Why do you need an immigration lawyer?

Why do you need an immigration lawyer?

An attorney or a lawyer is a professional who advises his clients on matters related to the law and represents them in the courts. An immigration attorney deals with matters concerning foreign nationals who take entry into the U.S either permanently or temporarily. Their line of work comprises of everything related to legal rights, obligations and duties of foreigners in the country. Immigration service San Antonio also help their clients with the application procedures and processes involved in neutralizing foreigners who wish to become US citizens. They have the professional capability to handle issues related to asylees or refugees, people who illegally cross US borders and people who transport these people illegally.

The American immigration law is extremely complicated. It is changing constantly. An immigration attorney is able to help with issues such as attaining U.S. work visa, green card, PR, and the like. They are also able to help on matters related to naturalization, adopting a child from a foreign country, deferred action. Consulting a lawyer ensures that the immigration matters of the client are handled in the most professional way possible. Good immigration attorneys always keep themselves updated with the changing regulations and rules of the American immigration law. San Antonio immigration attorneys can assist aspirants in overcoming and avoiding several legal issues.

In some cases, lawyers merely guide their clients and offer basic legal consultation. In such cases, they do not represent their clients in the court of law. A person can look for immigration lawyers through the Internet yellow pages. Apart from this, state Bar Associations and the person’s dear ones can also give referrals. 

If you are someone seeking legal assistance and representation in matters pertaining to deferred action, US green card or PR, it is best to get in touch with a reputed lawyer who has expertise in US immigration law. Being represented by an experienced and skilled San Antonio immigration law firm can make all the difference.

Deferred Action: New Hope for the Young

For young adults who were brought into the US as infants, deferred action brings in renewed hope. The government's program is a source of new confidence for young immigrants and is something they should be excited about.

For long, illegal immigrants have approached life with a sense of resignation. Why stay in school when there is no hope for college or why excel when ultimately all they will get are odd jobs? Friends, family members, and strict immigration laws have forced the youth to settle for a job (rather than building a career). This has made some to fall into bad company or drop out. It is for such reasons, there is still reluctance to consider filing for employment authorization and deferred action. The truth is, opportunities for advanced education and employment are open to those who may have some flaws on their moral record. Such young adults should, however, proceed carefully and seek professional advice of an immigration specialist.

The USCIS guidelines have listed categories of young persons who may not qualify for deferred action due to criminal record. This comprises of people with felonies. It is also a myth that those who have only a misdemeanor in their name are fine. For deferred action San Antonio process, certain misdemeanors are considered serious. For instance, DUI's, domestic violence, burglary and firearms possession. People having more than three misdemeanors may also be at risk of not being allowed deferred action.

While a criminal disqualification exists, the government has the option to approve cases on the basis of exceptional circumstances. Similarly, if USCIS has proof that the young adult participates in crimes or has gang affiliations that are a threat to the U.S security, filing for deferred action will put the person at risk for deportation. Due to this reason it is best for the candidates to not file for the program without the help of San Antonio Immigration Service.

Dream Act vs. Deferred Action

A lot of people confuse the dream act with deferred action. The Dream Act, also called "Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors," was a parliamentary proposal and if passed, could have given conditional PR to some undocumented immigrants.

Eligibility under this law would have required candidates to: 

1. Be graduates from an American high school
2. Have good moral character
3. Attain a GED,
4. Enroll in a community or a four-year college,
5. Serve the military,
6. Be between the ages of twelve and thirty five

For a period of six years, successful candidates would be granted a "conditional" status to reside and work in the US.

Since Congress could not pass this bill after several attempts, in 2012 a new policy was brought into action known as “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" to offer similar benefits to the undocumented immigrants who could have benefited through the Dream Act. The requirements for eligibility under DACA are more or less the same as those proposed in the Dream Act. But DACA only offers two of the advantages as mentioned in the Dream Act to the eligible applicants- removing fear of deportation, and applying for work authorization. The policy does not, in any way, provide any legal status or a path towards legalization. Moreover, since deferred action is only an executive order, the president can change it at any given time without requiring approval.

Still, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has come in as a blessing for many hardworking illegal immigrants within the United States. However, to really benefit from the policy, it is important to file under the supervision of a professional San Antonio Immigration law firm. It is also important to have the required Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals information San Antonio to find out whether you are a right candidate for it or not.

Filing for Deferred Action

Almost a million young individuals in the US are looking for information regarding one of the biggest immigration laws providing work permits to the undocumented immigrants, known as deferred action. 

Here are some of the major points as provided by the immigration department:

• Filing fee for work permits and deferred action.
• Information that is obtained by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services during the filing cannot be used for immigration enforcement, unless a fraud, criminal or national security issue is involved.
• Applicants are required to undergo background checks and submit biometrics.
• Being convicted for driving without a license is not considered as a disqualifying violation.
• It takes several months for the authorities to adjudicate the deferred action applications.
• Applicants have to mail their application along with the work permit application to a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Lockbox.

Eligibility criteria:

San Antonio deferred action is for those who, 

1. Have come to the country under sixteen years of age
2. Have resided in the US continuously for a minimum of five years
3. Are in school or are high school graduates, have attained an education development certificate
4. Have not been found guilty of an offense, a serious misdemeanor, several misdemeanor offenses, or pose a threat to public safety or national security
5. Are not more than thirty years old
6. Those who have removal or final deportation orders, or are in removal proceedings, or have not been detected by the authorities are eligible to apply, if they qualify.
7. Those who have valid documentation to prove that they meet the aforementioned criteria are granted deferred action, which will offer them immunity from deportation for two years and a chance to apply for a work permit.

This is a great chance for undocumented individuals to find their place in the United States, but it is important to be cautious about depending on bad lawyers and advice, especially from those who are not qualified to practice immigration law. Thousands of immigrants fall prey to dishonest service providers who offer false or misleading information on deferred action San Antonio. Immigration law is a very complicated field. One mistake and the chances of deportation rise immensely.

Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer?

Getting an experienced immigration lawyer is not a legal requirement, but it is normally in your best interest to hire one. These professionals can help you complete all the documentation as required by the Government of the United States and offer you advice on all the options you may have. They will also work with you to make sure you follow every step in the immigration process. This may include fighting your deportation, translating documents, and the like. Without expert guidance and help, you may find it difficult to take the right decisions. It is very challenging to follow the complex immigration laws of the United States without professional help.

What Services Do You Need?

When hiring an attorney or a San Antonio immigration service make sure you know what kind of services you really require. For some, this may mean hiring someone to translate all the documents in English or gather deferred action for childhood arrivals information San Antonio. For others, it may mean legal representation in the court. 

Who to hire?

There are several factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing a San Antonio immigration service for the job. You must make sure the lawyer is in good footing with the Bar Association and any commonwealth, state, or district that they are working in. Apart from this, you should be clear about the services they will be offering. All good lawyers offer legal advice about the forms you must file, discuss your case with the immigration authorities and explain your options to you.

Once you have the right immigration lawyer on board, you can rest assured that your case will be handled correctly. The professional will take care of all your documentation and legal formalities, to ensure a successful outcome. However, it is important to discuss the fee structure of the attorney before hiring them to make sure you can afford their services in the long run.