Immigration Lawyer Miami
The United States has welcomed more immigrants than any other nation in the world. According to the PEW research group, more than 40 million individuals living in the United States were born in another country. The foreign-born population reached a record of 44.8 million people in 2018 and account for 13.7% of the population.
Miami FL has one of the largest immigrant populations in the country and the need for quality immigration lawyers is essential to deportation defense, permanent residency, immigration issues, law, and obtaining a green card. A law firm with immigration experience working with Miami immigration law and United States immigration law could be the difference between deportation and reuniting families.
Immigration Practice Areas
An adept Miami immigration lawyer will possess the experience, resources, and knowledge to defend your immigration case while offering support on how to navigate the bureaucratic process of immigrating to the United States. Immigration disputes and procedures can be lengthy and confusing and a Miami immigration lawyer and their law firm will work in the following practice areas:
Deportation Defense
One of the more common reasons for deportation in Miami FL is overstaying the allotted visa time. According to immigration law, non-immigrant visas allow foreign citizens to work, study, travel, invest, and reside in the United States for a specific amount of time. However, if they haven’t left the states by the date of their visa expiration then they could be at the mercy of the United States or Miami immigration services and face penalties, detention, or deportation. According to PEW research group data, more than 337,000 people were deported from the United States in 2018.
An immigration lawyer in Miami or law firm could represent your case in the following instances:
- Breaking immigration laws
- Criminal convictions
- Violation of your legal status
- Remaining in the United States on an expired visa
- Illegally working
- Illegally entering or reentering the country
The government must prove that an immigration infraction occurred and therefore deportations don’t happen immediately. A Miami law firm and immigration lawyers with expertise combating immigration issues will be able to devise a strategy that best suits particular immigration cases.
Family Immigration
Immigration law and immigration cases are complex matters and a way to offer support to your family members is working with an immigration attorney to decipher what’s the best ways to legitimize your relatives’ stay in the United States. The following immigration options may be suitable for your family and Miami immigration lawyers may be able to support you in the fruition of your family’s immigration plan and obeying the immigration law:
Family-Based Visas
Family-based visas can be issued based solely on the relationship between the applicant and family member residing in Miami or elsewhere in the U.S. Parents, spouses, and children could be permitted to stay permanently and distant relatives may also be able to live in the states legally with a family-based visa.
To petition for a green card for a family member, you or your immigration lawyers will begin the process by filing form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. This form will be used to establish the between the citizen and the immediate relatives. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services visas are always available for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and your family members won’t have to wait in lines. Speak with an immigration attorney immediately about how to begin the immigration process for your immediate relative today.
For immediate relatives already in Miami, an immigration law professional can provide support to you in adjusting their legal status by filing Form 1-485 for a green card or permanent legal residence in the U.S.
Fiance’ Visas
The K-1 non-immigrant visa also known as the fiance’s visa allows for fiance’s of U.S. citizens to come to the United States to get married. To obtain this visa, the couple must intend to marry within 90 days of arrival in the U.S. An immigration lawyer based in Miami can support couples intending to marry in the U.S. and assist in the completion of your K-1 visa documentation.
After completion of a legit marriage, between two individuals intent on building a life together, the foreign fiance’ may then apply for permanent residency in the U.S. To be eligible for a fiance’ visa the couple needs one U.S. citizen, marry within 90 days of their arrival, the couple is legally free to marry and any previous marriages need to have been terminated, and the couple will have to have met in person at least once in the past two years before filing the petition.
Employment Visas
Different classes of workers based on their preferential status can obtain a permanent residence card from immigration if they meet certain criteria. Immigration lawyers in Miami can provide assistance to those seeking to come to the U.S. for employment. Employment visas are separated into five preferential categories based on the worker’s skill set, education, and experience in certain fields of interest.
Naturalization
Naturalization is the process of becoming a U.S. citizen legally by residing in the U.S. a certain amount of time, and maintaining a clean record. The naturalization process due to immigration requirements can be very taxing and that’s why it’s important work with a lawyer in immigration in Miami to find the most efficient strategy for you to become a naturalized citizen.
The naturalization process allows foreign citizens to become U.S. citizens upon fulfilling the requirements of eligibility outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Once you’re a naturalized citizen you will be able to obtain a U.S. passport, vote in a local Miami, state, or national election, and enjoy all of the rights that come along with citizenship.
Frequently Asked Immigration Questions
How can I become a naturalized U.S. citizen?
You may qualify for naturalization in the following instances:
- Permanent residence for at least five years
- Permanent residence for at least three years that meet all other eligibility qualifications to file as a U.S. citizen’s spouse
- Residing in the U.S. for at least 30 months in the past five years before submitting your immigration application
- You can demonstrate that you can read, write, and speak english with an understanding of U.S. government and history
How many immigrants live in the state of Florida?
One in five residents of Florida were born outside of the U.S. Florida has been the home for more than 4.5 million immigrants and more than half of them are naturalized U.S. citizens. The top countries where Florida immigrants originated from including Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica. At least 13% of Florida’s native-born population has one immigrant parent. Miami immigration law has been a pivotal part of the lives of all of these individuals.
What population of Florida’s immigrants are undocumented?
However, there are more than 775,000 unauthorized and undocumented immigrants living in Florida. Over 900,000 Florida immigrants were living with undocumented individuals including more than 450,000 U.S. Citizens.
What percentage of the workforce in Florida are immigrants?
More than 50% of business owners in the Miami area are immigrants. Florida’s immigrants make up more than a fourth of the workforce in the following industries:
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Construction
- Accommodation and Food
- Administrative support, waste management, and remediation services
Who is eligible to apply for a family-based permanent residence card?
A Permanent Residence Card, allows individuals to live and work permanently in Miami FL and the U.S. The following family members are eligible to apply for permanent residency:
- Immediate relatives of U.S citizens
- Relative of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident under the family-based preference category
- Fiance of a U.S. citizen or the fiance’s child
- Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen
- Abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. Citizen
Who is eligible to apply for a Miami employment-based permanent residence card?
Immigrant workers could be eligible to apply to immigration for a green card through employment in the following instances:
First Preference Immigrant Worker (E1)
- Workers with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
- Outstanding researchers
- Multinational managers and executives
Second Preference Immigrant Workers (E2)
- Members of professions that required advanced degrees
- Workers with exceptional abilities in science, art, or business
- Immigrants seeking a national interest waiver
Third Preference Immigrant Workers (E3)
- Skilled workers with jobs that require at least two years of training
- Professionals whose jobs require a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent
- Unskilled workers whose employment does not require two years of training and experience
Physician National Interest Waiver
- Physicians that agree to work full-time in an underserved clinical practice for a set period of time
Immigrant Investor
- Investors with more $500,000 worth of investments in a targeted employment area or in actively or in the process of investing $1,000,000 in a commercial enterprise creating at least 10 full-time employment opportunities.
What should I do if I’m detained by ICE?
If you’re arrested and found to be residing in the Miami area or the U.S. illegally, then you could be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Securing immigration lawyers with experience in immigration law in Miami FL could be the difference in whether or not you’re deported, detained, or allowed to stay. Without a law firm or Miami immigration lawyers you may be at the immediate risk of being deported or worse, being separated from your children, spouse, or parents. Immigration law is a strenuous process and Miami immigration lawyers can answer questions, represent you in court, help you file the necessary documentation, and set you on a path to naturalization.
