Services

Family Based Visas

• Family Based Green Cards
  • A citizen or lawful permanent resident (Green Card Holder) of the United States may petition for foreign national relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States.
• Fiancee Visas
  • The fiancée K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancée of a United States citizen and allows the foreign-citizen fiancée to travel to the United States and marry her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival.
• Visas for a Filipino or Filipina Fiance/Fiancee

Employment Based Visas

• Employment Based Green Cards
  • An American business that desires to fill a job vacancy with a foreign worker can use the immigration laws and procedures to qualify the foreign worker for an immigrant visa.
• Temporary Working Visas
  • In order for you to come to the United States lawfully as a nonimmigrant to work temporarily in the United States your prospective employer must generally file a nonimmigrant petition on your behalf with USCIS.
• H-1B Visas for Nurses
  • USCIS will approve an H-1B nonimmigrant worker petition filed on behalf of certain foreign nurses if the statutory and regulatory requirements for H-1B classification are met.

Students

• Academic Student (F-1)
  • The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program.
• Vocational Students (M-1)
  • The M-1 Visa (Vocational Student) category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programs, other than language training.

Investors

• Green Cards for Investors (EB-5)
  • Entrepreneurs who make an investment of the requisite amount in a commercial enterprise in the United States and who plan to create or preserve ten permanent full time jobs for qualified United States workers, are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence).
• Temporary Visas for Treaty Traders (E-1)
  • The E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on his or her own behalf.
• Temporary Visas for Treaty Investors (E-2)
  • The E-2 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business.

Citizenship

• Naturalization
  • There are various naturalization provisions that allow permanent residents (green card holders) to become U.S. citizens.  The most common of these provisions is section 316(a) of the INA which allows a person who has been a permanent resident for at least 5 years to apply for naturalization.
• Biological or Adopted Children Residing in the United States
  • A child residing in the United States may already be a U.S. Citizen if at least one parent is a U.S. Citizen and certain other requirements are met.
• Biological or Adopted Children Residing Outside the United States
  • A biological or adopted child residing outside of the United States whose parent is a U.S. Citizens may qualify for naturalization.

Deportation/ Cancellation of Removal

• Deportation/ Cancellation of Removal for Permanent Residents
  • Permanent residents of the United States may be eligible to have their removal cancelled if certain requirements are established in a hearing before an Immigration Judge.
• Deportation/ Cancellation of Removal for Non-Residents 
  • Non-resident aliens may be eligible to have their removal cancelled if certain requirements are established in a hearing before an Immigration Judge.

Asylum

• Affirmative Asylum
  • The affirmative asylum process applies to aliens who initially file an asylum application with DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS asylum officers conduct non-adversarial interviews of asylum applicants and determine whether to grant asylum.
• Defensive Asylum
  • The defensive asylum process applies to aliens who are in removal proceedings and request asylum from an immigration judge. The process is called “defensive” because it can provide relief from being removed from the United States.
• Family Members of Asylees
  • When applicants are granted asylum, relief is also granted to their family members who are in the United States and were included in their asylum application.  Applicants who have been granted asylum may also petition to bring their eligible family members to the United States.

Humanitarian Benefits

• Temporary Protected Status
  • The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for Temporary Protected Status due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.
• Victims of Violence
  • There are benefits available to victims of domestic violence; victims of human trafficking; and victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the crime and are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.

Warning: This is not intended to be legal advice. Everyone’s goals and situations are unique. Please consult an attorney to determine which method is best for your specific goals.

© 2011. Law Office of Irwin M. Avelino.

100 North Brand Boulevard, Second Floor, Glendale, CA 91203 Phone: 818-476-0114

Serving Glendale, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Orange County, San Diego, Lancaster