Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions we hear most often from clients across Central Florida. For a deeper walkthrough of a specific practice area, follow the links: citizenship and naturalization, deportation defense and removal proceedings, business and employment-based work visas, family-based green cards, or asylum and withholding of removal. If your question is not answered below, the firm offers a free 30-minute consultation in English or Spanish.

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Q:

What are some factors that are considered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in granting an individual immigration status?

A:

Factors considered by the USCIS include:

• Whether the applicant has an immediate relative who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
• Whether the applicant has a permanent employment opportunity in the U.S., and whether that employment fits under one of the five eligible employment categories;
• Whether the applicant is making a capital investment in the U.S. that meets certain dollar thresholds, and that either creates or saves a specified number of jobs; and
• Whether the applicant qualifies for refugee status as an individual who suffers or fears persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political view, or membership in a certain group in his or her country of origin.

Q:

What is the purpose of the Diversity (DV) Lottery Program?

A:

The purpose of the DV Lottery Program is to annually award immigrant visas to applicants whose country of origin has low immigration rates to the U.S. (not more than 50,000 in the last five years). The program is called a lottery because there are more applicants than available visas, and the visas are granted randomly among qualified applicants.

Q:

What is the basis for being deported? What are the consequences of deportation?

A:

Deportation (or removal) occurs when an alien is found to have violated certain immigration or criminal laws — see our deportation defense and removal proceedings page for what to do if a Notice to Appear arrives, consequences being that the alien forfeits his or her right to remain in the U.S., and is usually barred from returning.

Q:

How is the deportation process initiated?

A:

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement issues a Notice to Appear (NTA) stating the reason why the alien should be deported or removed. The NTA is served to the alien and is filed with the immigration court. A hearing is scheduled at the Orlando Immigration Court or another EOIR venue, at which an immigration judge will determine if the information in the NTA is correct. If it is, removal of the alien will be ordered.

Q:

Can a deportation or removal order be appealed?

A:

Yes. The alien has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and we handle representation at every level of immigration appeal, including the 11th Circuit. If the BIA decides against the alien, the matter can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Finally, if the Court of Appeals also finds against the alien, the matter can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Q:

Under what circumstance will a foreign spouse's permanent resident status in the U.S. be conditional?

A:

A spouse's permanent resident status will be conditional if it is based on a marriage that was less than two years old from the day the permanent resident status was granted. To remove the conditions, the spouse must establish that the purpose of the marriage was not to evade the U.S. immigration laws by filing Form I-751 — see our family-based visa options for the full marriage-based green card path.

Q:

Under what circumstance will a foreign fiance(e), who has been admitted into the U.S. for the purpose of getting married, be required to leave the U.S.

A:

If the marriage to the U.S. citizen who filed the petition to permit the fiance(e) into the U.S. does not take place within 90 days of entering the U.S., the fiance(e) will be required to leave the country.

Q:

Can a U.S citizen file an application to adopt a foreign-born child before the citizen has identified a child to adopt?

A:

Yes. A married U.S. citizen, or an unmarried citizen who is at least 24 years of age and will be at least 25 when the petition is actually filed, may file a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, to speed up the adoption process.

Q:

What is the basic law that governs immigration?

A:

The federal Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides the basis for U.S. immigration law, governing visas, green cards, citizenship and naturalization, asylum, and removal proceedings.

Q:

Can a fee for immigration related services be waived?

A:

Yes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau has discretion to waive a filing fee if the applicant can establish that he or she is unable to pay. In order to have the USCIS consider waiving a fee, the applicant must follow specific instructions, including completion of a form for review by the USCIS.