Columbus Immigration Lawyer
Immigration occurs when an individual leaves their home country, of which they are natives, or citizens, to another country, of which they are not natives, nor citizens, to reside there or settle. An individual who leaves their home country to settle or live in another is called a migrant or immigrant. A migrant or immigrant can also be someone who moved from their home county to take up employment in another country.
According to research, the United States of America had the highest number of immigrants in the world. By 2020, it was estimated that over 40 million individuals living in America were born in a different country. Research also shows that the population of migrants in the United States is diverse, with almost every country in the world having a citizen within its borders. Our Columbus immigration lawyer at Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. can help with any immigration related matters.
- Board of Immigration Appeals & Federal Court Litigation
- Consular Cases and Waivers
- Crime Victims Immigration
- Deportation
- Employment Immigration
- Family Immigration
- Naturalization
- Refugee & Asylum
- Student Visa
Categories of Immigrants
When immigrating to the United States of America, there are different immigration status categories that a migrant might fall into. Often, an immigrant becomes one of the following;
- Naturalized citizen
- Lawful permanent resident
- Conditional permanent resident
- Undocumented immigrant
Naturalized Citizen
After a certain amount of time as a permanent resident (three years to five years in the United States), an immigrant can apply for naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which a permanent resident, who is in the U.S. legally, is granted U.S. citizenship after meeting the set requirements.
Lawful Permanent Resident
In the U.S., a lawful permanent resident (LPR) is an immigrant who has acquired a green card and become a legal resident of the United States of America. A legal permanent resident can work and live in the U.S. permanently. However, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. is not considered a citizen of the U.S.
There are different ways to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. For example, an individual can be sponsored by a family member or an employer to become a lawful permanent resident.
Conditional Permanent Resident
This applies when an immigrant is given a green card that is valid for two years. However, the USCIS provides a way through which an individual can remove the conditions on their permanent resident status. A person who wishes to remove the conditions from their permanent resident status must file a petition within the 90-day period before their conditional permanent residence status expires. Failure to file the petition on time and have the conditions removed usually results in a person losing their permanent resident status.
Undocumented Immigrant
An undocumented immigrant is an immigrant who is illegally present in the country, either because they overstayed a visa or entered the country illegally. Some undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are here for a short time, whereas others are here permanently with their families. Undocumented migrants have access to basic services like emergency medical care and school. However, they do not have the benefits of citizenship or residency. For example, an undocumented immigrant cannot legally work in the U.S.
Unfortunately, undocumented immigrants are at risk of deportation at any time.
Contact a Columbus Immigration Lawyer
Are you looking for an experienced immigration lawyer to help you with family immigration, deportation defense, naturalization, or another immigration-related matter? If so, contact our Columbus immigration lawyers at Shirazi Immigration Law today. We understand we are more than just a law firm and are committed to providing exceptional services to our clients.
