- U Visa – foreign nationals who have been victims of certain crimes and who have cooperated, are willing and able to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting the crime, helping in the investigation and/or prosecution of the crimes may potentially be eligible to apply for a U-Visa. To be eligible, the law enforcement agency, the prosecuting authority, or judge must certify confirming that the applicant was cooperative. The applicant must demonstrate that he/she has suffered substantial physical and mental abuse due to the criminal activities. The U-Visa offers temporary legal status, work authorization, and a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
- VAWA – The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows certain victims of domestic violence or sexual assault to self-petition for this immigration classification. Spouses and children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and parents of U.S. citizens who are 21 years of age or older may be eligible under this classification. The program was created to protect undocumented individuals from abuse by U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents who use the victims undocumented status to abuse and control them.
- DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) provides temporary relief from deportation and offers work authorization for eligible undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. We continue to offer comprehensive services for DACA renewals services including eligibility assessments, application preparation and help with timely submission as well as advance parole evaluations and applications.
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) – SIJS is a program that provides certain undocumented immigrant children in the U.S. a path to lawful permanent residency (green card) if they have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents. SIJS is designed to protect vulnerable youth who cannot return to their home country due to unsafe family circumstances. To be eligible, the applicant must meet several criteria:
i. Be under 21 years of age and unmarried.
ii. Have been declared dependent on a U.S. juvenile court or placed in the custody of a state agency or other appointed guardian due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
iii. Have a court determination that it is not in their best interest to return to their home country.We provide compassionate, experienced representation for youth seeking SIJS. We guide families through each step, including working with state court to obtain necessary findings, preparing the SIJS petitions, and navigating the green card application process.
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian program that offers temporary protection to eligible individuals from certain countries affected by conditions such as armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary situations that prevent safe return. TPS allows qualifying individuals to live and work in the United States legally for the duration of the program’s designation period, which is parodically reviewed and may be extended.
- Asylum – Asylum is a form of protection offered to individuals who have fled their home countries due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. If you are granted asylum in the United States, you may have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency (green card) and, later, U.S. citizenship. To qualify for asylum, you must be present in the United States, and you must apply within one yar of your arrival (with some limited exceptions to the one-year deadline). You must demonstrate that you face persecution or a serious threat if you return to your home country, and that this threat is based on one of the five protected grounds under U.S. law.
