Mrs. Hall is a solo practitioner and thus treats each client as if he/she were her only one. This means that Mrs. Hall does all the work on your case, rather than some anonymous legal assistant.
Mrs. Hall believes that successful client relationships are based on good communication, which she strives to achieve through direct communication on day-to-day matters.
With Mrs. Hall as your attorney, you know who you are dealing with at all times and that you are getting the expertise and consistent level of service you expect when you initially decide to retain an attorney.
I. VISAS 1. Fiance(e) Visa
2. Temporary Worker Visa
3. Treaty Trader/Investor Visa
4. Student Visa
5. Visitor Visa
6. Trainee/Intern Visa II. GREEN CARDS 1. Family-Based Immigration
2. Employment- Based Immigration
3. Green Card Lottery III. CITIZENSHIP
IV. ASYLUM V. DEPORTATION DEFENSE
VI. AVOIDING CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. VISAS1. Fiancé(e) Visa The Fiancé(e) visa category permits the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen petitioner to enter the United States for a 90-day period to marry the petitioner and apply for permanent residence.
The petitioner, US citizen fiance, must first file a petition with the US CIS. All approved fiancee petitions are being sent by USCIS to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC performs all initial procedures, after which the completed petition is sent to the appropriate Embassy overseas.
When Embassy receives the approved petition, Embassy will send foreign fiancé(e) Information Packet explaining what documents s/he must collect prior to the visa interview. After the Embassy receives acknowledgment from fiancé(e) that s/he has obtained all the supporting documents, Embassy will schedule fiancé(e) for a visa interview. After a consular officer has reviewed the case, fiancé(e) will be interviewed. If everything is in order, Embassy will return fiancé(e)s passports with visa.
Ahead of time Mrs. Hall will provide you and your fiancé(e) with checklist of required documents and detailed instructions. Mrs. Hall will prepare all the necessary forms, including fiance petition and visa application package.
Fiancé(e) visa process is quite complicated and might become frustrating. Mrs. Hall understands that you would like to be reunited with your fiancee as soon as possible and will ensure that the whole process is painless.
2. Temporary Worker VisaThere are many categories of workers who are
temporary visitors and who may be petitioned for by their prospective US employers. These nonimmigrant classifications are symbolized by letters which generally correspond to the visas issued by the State Department. To avoid problems and delays, it is always advisable to consult a licensed attorney, such as Mrs. Hall, before petitioning for temporary worker visa.
Employers who wish to hire foreign workers to temporarily perform services or labor or to receive training may file a Petition for Non-Immigrant Worker. In some cases, the employer must obtain a Labor Certification from the Department of Labor prior to filing petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS). Mrs. Hall provides legal assistance to employers in all stages of the temporary worker's visa process:
- Appropriate nonimmigrant visa classification analysis
- Position evaluation
- Prevailing wage analysis
- A dvertising
- Department of Labor certification
- USCIS petition
- Assistance with consular processing
3. Treaty Trader/Investor Visa
The Treaty Trader/Investor Visa classification can be one of the more flexible employment-related nonimmigrant categories available under the Immigration and Nationality Act. In some ways, the Treaty Trader/Investor Visa classification resembles lawful permanent residence status. For example, Treaty Trader/Investor Visa nonimmigrants may engage in self-employment (in furtherance of qualifying investment or trade), may remain in the United States for an indefinite period, and are not required to maintain ties to their home country.
There are several requirements for a foreign national to qualify under this category. Mrs. Hall will assist you through this complicated petition process to ensure issuance of your Treaty Trader/Investor visa.
4. Student Visa
The first step in obtaining student visa is to get accepted into Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS) approved school, college or university. Prospective students must meet the standards set by the school for admitting international students. For example, many schools require foreign students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as part of the application process. After you are accepted at a school, college or university, you must apply for the student visa at the American consulate in the country where you are located or request change of status in theUnited States. At this point, in addition to submitting the special documents provided to you by the school, you will also need to show your ability to pay for education and living expenses and your nonimmigrant intent.
After you have been admitted to the United States as a student, you must comply with certain immigration laws governing your stay in this country. To maintain your legal status, you must follow specific rules. If you do not abide by these laws, USCIS will consider you "out of-status." Therefore, always consult a licensed attorney, such as Ms. Hall, before applying for student visa, transfer of schools, extension of stay or change of status. Furthermore, you should consult an attorney before accepting any kind of employment to make sure that you will not violate your status.
5. Visitor Visa
The visitor visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business, pleasure or medical treatment. As examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, then you would apply for a visitor visa. Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as visitors under U.S. law. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Mrs. Hall can help you to overcome this presumption.
