Immigration Lawyers in Utah
There are few areas of law that are more complex, and frustrating, than immigration law. Many of our clients that are not citizens face horrendous challenges in achieving citizenship if they have committed even the slightest crimes, such as shoplifting.
Many people attempt to handle their own immigration matters. I cannot stress enough how large a mistake this is. Miss one document, one deadline, and the case is dismissed and you are out of luck unless there is an appeal issue. Not to mention that if there are any misrepresentations on an immigration application, it is a serious federal offense. I have even seen immigration lawyers prosecuted for false information on immigration applications.
I highly, highly recommend you hire an immigration lawyer in Utah for your immigration case. However, here are a few ideas to point you in the right direction:
1. Naturalization
The Immigration and Nationality Act lays out the requirements a foreign national must complete in order to have citizenship conferred. Although the requirements change, the general requirements to become a citizen of the United States are as follows:
- An ability to read, write, and speak English
- Favorable disposition toward the United States
- A knowledge and understanding of United States history and government
- Attachment to the principles set forth in the United States Constitution
- Residence in a particular state prior to filing
- A period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States
That’s not an all inclusive list but that hits the main points that you can expect in attempting to become a citizen. One other, and perhaps most important, requirement, is that of good moral character. That means that any criminal history you have comes into play when you apply to become a citizen. This intersection of criminal and immigration law is so complex, I couldn’t begin to scratch the surface in a blog. If you have any immigration issue and you have a criminal history, call an experienced immigration lawyer in Utah.
2. Family Visas
Family visas are when a person in the United States attempts to bring over a spouse, child or other family member here to the United States from a foreign country. It is a complex process but essentially consists of:
- USCIS approving your I-130 form
- The State Department assigning you an immigrant visa number
- And finally applying for lawful permanent residency once you have a visa number
3. Employment Immigration
Employers may file a petition to obtain an immigration employment visa for foreign workers to be allowed to work here in the United States. Here are some of the more common items an employer may file for:
- L-1 visas and green cards for multi-national executives
- Visas for health care workers
- Preference status – EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5
- Applying for Social Security numbers
- Treaty traders and investors (EB-1, EB-2 visas)
- Federal court litigation for employment immigration
- H-1B visas for working professionals
- PERM certification
Again, I would highly recommend consulting with an immigration lawyer in Utah before filing for these as each one carries its own dangers.
Immigration law is constantly changing and in recent years, it has not been changing in a favorable way for petitioners. Hopefully, this session of Congress will result in new reforms to make the path of citizenship more streamlined and efficient and, dare I say, more human. Right now, it is a cold system that is seemingly impossible to navigate without an immigration lawyer.
So do yourself a favor: if you have an immigration issue, seek out an immigration lawyer in Utah. They will save you hours upon hours of wasted time, stress and even, in the end, money.
By Yossof Sharifi