
8. Help With Families
Family immigration assistance for workers refers to legal processes to help lawful residents and U.S. citizens bring their family members to to the U.S. It can also refer to the process work visa holders are able help their overseas family members join them in the U.S.
This can include assistance with the paperwork and processing of immigration applications. It could also involve providing resources and support for the families once they have arrived.
The specific requirements and processes for family immigration assistance can vary depending on the family relationship at issue, the country they’re from and the type of work the worker is engaged in. That’s why it’s so important to have a lawyer that’s familiar with the intricacies of the law.
Hire an Immigration Lawyer in Chicago Today
There are a ton of different reasons a person might need an immigration lawyer in Chicago.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact USAVISACOUNSEL.com today.