Monthly Archives: February 2010
Immigration Reform: Why We Need It
Immigration Reform The desire to immigrate has historically been one of the most popular options for a change of life. While some people may choose to change careers or go back to school, immigration has offered another option for a new life. Going to a new country, especially with a family, can be a brand new lease on life, offering new job opportunities, education opportunities, and a brand new culture to embrace. That being said, there are millions of people that choose to immigrate to America every year. Unfortunately for them, the immigration system in America is broken, leaving hundreds of thousands of immigrants detained in prisons and unsure about their future in the country. This broken system forces immigrants to tread carefully, taking life-threatening risks and illegal actions to stay in the country. The broken system of immigration in America has been cause for concern for a long time. Since the Bush administration increased the amount of immigration agents and increased the amount of raids in random workplaces and communities, the amount of immigration cases given to the immigration courts has grown exponentially. In 2008, over 350,000 immigration cases were brought to the court, a third … Continue reading
Immigration Laws in America
Immigration law in America is in heavy need for reform. Many immigration laws have been molded and changed to meet the racial and geographic issues affecting the country and its immigration policy. Without proper reform of immigration law, the borders of the United States will continue to struggle with holding back smugglers of drugs and guns. Additionally, the security of the United States will be at risk with the weak, undefined immigration laws we employ today. However, although immigration law hears a call from many for change, there has been little to no action regarding policy change. With the new Obama presidential administration comes promise of immigration law reform. The new President believes that the broken immigration system can be fixed, but only through an organic approach ignoring politics. With this bold approach, the President wants to secure the border, enforce immigration laws, and reinforce America as a country of immigrants. Additionally, he believes that immigration law should be shaped around the benefit of the American economy and the American worker, something that our country can surely get behind. There are 5 main points that the President is focusing on: * Strengthening … Continue reading
Finding the Right Immigration Attorney
Immigration is a complicated legal process that can confuse the millions of people who are forced to deal with it. The broken immigration system has forced millions of immigrants into the immigration courts, starting from the first “notice to appear” to the final administrative decision made by the immigration judge. For many immigrants, this complicated legal system is impossible to understand, especially with the unavoidable language and cultural barriers that come with immigrating to a new country. In these cases, the complex set of laws and guidelines can be best explained through the help of a qualified immigration attorney. An immigration Attorney is well-versed in immigration law and can help an immigrant with the language and legal barriers that they face. Immigration attorneys are plentiful, the supply meeting the demand of hundreds of thousands of immigration cases held in courts every year. Utilizing immigration attorneys allow immigrants to have better chance of making it through the immigration system of the United States. Finding the proper immigration attorney can be tough, as there are many to choose from. However, there are several ways of finding the right immigration attorney for a specific situation: * Using the Internet … Continue reading
Immigration and Naturalization in America
Naturalization is defined as the acquisition of citizenship or nationality by a person who was not a citizen or from the country when he or she was born. Immigration and naturalization have always been intertwined, as naturalization is the goal for all individuals immigrating to another country. Generally speaking, naturalization requires that the applicant be a legal resident for a certain amount of time and swear to uphold the laws of the country. However, naturalization in America is a bit more complicated. It requires the individual to be a permanent resident, or a green card holder, before naturalization is even considered. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), people may be considered for naturalization if: * You have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years and meet all other eligibility requirements. * You have been a permanent resident for 3 years or more and meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen. * You have qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meet all other eligibility requirements. * Your child may qualify for naturalization if you are a U.S. citizen, the child was born outside the U.S., the child is currently … Continue reading
Process of Becoming an Immigration Lawyer
Immigration lawyers have some of the best job security in the entire United States. By all accounts, immigration in the United States will continue to grow, providing clients for immigration lawyers around the country. Becoming an immigration lawyer also allows you to be well compensated and help others get their life in order. For those interested in helping others and those interested in immigration law, representing immigrants in court and fighting for their rights can be very rewarding. With the impending immigration reform with the new Presidential administration, immigrant lawyers have a bright future ahead of them. Becoming an immigration Lawyer , however, requires much discipline and commitment. Here are the steps you must take to become a lawyer representing immigrants: * Before applying to law school, consider your undergraduate courses to match up with your goal of becoming a Lawyer . There are no set “pre-law” undergraduate courses, so choose courses that you are interested in and relate to the fields of sociology, psychology, criminal justice, English, and history. This will allow you to prepare for law school and, if you work hard, keep a high GPA. Additionally, courses on immigration … Continue reading
Obtaining a Green Card in America
