Beaverton

Immigration attorneys assist individuals in interpreting and understanding United States immigration laws. At Vanderwall Immigration, our focus is providing a full range of immigration legal services that offer citizenship assistance to clients in Beaverton. Here are just a few of the immigration matters our attorneys can help you with:

• Green Cards: A foreign national who wishes to live and work permanently in this country must obtain a United States Permanent Resident Card, often referred to as a “green card.” Green cards are commonly used to help family members of current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents establish their own permanent residency. A citizen can apply for a green card on behalf of their spouse, married child, unmarried child, parents, or siblings. Lawful permanent residents can seek a green card on behalf of a spouse or unmarried child.
• Fiancé Visas: A United States citizen can apply for a K-1 or Fiancé Visa on behalf of a fiancé who is a foreign national. In order to qualify for a Fiancé Visa, however, you must meet certain requirements. With some exceptions, you must meet your fiancé in person at least once within the 2 years preceding your K-1 application. You must also intend to legally marry your fiancé within 90 days of their entry into the United States.It is important to note that approval of a Fiancé Visa is not automatic. A non-national fiancé may be denied entry into the United States if they have a prior history of criminal or immigration violations. The citizen fiancé must also demonstrate they can financially support their foreign spouse-to-be, which generally means they have income or assets that exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty level guidelines for their household size.
• United States Citizenship: Both green cards and Fiancé Visas can be used as steps towards applying for United States citizenship. Generally, you must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States for a certain period of time before seeking citizenship. In addition to residency, you must also meet a number of other criteria, such as demonstrating a basic knowledge of American history and civics; you can read, writing, and speak in English; and you are considered a person of “good moral character.” This latter requirement often poses a barrier to immigrants who have a criminal record, particularly for offenses considered aggravated felonies or crimes of “moral turpitude.”
• U Visas and VAWA Cases: Many immigrants to the United States are considered “vulnerable” individuals such as victims of crime. The United States provides a special category of non-immigrant visa known as a U Visa, which are expressly reserved for “victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.” These visas allow a qualified immigrant to reside and work in the United States for up to 4 years, with the possibility of later applying for permanent residency.In addition, the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) enables qualified victims of domestic violence and abuse–including both men and women–to self-petition for lawful immigration status without the involvement of their abuser.
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Many children are brought to the United States as children without authorization or proper documentation. The Obama administration established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to help these individuals, known as “Dreamers,” lawfully remain and work in the United States for renewable two-year periods. Dreamers must meet certain requirements. For instance, they must have arrived in the United States before reaching the age of 16, and they must have remained physically present in the country since June 15, 2012.
• Deportation: Deportation is the legal process of removing a non-citizen from the United States for violating federal immigration law. Each year, the federal government deports approximately 70,000 people. But deportation itself is a rather complex legal process. Under the law, a person has the right to appear before an immigration judge and present a defense. This can include presenting an asylum claim, seeking a legal adjustment of their status, or applying for a deportation waiver on the grounds of extreme hardship.
• Work Permits: Most non-citizens require an Employment Authorization Document in order to secure legal employment in the United States. This process typically requires an immigrant to file an application for a work permit (USCIS Form I-765) and provide supporting documentation. Immigration authorities may deny work permits for a number of reasons, including an incomplete application, lack of eligibility, or a criminal record.
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Claims: Children who face abuse, neglect, or abandonment may be eligible to seek lawful permanent residency in the United States by seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). This requires a state, such as Oregon, to first issue an order finding that reunifying the child with their parents or guardians is untenable and that it is not in the child’s best interest to return them to their country of origin.
• Asylum: Asylum is a legal process enabling immigrants who are either currently in the United States or who appear at a U.S. border, to seek legal protection due to fear of persecution in their homeland. Asylum generally requires proof that the applicant faces persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. If granted, asylum can lead to lawful permanent residency and ultimately United States citizenship.
• Parole in Place: United States immigration officials can grant a discretionary form of lawful admission called “parole in place” to spouses, widows, parents, or minor children of active-duty or retired members of the armed forces.