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And other related legal services in the areas of immigration and family law: Our law firm proudly serves your needs in immigration in the Nashville area, including all of Davidson County, and up to the federal court level throughout the state of Tennessee. Let Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office put our experience of over 20 years to work for you and your family as you pursue the American dream of permanent residence or citizenship.
Family Based Immigration
You and your immigration lawyer can then review your personal situation and decide the best path forward in family-based immigration. Because every case is different, your legal team will need to build your case around your specific conditions to enter the country on a family-based visa. Our team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office has over 20 years of experience helping immigrant families build their cases.
Have immediate relatives who are U.S. citizens, like a parent or child.
- Be an unmarried individual under 21 years of age with one parent who is a U.S. citizen.
- Be parents of a U.S. citizen who is over the age of 21.
- Be an adopted child of a U.S. citizen.
- Be a spouse or a recent widow or widower of a U.S. citizen.
Marriage Based Visa
You can also enter the country on a K-1 “fiancé visa,” a temporary visa that allows entry in order to marry a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. You must intend to marry within 90 days of the non-U.S. citizen spouse entering the country. Once married with proof of marriage, you or your spouse can apply for permanent residency or citizenship once all conditions are met.
You and your spouse will have to prove that the marriage is real outside of the opportunity for a path to citizenship. You both must also prove that the marriage is legal, that neither spouse is already married, and that the U.S. citizen spouse can provide proof of citizenship or permanent resident status.
Marriages outside of the United States qualify for legal recognition of marriage if they are recognized by the government of the non-citizen spouse’s home country. Because one condition includes legal proof of marriage, domestic partnerships often do not qualify for consideration for immigration. If you are not married within 90 days of entering the country, complications could arise.
For your questions about pursuing immigration through a marriage-based visa, an immigration lawyer in Nashville may be able to help. Contact our team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office for more information about the legal issues you may encounter when applying for your K-1 marriage-based visa.
Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)
Green card permanent residents in the U.S. enjoy several benefits over temporary visa holders. With a green card, you can live and work in the United States indefinitely without having to reapply for authorization to reside in the U.S.
Additionally, you can apply for many state benefits with a green card. You may be eligible for certain tax benefits, social security benefits, or other retirement benefits as a permanent resident.
If you are a permanent resident student, you can qualify to apply at state colleges or universities and pay in-state tuition for your classes if you attend a school in the state where you live. You would also be eligible to apply for federal and state financial aid to attend classes at a U.S. institution for higher education.
Green card permanent residents can also hold dual citizenship with their native countries and can even petition for a spouse or other immediate relatives to immigrate to the United States. With a permanent resident card, you can enjoy many of the same rights as U.S. citizens.
Once you have obtained your green card, there is a risk of losing your permanent residency status if you commit certain failings to uphold your residency. You may have your status revoked if you leave the country for a year or more, fail to obtain a re-entry permit, or if you obtain a re-entry permit but don’t return to the United States before the two-year expiration of your re-entry permit.
You may also lose your permanent resident status if you do not file your taxes, or if you declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax forms. You could also lose your green card if you are charged with or are found guilty of committing a crime, and you could even face deportation. It is much easier to lose permanent residency than to obtain. An immigration lawyer can help you build a defense if you find that your permanent residency status may be at risk.
When you’re ready to apply for your green card, you’ll want an experienced immigration lawyer to help you fill out the correct forms, build your case, attend the interview and represent your interests across several areas of law. If you need an immigration lawyer in Nashville or the state of Tennessee, contact our legal team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office.
FAQ
Our immigration lawyer has filed these same forms for hundreds of applicants before you. The legal forms necessary to complete at multiple stages of the immigration process can be complicated. Filing them yourself can lead to errors that may negatively affect your case. You also must complete updated forms and submit additional paperwork according to strict deadlines. If you miss a deadline, your case may be denied. Your mail from USCIS could get lost or you could move without properly notifying USCIS. You may have questions about interviews or you may need our attorney to attend your interview with you in Nashville.
If you currently live in Tennessee or intend to immigrate to the area, you’re much more likely to win favorable results if you hire an immigration lawyer in Nashville. You’re also less likely to face denials, notices of intent to deny, requests for evidence, and other negative consequences of an infraction with the knowledge and experience of an immigration lawyer on your side.
Immigration lawyers represent you on your path to permanent residency or citizenship. The government has a strong vetting process that can lead to a denial or harsh consequences if not taken seriously. Even if English is a first language for applicants, the immigration system is complex with “exceptions to exceptions” and other pitfalls. This process can be especially difficult for those people who have English as a second or third language. In these cases, it is essential that these individuals get the necessary assistance in completing the correct forms in English from an immigration lawyer and to represent you at the field office. If such forms are filed incorrectly, an unauthorized resident may have to wait between three and ten years to return to the United States after their removal.
Legal forms, field office appearances, tests, oaths, and moral judgements are all parts of the immigration procedure. Our immigration lawyer has the education and experience to complete forms accurately, appear at field offices on your behalf, explain to you the meaning and importance of Constitutional knowledge for the citizenship test, and build the case for the goodness of your character. Your immigration lawyer will monitor and assist your progress through the entire immigration process.
They’re the same thing! The green card is another name for a Permanent Resident Card. Your green card or permanent residency status must be maintained to retain the benefits of residency. For example, your permanent residency status may be called into question if you leave the country for a period of one year or longer. You may not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. if you are deemed to have abandoned your residence.
If you intend to leave the United States for an extended period after getting your green card, you need to file for a re-entry permit to be allowed back into the country. The re-entry permit will expire after two years. If you don’t return within that time period, you could lose your permanent residency status.
The most important thing in seeking legal services from an immigration lawyer is to find one whose experience you trust.
- First, look in the area where you intend to live once you’re authorized to enter the country. To find an immigration lawyer in Nashville, look to the internet, referrals from friends and family, and be ready to compare multiple recommendations.
- Research each of the lawyers under consideration. Look for clues to their experience, reputation, and reviews from real clients. You can also find information about immigration lawyers from the State Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
- Make your short list of qualifying immigration lawyers who you might like to represent you or your family member.
- Interview your list to ensure you find the best fit for your needs. Does your first interview understand your case? Is your third interview’s rate higher or lower than the previous two?
o Hire the right immigration lawyer. You’re likely to find a good balance between someone who understands the legal issues and offers their services at a reasonable price.
Suppose you or a family member are currently in the process of immigrating to Nashville, TN, or anywhere in the state of Tennessee. In that case, it is recommended that you retain an immigration lawyer in Nashville. Not only would you benefit from retaining a lawyer to assist in standard immigration proceedings, but also if your or your family’s immigrant status is threatened by criminal charges, travel outside the country, or improper tax filing.
An immigration lawyer can ascertain if certain conditions would threaten your or your family member’s immigration status. They can then begin building an argument and planning course correction to put you back on the path to legal U.S. citizenship.
Part of the qualifications for citizenship include that you be “of good moral character.” However, it isn’t always so simple as to avoid being charged with a crime. A conviction could lead to denial of citizenship and possibly deportation.
An immigration lawyer can see how criminal charges may affect your path to citizenship. Our team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office can advise you and represent you.
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