- Traffic Violations
- Sex CrimesYou commit a serious crime. You can lose your green card if you commit certain crimes. While there is no set list of crimes that led to green card loss, individuals in the past have lost permanent residency for violent crimes, drug charges, domestic violence, theft, and sex offenses.
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsWere you brought to the United States as a minor? Was it before your 16th birthday? Have you been living in this country without being able to legalize your immigration status? You surely know about DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. You may qualify to receive it if you have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or more than three misdemeanors. You must have completed high school or a GED or have been honorably discharged from the army.
- Drug Crimes
- Assault
- MurderU VISA The U visa allows victims, or witnesses, of certain types of crimes to apply for a temporary nonimmigrant visa to the US and eventually legal permanent residency (Green Card) and citizenship. In order to be eligible for this visa the person must have been a victim of one of the following crimes (or attempted crimes): torture; trafficking; domestic violence; sexual assault; female genital mutilation; involuntary servitude; false imprisonment; blackmail; manslaughter; murder; felonious assault; witness tampering; obstruction of justice; or perjury. They must also suffer substantial physical or mental abuse because of this crime, be helpful in the investigation, and receive a certification from the police, prosecutor or judge in the case that they were helpful in the investigation. There is no time bar for when the crime took place, and in some limited circumstances a crime overseas can qualify. Victims may also apply overseas and come to the US once the Visa is approved.
- Manslaughter
- Employment LitigationAn employer must keep evidence of an employee’s form I-9 for at least three years from their hiring date and one year after termination. Likewise, ensuring you are within compliance is ideal for preventing any mistakes that may lead to an audit, fines and possible jail time. As an employer or establishment owner, working with an immigration law firm is advantageous if any foreign employment issues arise.Â
- Citizenship and Naturalization
- Family ImmigrationIf you are a United States citizen, either through birth or naturalization, you may petition to have certain family members gain green card status and ultimately citizenship. In addition, U.S. green card holders may also sponsor family members for the permanent residency status. In fact, family-based immigration is the most common and popular way that foreign citizens secure permanent residency in the U.S. While the approach for various family based cases is similar, here is specific information on the immigration options for popular “ marriage visa “.
- Employment ImmigrationUnlike most other forms of employment-based immigration, first preference EB-1 extraordinary ability green cards do not require an employer sponsor and do not need labor certification through the Department of Labor. Instead the applicant must provide either provide proof of a major one-time achievement (such as a Pulitzer, a Nobel Prize, or an Oscar) or at least three of the below criteria...
- Green Cards
- Student VisasAnother option for individuals who are not selected in the H-1B lottery is to go back to school on an F-1 student visa. F-1 visas are for full-time students enrolled in academic or language programs in the US. F-1 students are eligible to work on-campus and are typically eligible for off-campus work authorization after completing their program under Optional Practical Training (OPT). Additionally, some schools offer Curricular Practical Training (CPT) programs, which allow F-1 students to work off-campus while still enrolled in school. CPT can be authorized from day 1 of the program, which means that students do not have to wait for one academic year before they can work off-campus. This option can be a good alternative for individuals who are looking to gain additional skills and education in the US while also having the opportunity to work.
- Family Visas
- Work VisasCreated in 2005 in conjunction with the Australian-United States Free Trade Agreement, the E-3 employment visa is similar to the H-1B visa in many ways, though it is only available to Australian citizens.
- Investor VisasThe E-2 treaty investor visa allows individuals from foreign countries to come to the United States to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which that person has invested, or is in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital. This nonimmigrant visa, along with the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, are the two best choices for those seeking to live in the United States via a significant investment in the country’s economy.