How To Pay Immigration Fees

White Plains Immigration Attorney – Susan B. Henner

If you are reading this article congratulations on being able to enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident. In this helpful guide, we will be covering how to pay immigration fees. The USCIS immigration fee is $165 and must be paid before you enter the country. It is encouraged that you wait to pay this fee until you have your immigrant visa packet, and it is important that you also pay this fee before you attempt to enter the country. By choosing to follow the steps above you will be entitled to receive your Permanent Resident (green card) without any delay.

Before we cover how to pay immigration fees, it is important that you understand what the fee is paying for. The $165 you will be required to pay the cost to process your immigrant visa packet and also covers the cost to produce your green card.

How To Pay Immigration Fees: The Steps

To begin you will need to attend your appointment made for you at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate noted on your appointment card. After you attend that appointment, you will be given a handout with these steps of how to pay immigration fees. It is important that you hold on to this paperwork since it has your Alien Registration Number as well as your DOS Case ID.

The Next Step of how to pay immigration fees will be to go to http://www.uscis.gov/file-online so that you can review the resources available. You will then select the log in option and after that the USCIS Immigrant Fee after this you will move to the payment area. At this point, you will have to enter your Alien Registration Number and DOS Case ID. This information will be on the handout that you received at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate you visited. You also now have the option of paying this fee for other people so long as you have their Alien Registration Number and DOS Case ID. Anyone can make this payment for you if you are not able so long as they have the information listed above. You or the payer are able to use a valid credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.

Additional Assistance For How To Pay Immigration Fees

If you are attempting to pay your Immigration Fees and having issues, it is important that you contact a White Plains Immigration Attorney for assistance. At the Law Office of Susan B. Henner, we help clients every day with every step of the immigration process. If you would like to contact us, we are available you to assist you at 914-358-5200.

Helping Your Fiance Become A Permanent Resident

When it comes to real love there is very little you will not do to make your other half happy. You certainly would not want the person you want to spend the rest of your life with to have to move back to the country they are from if you cannot go with them. So how can you as an American citizen help your fiance become a Permanent Resident? This type of question is one of many very common questions posed to White Plains Immigration Lawyers all the time, and we hope that this simple guide will be able to help you through this process.

How To Help Your Fiance Become A Permanent Resident

If you are a U.S. Citizen, and you would like to marry a non-United States citizen or someone who is a permanent resident, there are many ways that you can assist them. We are going to be going over the most basic two in this guide.

• The first way to help your fiance become a permanent resident is for you to apply for a fiance visa. These types of visas are used for people whose significant other is located outside of the United States. Once you have this type of Visa, your fiance will be able to travel to the United States for 90 days so that your marriage ceremony can occur in the United States. After you have been married, your new spouse will be able to stay in the United States while they apply for permanent residence. This route of filing for a fiance visa is obtainable by filling out a Form I-129F which is called a Petition for Alien Fiance(e). If your form is approved by the USCIS, they will send the form on to the National Visa Center, which will then forward the visa to the nearest consulate or embassy to your fiance. After the form has been forwarded the consulate or embassy will contact your fiance so that they can apply for the visa at the location.
• The next way to help your fiance become a permanent resident if they are overseas is to travel to them. By doing this, you will be able to go there and become married then file a Form I-130 which is a Petition for an Alien Relative.

When you are doing your best to help your fiance become a permanent resident, you will likely need to fill out a Fiance Petition. To file one of these petitions, you and your fiance must meet basic eligibility requirements. The requirements are:

• Petitioner is a United States citizen
• You are going to marry your fiance within 90 days of them entering the United States
• You are both able to legally marry
• You have met your fiance within two years of when you file your petition.

For the last requirement, there are two special exceptions to help your fiance become a permanent resident.

• If the final requirement is impossible or violates your fiances’ foreign culture or social practice.
• If the requirement to meet your fiance would cause extreme hardship to you.

If you are struggling with the process to help your fiance become a permanent resident, the process can be made simpler by contacting a White Plains Immigration Attorney. At the Law Office of Susan B. Henner, we have over twenty years of experience handling immigration issues. If you would like to schedule a free consultation we are available at any time at 914-358-5200.

