Astounding numbers of people experience abuse — both emotional and physical — every day. Abuse can make anyone feel trapped and afraid, but this is especially true for immigrants who are living in the United States illegally. Many immigrants who find themselves in abusive situations feel that they cannot seek help because any authorities they might turn to would realize they don’t have legal status, and they could be deported, often to a country where they expect to endure further abuse, made even worse by conditions of poverty. Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has provided funds and support to initiatives with the aim of putting an end to domestic violence. It has come to protect all people in the United States, not just women, from any type of abuse. In 2013, an update to VAWA was added, providing specific protection to immigrants who experience domestic violence. If you have experienced domestic violence in the past or are still experiencing it, you can…Read More
There are hundreds of immigration law firms throughout Florida, so how do you know you’re choosing the right one? Serving Immigrants, Inc. rises above the crowd and provides you with the focused and experienced representation you need. Experience At Serving Immigrants, Inc., we’ve been working for over a decade to help immigrants with a variety of issues. We have extensive familiarity with the immigration process and have helped hundreds of clients reach their immigration goals. Knowledge of the process is the key to success when it comes to immigration issues, and we deal with the process every day. Our experience can make the process as seamless and painless as possible. Personal Touch Personalized attention and focus are important to effective representation. At Serving Immigrants, Inc., we work very closely with our clients and provide them with the attention they deserve. Helping our clients reach their goals is our number one priority, and we work together with our clients to meet these needs. Some law firms…Read More
If you were the victim of a crime, you may be eligible for a U visa, which would provide you temporary nonimmigrant status in the United States. The U visa was created among growing public safety concerns and to encourage individuals who have been crime victims to cooperate with law enforcement in prosecuting criminals. If you are approved for a U visa, you will be given legal status in the U.S. with the potential for extensions. Once you have your U visa for three years, you may be able to apply for a green card. To obtain a U visa, it is not enough to simply state that you were the victim of a crime. You must provide a “certificate of helpfulness” from a government agency and show that you suffered mental or physical abuse by a U.S. perpetrator. U Visa Eligibility You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a U visa: You must be the victim of “qualified criminal activity” that…Read More
O nonimmigrant visas are available for individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary abilities and would like to perform those abilities in the United States. O-1 visas allow an individual to stay in the United States for three years, and there are unlimited extensions available. There are several different categories of O visas, and it’s important to know the difference. O-1A Visas O1-A visas are reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, education, business, or athletics. These individuals must demonstrate their extraordinary abilities by showing sustained national or international acclaim for their accomplishments. It indicates a level of expertise that shows an individual is one of a small percentage in their field. Individuals with an O1-A visa are coming to the United States on a temporary basis to work in the area of their extraordinary ability. O-1B Visas O-1B visas are available for individuals with extraordinary abilities in the arts or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry. To demonstrate extraordinary abilities in…Read More
Navigating the immigration system can be a complicated matter and, while you are not required to have a lawyer, you may not want to go through the process alone. There is extensive paperwork that goes along with the immigration process, and the task can be daunting. Having an immigration lawyer on your side can help you in a number of important ways. An Immigration Lawyer Can Avoid Mistakes An important part of acquiring a visa, finalizing your marriage to an immigrant, and other immigration procedures is filling out the paperwork correctly. The paperwork involved in the immigration process is complicated and extensive. You are often tasked with filling out gathering important documentation. Without the help of an expert, it can be easy to make a mistake. One small mistake in your paperwork can derail the whole process, so you want to make sure it’s done right the first time. An experienced immigration lawyer can ensure that your paperwork is correctly completed and prevent you from…Read More
It’s never a good idea for a business to stand still. In order to be successful, you must move forward and expand. In some instances, you may decide that the best course of action is to expand your small business to the United States. With a wealth of talent and a diverse marketplace, the United States is a great place to expand your business. When expanding your business internationally, there are some important immigration law details to keep in mind. Appropriate Visas In order to expand your small business in the United States, you are going to need to send personnel to the country to begin the expansion. These individuals will have to establish your U.S. headquarters and get things off the ground. If you are sending over managers, executives, or employees with specialized knowledge, they can apply for L-1 visas. In order to qualify for these visas, individuals must meet criteria that establishes that they are, in fact, managers, executives, employees with specialized knowledge.…Read More
Individuals who possess extraordinary abilities in the sciences, education, business, or athletics may be eligible for a non-immigrant O-1 visa if they meet certain criteria. Included among these individuals are people who possess extraordinary abilities in the arts or demonstrated a record of extraordinary achievement in television or motion pictures. Eligibility Criteria For O-1A Visas In order to be eligible for an O-1A visa, an individual with extraordinary abilities in science, education, business, and athletics must show that they have been recognized for their talents and abilities. This can be demonstrated through the receipt of an award, such as a Nobel Prize or an Olympic Medal. However, an individual doesn’t have to be the beneficiary of a major award if they can meet three of the following criteria: Receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards Membership in associations or organizations that require an outstanding level of achievement Published material in professional or major trade publications, newspaper, or other major media Original scientific, scholarly,…Read More
There are no limits on how many people can obtain an L-1 visa every year. L-1 visas or intracompany transferee visas allow managers, executives, and employees with “specialized knowledge” who work outside the United States for a company with an affiliated entity inside the United States, come to work for that company in the United States. There are some important criteria that must be met before someone is eligible for an L-1 Visa. Basic Criteria In order to qualify for an L-1 visa, an individual must have been an employee of the sponsoring company for at least one continuous year out of the last three years. In addition, they must be transferring to the United States in order to work for the company as a manager, executive, or employee with specialized knowledge. The U.S. company to which the employee is transferring must be a branch, parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or joint venture partner of the non-U.S. company. The company may have originated outside the United States…Read More
Going through a divorce is always going to be a challenging experience, but doesn’t mean that all divorces are the same or that there aren’t some that are significantly less difficult than others. In the state of Florida, the two main categories of divorce are known as contested and uncontested divorces. They will both end with the dissolution of your marriage, but the path they take to get there can be significantly different. This blog post offers some insights into the main differences between contested and uncontested divorces so you can decide which one will work best in your situation. Understanding Uncontested Divorces An uncontested divorce is when both parties are willing (and able) to work out all the different issues that need to be resolved in the divorce. This means that you will work with your soon-to-be ex, typically along with your attorneys and possibly a moderator, to decide on things like child custody, child support, division of assets, alimony, and any other relevant…Read More
If you have pled guilty to a crime, or been found guilty, you may think that your options are over, even if you are actually innocent or otherwise treated unjustly. While it is unfortunate, the justice system is not perfect and can make mistakes. Fortunately, there are laws in place that allow these mistakes to be rectified. One option for those who believe they have been unjustly treated is to file a motion to vacate the criminal conviction. If approved, the previous conviction will be set aside and you will have the opportunity to have your trial heard again, this time hopefully getting better results. Grounds For A Motion To Vacate In order to have a criminal conviction vacated, you must first have grounds for the motion. This simply means that you need to have a good reason why the conviction should be vacated. There are a number of different types of grounds that can be used in the state of Florida, including the following:…Read More