Hollister Immigration Attorney

Hollister Immigration Attorney

Gaining entry into the United States and remaining with any degree of permanency is no easy feat, and immigration law, which is a fundamental pillar of the law, guides the process. Immigration law is subject to relatively frequent guideline changes and is complicated enough to begin with. All of this makes working closely with an experienced Hollister immigration attorney from the outset the best path forward. 

The Right to Work in the United States

Those living in America who are not citizens of the country must be greenlighted by the U.S. government in order to find employment and work legally. In order to live and work permanently – or on a long-term basis – in the states, you will need to acquire what is universally referred to as a green card (or permanent residence card). 

Seeking Legal Status as a Family Member

If you have a family member who is a citizen of the United States or who is a Lawful Permanent Resident, he or she may be able to help you obtain your own legal status. Qualification of this type typically begins with entering the country legally, but the U.S. does have exceptions based on hardship and other factors.

Citizenship

Full citizenship is the gold standard of immigration, and while becoming a citizen of the United States is definitely a journey, it can be well worth your dedicated effort. Everyone who is born in the United States is an American citizen by virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment, and there are additional means that generally phase into citizenship, including:

• If you have a valid green card and have lived in the United States for a minimum of five years (or are married to a U.S. citizen and have lived in the country for at least three years)
• If you are a child of someone who is a U.S. citizen, and your U.S. citizen parent meets certain criteria
• If you are not a citizen of the nation but served in its military and meet certain criteria

Other paths for obtaining citizenship in the United States include the following:

• If you were born in another country but at least one of your parents is a U.S. citizen, you will likely qualify for citizenship depending on the history of your U.S. Citizen parent.
• If you are a noncitizen but you serve in a branch of the U.S. Military, such as the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard, the country offers a more streamlined process for obtaining citizenship.
• If you already have a green card or are a legal permanent resident of the United States, a process called naturalization can serve as your path forward toward citizenship. Naturalization comes with specific requirements that include achieving a specific level of English literacy, proving yourself to have an upstanding character, and having a basic working knowledge of the United States government and its laws, among other qualifications.

Turn to an Experienced Hollister Immigration Attorney for the Legal Guidance You Need

The practiced Hollister immigration lawyers at Miranda, Magden & Miranda, LLP, take great pride in helping clients like you successfully travel the path toward citizenship or legal status in the United States, and we are here for you too. Learn more by contacting us today.