6. Trainee/Intern Visa
Interns are individuals who are either currently enrolled in and pursuing academic studies abroad, or who have graduated from an overseas institution no more than 12 months prior to the start date of his or her exchange visitor program.
Trainees are individuals who have either a degree or professional certificate from a post-secondary academic institution abroad and at least one year of related work experience acquired outside the United States, or have five years of related work experience acquired outside the United States.
Before one can apply at an American Embassy or Consulate for a Trainee/Intern Visa s/he must apply, meet the requirements, and be accepted for one of the Exchange Visitor Program categories through a designated sponsoring organization.
Mrs. Hall will guide the U. S. employer and foreign exchange visitor through the application process to ensure issuance of Trainee/Intern Visa.
II. GREEN CARDS
1. Family-Based Immigration
One can become an immigrant based on having a US citizen spouse, child, parent or sibling or US permanent resident spouse or parent. First, US relative must file a petition on behalf of the alien relative. Then Department of State must determine whether there is visa number available based on the family relation. Finally, alien relative must adjust status or consular process. Since obtaining the lawful permanent residency is a complex process by seeking professional assistance of Mrs. Hall, you may greatly decrease the delay of your family reunification.
2. Employment-Based Immigration
One can become an immigrant based on having a permanent employment opportunity in the United States .
However, employment based immigration is a multi-step process. Before the U.S. employer can submit an immigration petition to the Immigration Service most employment categories require that the employer obtain labor certification from the Department of Labor. Mrs. Hall can assist you in all stages of this very complex process.
- Appropriate immigrant visa classification analysis
- Position evaluation
- Prevailing wage analysis
- Advertising
- Department of Labor certification
- USCIS petition
- Assistance with consular processing
3. Green Card Lottery
"Green Card Lottery" is designated to increase immigration from underrepresented countries.Computer randomly selects winners. However, eventually only a half of the winners will qualify for permanent residency. Mrs. Hall can provide you with detailed eligibility requirements and assist you through the process.
III. CITIZENSHIP
A citizen of the United States is a native-born, foreign-born, or naturalized person who owes allegiance to the United States and who is entitled to its protection.
Naturalization is the way immigrants become citizens of the United States. If you were not born a citizen, you must be naturalized to become one. The general requirements for naturalization include:
- a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
- residence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing;
- an ability to read, write, and speak English;
- a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
- good moral character;
- attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and,
- favorable disposition toward the United States.
Mrs. Hall can determine whether you are eligible to naturalize and assist you through the whole process.
In addition to the naturalization process, the United States recognizes the U.S. citizenship of individuals according to two fundamental principles: jus soli, or right of birthplace, and jus sanguinis, or right of blood.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship at birth to almost all individuals born in the United States according to the principle of jus soli. Certain individuals born outside of the United States are born citizens because of their parents, according to the principle of jus sanguinis (which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his / her parents). The U.S. Congress enacted laws that determine how citizenship is conveyed by a U.S. citizen parent or parents according to the principle of jus sanguinis. These laws are contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act and are very complex. Persons who became citizens under the previous laws may apply for Certificates of Citizenship at any time. Mrs. Hall, can assist you in obtaining your Certificate of Citizenship if you qualify.
IV. ASYLUM
In order to qualify for asylum, you must establish that you are a refugee. A refugee is a person who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
If you are granted asylum, you and your eligible dependents will be permitted to remain and work in the United States and may eventually adjust to lawful permanent resident status. Based on the statistics, due to complexity of the asylum law, individuals that are represented by an attorney have twenty-three times greater chance of being granted asylum than those who represent themselves.
V. DEPORTATION DEFENSE
Constant changes in immigration law have necessitated the use of litigation to ensure the rights of clients. Mrs. Hall will assist you in finding all the possible waivers and other avenues of relief from removal for which you might be eligible. Mrs. Hall will use her best efforts to make sure that you receive all possible protection under the U.S. immigration law.
VI. AVOIDING IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
A non-US citizen criminal defendant does not face only penal but also immigration consequences of criminal activity. These may include possible ineligibility for a visa, resident status or US citizenship, detention in an immigration facility, and even permanent ineligibility to enter the US ever again. Mrs. Hall will advocate for your rights and help you to minimize negative immigration consequences.
Mrs. Hall's goal is to provide the highest quality legal services to you and your business in a timely fashion.
Mrs. Hall welcomes the opportunity to talk with you and to discuss how she may be of service.