Kalamazoo Immigration Attorney

Kalamazoo Immigration Attorney

A report shows that according to the U.S. Census, almost 5% of all Kalamazoo County residents are foreign-born. If you are an immigrant seeking to maintain your legal right to stay in the U.S. or a family member of a student or worker trying to obtain permanent residency, you need to carefully consider hiring an immigration attorney to help you on your journey to citizenship. U.S. immigration laws have become increasingly complex and even inconsistent at times. Do not wait until it is too late, call Kriezelman, Burton & Associates, LLC to get help today.

Paths to U.S. Citizenship

There are many ways to become a U.S. citizen, but it can be difficult to know what is right for you. In general, you must be a permanent resident (hold a green card) for at least five years, or you can qualify after three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen. There is also a citizenship exam.

The real challenge is obtaining permanent residency status.  Many people come to the U.S. for work or school, while others come to be close to family who are already living in this country. Here are some of the ways that people immigrate to the U.S.

• Student Visas
• Temporary Work Visas
• Military Service
• Family-based Immigration
• Investor Immigration

The Importance of Hiring an Immigration Lawyer

When you are trying to keep your residency status or avoid deportation, you need an immigration attorney who understands the process both from inside and outside of the immigration court system. The attorneys of Kriezelman, Burton & Associates, LLC have years of experience helping immigrants and aspiring Americans obtain and keep their residency.

From work visas to student visas, and so much more, our attorneys know what it takes to help immigrants protect their rights and stay in the country they love. Here are just a few ways we can often help:

• Avoiding removal
• Protecting DACA recipients
• Helping children reunite with loved ones
• Helping spouses obtain citizenship

Immigration courts are not the same as traditional U.S. courts. In fact, immigration courts are presided over by judges who are politically appointed. This means there is often less independence in decision making. Likewise, the volume of cases that judges must decide can be overwhelming. For instance, there are approximately 330 immigration judges in just 58 immigration courts around the country. On average, many judges maintain regular caseloads of more than 1,000 cases at any given time.

This can make it difficult to give each case the time and attention that it deserves. For those who are not represented by attorneys, judges may make certain assumptions or rely on gut instinct to move cases, rather than taking the time to research the law.

By having an experienced immigration lawyer on your side, you give yourself a bit of an edge and a strong advantage when fighting to maintain your right to stay in the U.S. If you are facing removal, criminal actions, or just need help after overstaying your visa, give Kriezelman, Burton & Associates, LLC a call today.