Best Immigration Lawyers Chicago

Best Immigration Lawyers Chicago

The U.S. immigration process is a complex maze of laws, rules, and regulations that one must wade through before getting anything done. Nearly everyone who goes through the immigration process expresses some level of confusion or frustration. For those in violation of the law, the process is even more daunting. To successfully navigate through this complex immigration system, you can count on the best immigration lawyers in Chicago found at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC.

What a Chicago Immigration Lawyer Can Do for You

The U.S. immigration system can be divided into two broad categories: obtaining immigration benefits such as a travel or work visa or fighting for your life to fend off deportation from the United States if you have overstayed your authorized period or you otherwise do not have valid immigration status.

U.S. immigration benefits fall into two broad categories: employment-based immigration and family-based immigration.

Employment-Based Immigration

There are various ways noncitizens can become lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) through employment. These employment-based categories include:

• First preference (EB-1) – priority workers
• Foreign workers with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics,
• Outstanding university professors and researchers; or
• Certain multinational managers and executives.
• Second preference (EB-2) – noncitizens who hold advanced degrees in their respective professions or who have exceptional ability. 
• Third preference (EB-3) – skilled workers, professionals, or other workers.

Family-Based Immigration

If you are a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, you can petition the government to allow your relatives to be given a green card. However, not all relatives qualify, and for those who qualify, the period of waiting to get a green card varies from about two years to more than 15 years for certain relatives.

To have a relative petition approved by the government, one must file a petition that is supported by the following:

• Proof of Qualifying Family Relationship: Not all relatives are qualified to obtain a family-based green card sponsored by their U.S. citizen or green card-holding relatives. The relatives who qualify are typically spouses and children of U.S. citizens or permanent residents and parents and siblings of U.S. citizens. 

• Bona Fides of Family Relationship: Just because one has a marriage certificate does not alone satisfy the legal requirement to prove that a marital relationship exists for U.S. immigration purposes. Rather, you must prove with enough documentary evidence that your marriage is genuine and that it was not entered for purposes of circumventing U.S. immigration law.

• Fees. The U.S. citizen or green card holder filing a petition for their relative must file the proper paperwork and pay a filing fee. The relative must also pay a filing fee for their application for a green card if the application is concurrently filed or later after the petition is approved.  

Removal/Deportation Defense

If you are in the United States without valid immigration status, you may find yourself placed in removal or deportation proceedings. These are proceedings where the government tries to have you deported from the United States for being here illegally. Fortunately, even those facing deportation have rights under U.S. immigration laws. An experienced deportation lawyer such as the ones we have at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC can help you successfully defend against deportation.

Speak with the Best Immigration Lawyers in Chicago

If you have immigration needs or issues, contact us today to schedule a consultation to find out how we can help you.