Immigration reform is on the horizon. We can feel it in the air. Change is coming.
President Obama may or may not pull through for the thousands of undocumented residents in California. However, even if he does not fulfill his promise to provide a path to citizenship for those here without lawful status, immigration reform is still likely to occur. And it will not occur only in Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco or Riverside where our California offices are currently located. Change will affect us all, which is why we are happy to announce our newest office now open in the San Fernando Valley of California.
Residents of the San Fernando Valley, stop living in the shadows. Stop fearing traffic stops or nosy neighbors. Stop giving up on great employment opportunities because you lack work authorization. Most importantly, stop worrying about I.C.E. officers pounding on your door and threatening to separate you from your loved ones. The opportunity is coming to legalize your status here in the United States.
For many of you, there may be immigration options already available that you are not aware of. 601A provisional waivers allow you to obtain a green card even if you have overstayed your visa or entered without a visa at all. Parole in Place allows the family members of active or retired military to obtain lawful entry and adjust status in the United States. The immigration laws are full of intricacies and hidden paths to citizenship that you may not have dreamed existed. With free consultations to discuss your immigration status and history, why wait to speak to a professional about your options?
Sitting in my office just a few days ago, a man held his two year old daughter and cried as he told me his story. Just one month ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement “ICE” showed up at his home. His wife, knowing she had no legal status, tried to flee. She was caught, but was given time to come to their office and discuss her status and options. Because she was scared, she ignored the warning with the hope ICE would not return. Of course, ICE did return and within hours of their arrival, she was on her way back to her native country.
She had many opportunities to speak with an attorney about her encounter with ICE. She chose to hide and hope the problem would disappear. Had she come to our office, we could have kept her here in the United States so she could care for her small children. She had so many options while she was in the U.S. Now that she is gone, she has very few. Now the battle to get her back will be long, difficult and expensive.
Do not sit and wait, prepare your personal path to lawful status and work authorization. You may be eligible for adjustment or for a waiver to forgive you for your past mistakes. If reform is your only foreseeable option, you may not have a long wait ahead of you before you can start securing your status here in the US. Most importantly, do not struggle alone. Come and meet with an attorney at one of our five California locations (or one of our two Utah locations). Consultations are free and priceless. Let’s come up with a plan together.
