Immigration Lawyer
San Diego

Immigration Lawyer of San Diego

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U visas serve an essential purpose for many immigrants who are victims of criminal offenses. Applying for this type of visa presents some unique challenges. If you are eligible for this type of immigration status and need help with the application process, you should seek legal counsel from Hacking Law Practice, LLC. A San Diego U visa lawyer could address any questions you may have and navigate the United States immigration system.

Who Qualifies for a U Visa?

Individuals who experienced physical abuse, severe mental abuse, or who are victims of certain criminal acts may qualify for a U visa. When applying for this visa, the applicant must establish that they have knowledge or information regarding a criminal act and be willing to assist law enforcement in their investigation and prosecution. The applicant must also be admissible to the United States or at least eligible for a waiver. Victims or witnesses of crimes should consult with our lawyers in San Diego about the U visa process.

Benefits of a U Visa

Individuals who obtain a U visa can lawfully remain in the United States. Illegal immigration status can last for up to four years. During that time, those applicants have the authorization to work in the United States.

U visas also offer derivative benefits to family members of the applicant. Certain qualifying family members may also have the opportunity to obtain a visa. Individuals with a U visa may apply for lawful permanent residency after three years of living legally in the United States.

Anyone who has questions regarding what they can and cannot do on a U visa should speak to their San Diego attorney. If the applicant wishes to remain lawfully in the United States, they should abide by all of the terms related to their U visa and avoid any legal violations that could place their status at risk.

Processing Time

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services may require about four and a half years to process a U visa application fully. During that time, the agency will take photographs and fingerprints to acquire the applicant's biometric data, process supporting information and all applicant forms, and eventually issue an approval for a work permit.

While wait times can vary, one thing that may delay approval for this visa is the limit on U visa applications per year. The United States will only issue 10,000 U visas annually, and frequently the visas run out before the government processes all applications. In such cases, the USCIS might grant deferred action and make the immigrant eligible for work authorization upon request. Hiring an experienced lawyer in San Diego could provide individuals some peace of mind throughout the lengthy waiting period of the U visa application process.

Hire a San Diego U Visa Attorney Today

Although the U visa process is complex and lengthy, it offers many immigrants an opportunity to become lawful residents after facing a traumatic event. If you think that you might qualify for this type of visa, you should speak to a San Diego U visa lawyer about applying. Remember that the process can take years to complete, so getting started as soon as possible is in your best interests.

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a HIL immigration attorney in
San Diego

Navigating the maze of U.S. immigration law can be tricky for anybody, especially if English is your second language or you have unique circumstances motivating you to move here. Fortunately, if you are unsure about any areas of immigration or the naturalization process, help through an immigration lawyer (San Diego) is available at the Hacking Immigration Law LLC.

Retaining one of our dedicated San Diego immigration lawyers could help you both with USCIS and other U.S. immigration authorities. To find out how immigration attorneys could help you with your specific case, call us today to schedule a consultation.

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What They Say About Us

Our Lawyers Have Received Over 500 Google Reviews

Sriram Devanathan

im is a great attorney who always has his human side “ON”. The clients come first to him. When approached for time sensitive issues, he was readily available and was prompt. I have had to reach out to him for myself & have recommended him to others. He always welcomed everyone and gave patient hearing. And he would not mind recommending other attorneys’ if he feels that they would better serve that particular case. Even if it means one less client for him. That sums up who Jim is. Thank you Jim!

Justin Charboneau

Jim and his team are extremely knowledgeable individuals. It is great to have someone like this on your side. I have and will continue to recommend Hacking Law Practice, LLC to anyone who needs legal advice on immigration issues.

Bouchra Aanouz

This firm was amazing helping me with my husband’s case. Jim and his team were very responsive to all my questions and concerns. i wish I had consulted them earlier as my husband’s case was stuck in Administrative Processing for over a year and a half. Two months after I gave my case to Jim, my husband was granted his visa. Would definitely recommend them and already have recommended them to my friends.

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Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers

The attorneys at the Hacking Immigration Law are dedicated to helping the foreign-born people of St. Louis to live and work in the United States. This dedication is reflected in the kind and grateful words of the clients they have helped. Read what others have to say about the hard work that the Hacking Immigration Law has done to help those in St. Louis.

Does paying for premium processing on an H1B case mean I will find out sooner if our case was selected in the lottery?

Premium processing is an add-on service that USCIS offers for a variety of immigration cases, primarily in the employment-based visa categories.Premium processing costs an additional $1225 in USCIS filing fees.

What is the H-1B visa lottery and how does it work?

In 2014, USCIS received more than 172,000 H-1B visa applications on the April 1st deadline, exceeding Congress’s cap by 87,000 applications.

Can an Unmarried Son or Daughter of a Lawful Permanent Resident Keep Their F2B Visa Classification After Their Sponsoring Parent Naturalizes?

The immigration laws treat the adult, unmarried children of citizens differently than the adult, unmarried children of lawful permanent residents.

What is the "newspaper of general circulation" for PERM job postings?

The Department of Labor requires employers to advertise positions that they intend to submit a PERM application on to publish the job position in the local newspaper of general circulation.

Can I Apply for Citizenship with an Expired Green Card?

In the past, USCIS and some immigration attorneys believed that you could not become a naturalized citizen if you did not have a valid green card (LPR) card to bring with you to your naturalization interview.

Is there such a thing as expedited removal of an immigrant and, if so, what is it?

Most people believe that removal orders or “deportation” orders only happen when you go to the immigration court and see an immigration judge. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Does testing positive for HIV make someone inadmissible to the United States?

On January 4, 2010, the United States officially removed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection from the list of “communicable diseases of public health significance” that make an individual ineligible for admission to the United States.

Are there any special visas for translators who assisted US forces in Afghanistan or Iraq?

Under United States immigration law, there are two Special Immigrant Visas available for Iraqi citizens or nationals who have worked for the United States.