Valid immigration status might be an immigrant’s most prized possession.
Since 1970, the number of U.S. immigrants has increased significantly. In the mid-1960s, Congress replaced the quota system with a complex system of immigrant and non-immigrant visas, which are outlined below. For many years, obtaining a visa was relatively easy. But in the post-9/11 world, authorities no longer give immigrants the benefit of the doubt. Additionally, if immigrants do not toe the line, adverse action may be inevitable.
In this environment, immigrants need a Nashville immigration lawyer to assist with their immigration papers. These individuals also need an attorney to protect their status when it is threatened. Attorneys give people solid legal advice as to their visa options. Attorneys also aggressively defend immigrants, protecting their rights when the government acts to take away what they have worked so hard to obtain.
Types of Visas
Many people come to America for a specific, temporary purpose. Then, they plan to return home. Others, like many immigrants before them, come to America looking for a better life. Therefore, two types of visas are available. Both kinds give immigrants certain rights and responsibilities.
- Immigrant Visas: These visas mostly include family and employer-sponsored visas that result in permanent residence. Family-sponsored visas include spouse, fiancé, relative, and adoption visas. Priority workers are the first in line for employment visas, followed by ‘persons of exceptional ability,’ professionals, non-professionals, investors, and ‘certain special immigrants.’
- Non-Immigrant Visas: Authorities issue over two dozen kinds of non-immigrant visas. These visas, while they allow a person to stay in the United States for a certain period of time (and in some cases, work), do not usually result in permanent residence. There are exceptions, however; for example, the U visa for crime victims is a non-immigrant visa that still allows the visa holder to apply for permanent residence. Common non-immigrant visas include athletes, students, businesspeople, journalists, entertainers, tourists, and medical visitors. Some of these visa applications require additional paperwork, like a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) casework.
Deportation Proceedings
The advice and counsel of an immigration attorney can be very helpful if a person is in deportation or removal proceedings. In deportation proceedings, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) brings a ‘charge’ seeking to remove a person from the United States, and an administrative judge determines if the person is legally allowed to remain in the country or will be removed. An attorney can help the noncitizen facing deportation proceedings in applying for relief from removal (such as asylum, withholding of removal, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, or a waiver) or challenging the evidence or legal sufficiency of the charges. For many, dealing with court can be scary. The advice and advocacy of an attorney can help ease the stress associated with the uncertainty of deportation. In some cases, an attorney may be able to argue that the charges should be dismissed, ending the deportation process.
Contact a Diligent Davidson County Lawyer
Even non-citizens have important rights in the United States. For a confidential consultation with an experienced immigration lawyer in Nashville, contact Ozment Law PLC. Convenient payment plans are available.