Family-Based Immigration
Get legal status in the United States by becoming a Legal Permanent Resident
Getting your “Green Card”
If you already live in the United States, but do not have legal status, it may be challenging for you to become a Legal Permanent Resident. But it is not impossible! We have helped thousands of people become Legal Permanent Residents. When you meet with a Peckham & Daughter attorney for your free consultation, we will ask many detailed questions about your immigration history in order to determine what type of immigration solution will work for you.
Some possible types of immigration relief:
Adjustment of status: You may be eligible for adjustment of status inside the United States if you entered the United States legally, or if a family member petitioned for you before April 30, 2001.
Waiver of inadmissibility: You may be eligible for a waiver or “pardon” of inadmissibility if you are married to a United States citizen or Legal Permanent Resident, and we can show that your spouse would suffer extremely unusual hardship if you had to leave the United States.
U visa: You may be eligible to receive a U visa if you or your minor child were the victim of a violent crime or sexual assault, and the crime was reported to the police. After getting a U visa, you may be eligible to adjust status.
VAWA self-petition: You may be eligible to apply as a VAWA self-petitioner if you have been married to a United States citizen or Legal Permanent Resident, and you have suffered abuse in the relationship. This does not need to have been physical abuse, and it does not need to have been reported to the police.
Military Parole In Place (PIP): You may be eligible for military PIP if you are the parent, spouse, widow(er), son, or daughter of an active-duty member or veteran of the United States military. After getting military PIP, you may be eligible to adjust status.
Get your case evaluated
If you believe that any of these solutions may apply to you, we invite you to meet with a Peckham & Daughter attorney for a free consultation.
Become a United States citizen through naturalization
If you are already a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States and have maintained that status for three or five years (three years for people who gained their residency through marriage), then you may be eligible to become a United States citizen through naturalization.
Certain circumstances may complicate your application for naturalization:
If you are older, or sick, and unable to complete the naturalization tests
If you have had criminal convictions
If you have been on probation within the past 5 years
If you have spent long periods of time outside of the United States during your residency
If any of these complicating circumstances apply to you, we invite you to meet with a Peckham & Daughter attorney for a free consultation.
Help your family member immigrate to the United States
Family petition: Under the United States’ family-based immigration system, you can help your family members immigrate to the United States. The first step in this process is for you to petition for them. A petition is a document that establishes a relationship between the two of you in the eyes of the United States government.
You are able to petition for:
Your spouse
Your parent
Your child
Your sister or brother
Fiancee visa: If you are not yet married, and want to bring your fiancee to the United States, the first step in your process is to apply for a fiancee visa. Through a fiancee visa, you can help your future spouse and your future spouse’s minor children immigrate.
If you are interested in helping a family member immigrate to the United States, we invite you to meet with a Peckham & Daughter attorney for a free consultation.
Defend your case in immigration court
Asylum: You may be eligible for asylum if you have arrived in the United States within the past year, and can prove to an asylum officer or immigration court judge that you have suffered persecution in the past or have a well-founded fear of persecution in the future on account of your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Winning an asylum case is very difficult, but we have won many.
Deportation: If you are facing deportation or removal proceedings in immigration court, you will have to convince an immigration judge that you deserve to remain in the United States. Although you have a right to have an attorney defend you in immigration court, the government is not required to provide one for you. We have won many deportation cases in immigration court.
Get a strong defense
If you need a strong defense in immigration court, we invite you to meet with a Peckham & Daughter attorney for a free consultation.