Immigration Law Firm Chicago

Immigration Law Firm Chicago

Immigration is a highly important and personal legal matter. Without it, you may be unable to work, or even to simply remain in the same country as your family members and loved ones. You have the right to consult with an experienced Chicago immigration lawyer about your legal rights. Do not let a government official convince you that you cannot apply for a visa, permanent residency, or citizenship without getting your own independent legal advice. 

What Immigration Status Am I Eligible For?

It is important to be sure that you are applying for the correct immigration status. If you are ineligible for the status you are applying for, your application will be delayed, and you will lose precious time and money in the immigration process. There are many legal grounds for establishing a lawful immigration status. These generally fall into one of three broad categories: 

Employment

Employment visas can be granted on a permanent or temporary basis. Temporary workers must be sponsored by their employers in order to obtain a B-1 business visitor visa. Permanent workers are divided into one of five preference classes, and some of these also require the applicant to be sponsored by an employer. 

According to Citizenship and Immigration Services, there are only 14,000 visas available each year for permanent workers (as well as their spouses and children). This is why it is important to establish your application in the highest preference category for which you are eligible. 

Family

There are three categories that are commonly used in family immigration: immediate relatives, family preference, and fiancee visas. Individuals who fall into any of these categories require an eligible family member to act as a sponsor. Once the immigrant has been a permanent resident in the United States for the required length of time, he or she may become eligible to apply for citizenship. Citizenship is obtained on the applicant’s own merits without a sponsor. 

Humanitarian Grounds

Even if you are not sponsored by a family member or employer, you might be eligible for a special humanitarian immigration status. These are based on severe human rights abuses, such as:

• Refugees seeking asylum
• Battered spouses, parents, and children
• Victims of human trafficking and other related crimes
• Juveniles who have been abused, abandoned or neglected in the United States (this is known as Special Immigrant Juvenile status)
• Victims of female genital mutilation or cutting
• Victims of a forced marriage

There are also certain natural catastrophes and other human rights abuses that can make you eligible for lawful immigration status on humanitarian grounds. Consult with an immigration attorney about your particular situation to see if you qualify.

The Right Chicago Lawyers for All Immigration Cases

The experienced Chicago immigration lawyers at Minsky McCormick & Hallagan have helped many families stay together by obtaining the correct lawful immigration status. Don’t face the full force of the U.S. government alone – hire an experienced immigration attorney who can fight to protect your legal right to remain in the United States. Contact us to schedule a consultation as soon as possible.