Listing trips abroad on your N-400 citizenship application

Citizenship Lawyer Tip:  How to handle the N-400 question regarding trips abroad As an immigration lawyer, my job is to deal with immigration problems. Naturalization, the process by which a permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen, offers the perfect fix. Trade your green card for U.S citizenship and U.S. immigration laws will no longer apply…

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“What is the phone number for Immigration in Boston?” An immigration lawyer answers

As an immigration lawyer in Boston, I’m often asked if I know the phone number for Immigration in Boston, Massachusetts? If you have a pending green card application or citizenship cases and you live in the Boston, Massachusetts-area, surely U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a local phone number that you could call to inquire…

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“My brother filed a visa petition for me. Is there a way to speed up the process of obtain a green card?” A Boston immigration lawyer responds

Boston deportation defense lawyer In a recent immigration consultation, I faced the following situation: A young man entered the United States on a visitor visa and then fell out of status after overstaying. His brother gained U.S. citizenship and then filed an immigrant visa petition, Form I-130, on his behalf. The young man suffered from…

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Filing an I-539 to Extend Your Stay as a Visitor

As an immigration lawyer, I often come across this problem. Someone enters the U.S. with a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. At the airport, they are given a 6 month stay in the U.S. But they want to stay in the U.S. longer than that. So they go on the internet, come across Form I-539, Application to…

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If you entered the U.S. without inspection, your path to a green card is limited. A Boston immigration lawyer explains

Boston, MA Deportation Defense Attorney As an immigration lawyer, I frequently meet with people who have entered the United States without a visa or without being inspected by an immigration officer at an airport or border. Such people have sneaked their way into the United States and now they seek a green card or some…

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How to get U.S. citizenship after only 3 years of green card status

Immigration laws permit green card holders to apply for naturalization to gain U.S. citizenship after 5 years for lawful permanent residency status. But if you are married to a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible to apply for naturalization under Section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, after just 3 years. But getting the Boston office…

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Citizenship: Why appealing the denial of your N-400 might be a bad strategy

Boston Citizenship Lawyer If you want to appeal the denial of your naturalization application, I might recommend that you not do this.  Let me explain why. First some background:  if you apply for naturalization by filing Form N-400 and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied your application, you should receive a written denial letter…

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Boston Immigration Lawyer: I-751 Denial Due to Late Filing

Lately, our Boston immigration law office has been inundated by a flood of people who have had their I-751, petition to remove conditions on permanent residency, denied by USCIS because they were not filed on time. As the I-751 denial letter points out, when the I-751 is denied, all the rights and privileges of permanent…

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Marriage-Based Green Card: Best Guide to Tax Returns

Let’s talk about taxes and how they’re important for showing that your marriage to a US citizen spouse or lawful permanent resident is real when you’re applying for a marriage-based green card.  Josh Goldstein, who knows a lot about immigration, especially in Los Angeles, has some helpful things to say about this. Let’s explore our…

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Your biggest immigration mistake: Marriage fraud

With my experience as a Boston immigration lawyer, I know that many people in Boston and throughout Massachusetts mistakenly believe that marriage to someone with U.S. citizenship is a relatively easy and fast way of obtaining permanent residency or green card status and other immigration benefits.  Stop by City Hall in Boston, pick up your…

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