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Q&A
Get the Answers You Need
You have questions and we have answers. We are here to help with the important matters so you have one less thing to worry about. Below are some of our most frequently asked questions. If you do not see your question below feel free to contact us here.
01. How long will it take before my family member becomes a resident of the United States?
- There is often no good answer for this question. Each person's filing is unique and can contain different issues which may delay the processing of an application. The government provides windows of time within which each USCIS office should process an applicant's filing. However, the processing time often runs beyond these dates. If you believe that your application has been unnecessarily delayed beyond the date provided on the government's website, please we will be happy to place a call for you. If someone promises to fix your immigration problems within a very short of period of time, you should take caution.
02. What are the benefits of DACA?
- By giving you DACA, the government has agreed not to pursue your deportation from the United States. You are also granted a work permit, social security number and you may apply for a driver’s license. Many states will also allow you to compete for educational scholarships, although not all states allow this.
- On the other hand, receiving DACA does not automatically lead to permanent residency. Because most DACA recipients were never admitted and inspected, they cannot adjust status to permanent residency. Therefore, it is important that DACA recipients not violate the law or leave the United States without permission
- If you think you may be eligible for DACA, please contact our office and we will gladly speak to you about applying. If you are eligible, it is nearly always a good idea to apply.
03. What is the difference between a notario and an attorney?
- Would you go to a barber to fix a toothache or have your appendix removed? Of course not. Please do not go to a notary to fix your immigration problems. Unlike other countries, notaries in the United States are not trained in the law. They do not understand the law and do not appreciate the complexity of their clients’ problems.
- It is vitally important that you seek immigration assistance from an attorney or an accredited representative with the supervision of an attorney. One mistake or oversight can spell disaster. Every week, our office helps clients whose path toward gaining residency was ruined because a notary did not know what he or she was doing. The notary who offers immigration services is good for one thing: providing hollow promises. Nothing more. Do not be fooled.
04. Why is it important to attain U.S. citizenship after becoming a permanent resident?
- Gaining permanent residency is a wonderful thing. However, despite the name, permanent residency is not always permanent. You can lose your permanent resident status if you leave the United States for an extended period of time or if you are convicted of certain crimes. Once you gain citizenship, you will always be a citizen.
- As a US Citizen, you have the right to vote in local and national elections and perhaps most importantly, you have the ability to pass your citizenship on to your children if they are born outside the United States. Finally, a United States Citizen has much greater power when it comes to petitioning for family members tobecome permanent residents.
- If you feel like you may qualify for citizenship, please give us a call. We will be happy to help you.
05. What is the difference between consular processing and adjustment of status?
- When a person is eligible, there are two processes for becoming a permanent resident:
- Consular processing and
- Adjustment of status.
- Consular processing is used when a person who is outside the United States and wants to become a permanent resident. An appointment is made at a United States consulate or embassy where a U.S. immigration official will determine if the person qualifies for residency.
- Adjustment of status is a process that occurs when a person is already inside the United States and wants to become a permanent resident. If the person can satisfy all of the requirements for adjustment of status, then they file an application to adjust with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and become a permanent resident without leaving the country.
- While most people think adjustment of status is preferable to consular processing, there are benefits and drawbacks to both processes. Occasionally, even when a person is in the United States, an attorney may choose consular processing because it is the only available remedy or easier to obtain. When this occurs, the person will leave the United States, attend a consular interview abroad, and then return within a few weeks. Whether to consular process or adjust status is a decision that requires thorough knowledge of the risks and benefits of each.
- If you feel that you may be eligible to become a permanent resident, please stop by our office and we will help you determine the best path for you.
- When a person is eligible, there are two processes for becoming a permanent resident:
You can find us in the heart of Bethlehem
700 Evans St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
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