Under immigration law, there are a number of different ways that an immigrant can receive a green card. Obtaining a greencard has specific requirements that, if met, allow an immigrant to receive permanent residence in America. A greencard allows for an immigrant to be considered a permanent resident given most rights of citizenship. This designation is only one step away from becoming a U.S. citizen, which is the goal for most immigrants dealin with immigration law. Other designations of inhabitants in the country include: aliens not legally permitted in the country, an individual on a temporary visa permitting a limited time of residence, and a certified U.S. citizen. Obtaining a greencard, as mentioned earlier, allows an immigrant to receive permanent resident status. Permanent residents in the United states are granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, despite not being a U.S. citizen. Obtaining a greencard can be done in a number of different ways. While some individuals may be able to choose from a number of different paths, other individuals may only have one choice based on their specific circumstances. For example, if an individual is currently living inside the … Continue reading
The Process of Deportation
There are many different reasons as to why an immigrant may be deported from the United States. For example, an immigrant may be considered an inadmissible alien due to terrorist suspicion, criminal records, certain diseases, or entrance into the United States illegally. If the government decides that an immigrant’s status should be questioned, the process of deportation beings. Also known as the removal process, the deportation process can be very complicated, especially for those just entering our country. The process usually goes as follows: * If an immigrant is to be considered to be deported, the deportation process begins. The process generally starts with the Department of Homeland Security, or the DHS, issuing the individual a “notice to appear”. This document has important information including the name and country of origin for the individual, an order to appear in immigration court, and the nature of the situation. This additional information will include how the individual broke the law, the reason for the summons, the right to an attorney, and the consequences of failing to appear. * There are a number of situations where a “relief from removal” is possible. In these cases, the individual may not be deported for a … Continue reading
What is A Deportation Lawyer?
Deportation is the dreaded result of a broken immigration system. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants are deported every year, forced out of the country they are living in through a complicated process that generally results in either detainment or deportation. This complicated legal process is a product of an immigration system that leaves hundreds of thousands of immigrants questioning their residential status in the United States, and thousands more stuck in detention, waiting for a decision or for deportation to be feasible. This complicated process is especially hard for immigrants that have just entered the country. Many of these immigrants struggle to learn the language, and many more have little to no comprehension of the legal system of the United States. In these cases, a deportation lawyer can provide the advice that an immigrant needs to be treated fairly in the system. For example, deportation lawyers are well-versed in immigration law, and can help immigrants through their appearance in front of an immigration judge, as well as give advice on all of the options available to immigrants in the United States. A deportation attorney is a certified legal professional specializing in the deportation process and immigration law. Most of these … Continue reading
Obtaining a Citizenship in the United States
Deciding to become a U.S. citizen can end up being one of the most important decisions in the life of an immigrant. Generally speaking, an individual is only allowed to be a citizen of one country at a time. Obtaining a U.S. citizenship allows an immigrant to show their commitment and loyalty to the country, while receiving the benefits that a citizenship offers. The benefits of an approved citizenship application include all the rights and privileges that every American citizen experiences, including all the freedoms and opportunities that the country offers through their policies and Constitution. More specifically, citizens of the United States receive benefits of: * Voting – only U.S. citizens are permitted to vote in Federal elections * Obtaining citizenship for children * Traveling with a U.S. passport – traveling with a valid U.S. passport allows the individual to receive assistance from the government when traveling overseas * Bringing other family members to the country * Being eligible for Federal Jobs – many federal jobs require a U.S. citizenship * Becoming an elected official – most elected offices in the country require citizenship Individuals deciding to fill out a citizenship application have a number of different options. Any … Continue reading
The United States Visa Application Process
For the many Americans who choose to visit other countries, U.S. visas are not required for travel. For the people traveling to the United States, however, a visa application may be necessary. Visas allow the government to track who comes in and goes out of the country, as well as documenting all of the foreign visitors entering the country. The government welcomes millions of foreign visitors and immigrants every year. These visitors enhance the culture, education, and economy of the United States. Visas allow citizens of foreign countries to temporarily visit the United States. Visas are documents that are placed inside the passport of the travel, and are issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship. While visas are required for most travelers, certain international travelers may enter the United States without a visa. Travelers that travel without visas include citizens of Canada, Mexico, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, and Bermuda. Possessing a visa to the United States allows a traveler to enter the United States through a port of entry, airport, or border and ask the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection inspector to gain entrance to the country. Travelers are distinguished between two types: temporary visitors and … Continue reading