Currently, the immigration debate to the United States is a hotly debated
issue in regards to national security and the intentions of foreigners wishing
to enter the country. In many regards,
the immigration process of the United
States prior to the September 11, 2001
attacks was somewhat stringent, complex process, as the 1990 Immigration Act limited
the yearly number of immigrants to 700,000 persons. However, in the years following these
terrorist attacks, the immigration law and any process for immigration to the USA has became ever more convoluted and
complex, which was reflected by legislation proposed and approved by the House
of Representatives such as The Border
Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. Through a myriad of legal work, paperwork,
and filing the appropriate immigration form for each individual immigrant, many
foreigners can enter the United States to start their new life, join loved
ones, work the jobs of their choice, or explore the country as a student or
traveler, but only a competent and qualified immigration lawyer can effectively
guide foreigners wishing to immigrate through the dizzying process of properly
filing each and every immigration form.
The process of filing the necessary immigration form begins
with individuals selecting which forms prove most applicable to their unique
set of immigration circumstances. Almost
every immigration form from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services costs
filers processing fees, which range in expense from $50 for protected temporary
status to several thousands of dollars for immigrants seeking permanent
residency status. In the event these
forms are incorrectly filed, lacking notarization, or without signatures from
applicable legal representatives, the possibility of immigration, as well as
the money provided, will be lost. For
these reasons, seeking the assistance of an immigration attorney to strategize
which immigration form or forms for you and your loved ones to file, how to
file these immigration forms, and garnering the right signatures for an
immigration form is essentially imperative.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, some of the
most commonly filed immigration forms include:
- I-129F- A petition of immigration for an alien finance
- I-130- A petition of immigration for alien relatives
- I-140- A petition of immigration on behalf of alien workers
by an employer
- I-485- A petition for permanent residency status within the
United States
- I-526- A petition for an alien to immigrate to pursue
entrepreneurial activities
- I-698- An application to change from temporary to permanent
residency status
- I-881- An application to delay or suspend deportation of an
immigrant
- I-9- An application to verify employment eligibility within
the United States
Given the unique circumstances surrounding each immigration
case, immigration attorney must ascertain exactly which immigration forms or
form to utilize when petitioning for the legal right of a foreigner to enter United States
soil. Typically, the immigration process
is precarious enough for hopeful immigrants and their loved ones, and as a
measure to augment the potential approval of an immigration petition, as well
as any ensuing conflicts that may arise, having an immigration attorney guiding
your next move is essential.
Are you or your loved
ones seeking to immigrate to the United States? Contact an immigration attorney today.