United States Citizen – 10 Steps To Becoming One

Whether it’s the amber waves of grain or purple mountain majesties some people just fall in love with America. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as some may think just to move to the United States and live legally. To get naturalized and become a United States Citizen is a long process and in this article, we are going to go over the ten steps you need to go through to become one. It is important to remember that if you struggle with any of the steps contacting a White Plains Immigration Attorney can make things much easier.

Steps To Becoming A United States Citizen

• Step 1: Are you already a United States Citizen?:

  While this may seem like an unusual question, some people may not know the entire history of their parents. It is also sometimes the case of people not knowing what can make them a citizen such as being born abroad to a United States citizen. After you have determined your status, you can move on to step two.

• Step 2: Are you eligible to become a United States Citizen?:

  If you are at least 18 and have been a permanent resident for five years or married to a permanent resident, you can apply for naturalization. If you are not the USCIS encourages you to wait until you have fulfilled the requirements and then apply.

• Step 3: Prepare Form N-400 (Application For Naturalization):

  When you are preparing to apply for naturalization you need to fill out an N-400 Form. You will also need to provide two passport style photos. You will also need to provide all documentation that shows your eligibility for naturalization. It is important that you fill this paperwork out the first time since any issues will cause delays.

• Step 4: Submit your N-400 Form:

  When you have completed this form, and it has been submitted, you will be able to track your progress at http://www.uscis.gov/. Remember it is important that you have all your information filled out correctly and you have all appropriate additional items. You should also keep a copy of this form and all appropriate documents for your records. You should also be familiar with this information since it will be part of your naturalization interview.

• Step 5: Attend a Biometric appointment:

  At this point, you will be asked to attend a biometrics appointment where you will provide your fingerprints. Your fingerprints will be provided to the FBI to perform a criminal background check. It is critical that you attend this appointment and are on time. If you do not or are late, you will not be able to continue the naturalization process.

• Step 6: Attend and complete you naturalization interview:

  After all of your preliminary processes are completed you will attend a naturalization interview. You will have to go to a USCIS office and at the specified time and date. You will have to bring your appointment notice with you to the interview. You must try to your best not to miss this interview because if you do the rescheduling process takes roughly six months. During your interview, you will be asked about your N-400 and also take your English and Civics test.

• Step 7: Review your USCIS decision on your N-400 Form:

  If everything goes well and you can continue with your naturalization process congratulations! If you have been denied it is likely because you did not perform well on your Civics or English test, you need more documentation, or you failed to provide the correct documents in the first place.

• Step 8: Notice for time to take Oath of Allegiance:

  In some cases, you will be able to take your Oath of Allegiance a short time after your interview or even the same day. If you cannot take your Oath the same day, you will be notified by mail as to when you can participate. If you cannot attend, you must submit a N-445 form with a letter stating why you cannot attend so that you can have it rescheduled.

• Step 9: Take your Oath of Allegiance to the United States:

  It is important that you understand that the Oath of Allegiance is not simply a formality. You ARE NOT a United States Citizen until you have taken the Oath of Allegiance. Once you complete the Oath of Allegiance, you will receive you Certificate of Naturalization.

• Step 10: Congratulations!:

  Now that you are a United States Citizen it is important that you understand your rights and duties as a U.S. Citizen.

We hope that you can swiftly through the process of naturalization and can quickly become a United States Citizen. Remember if you every have any issues with your naturalization process that you contact an Immigration Attorney for assistance. If you would like to communicate with a White Plains Immigration Attorney the Law Office of Susan B. Henner is available at anytime to assist you at 914-358-5200.

8 Helpful Tips to Get a Work Permit (EAD) in the U.S.

Get a Work Permit (EAD) in the U.S.A.

The United States is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations for immigrants. Do not confuse applying for a work permit with applying for a work visa. The U.S. has over 60 types of non-immigrant US visas, meaning you desire to not be a permanent resident. Here are some tips to guide you along your path to securing a work permit in the US.

 

1. If you work with an attorney, be sure to get one who is in the American Immigration Lawyers Association. You can search their database at http://www.ailalawyer.org. There is a wealth of information at their main website, http://www.aila.org.
2. A work permit is possible to obtain for a limited group of immigrants, usually ones who are applying for adjustment of status (a green card) or have some other right to be in the United States.
3. The form one needs to fill out to apply for a work permit is Form I-765. The filing fee as of is $380 normally, but if you are requesting to be considered for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) you must pay an additional $85 biometric service fee. Some individuals are exempt from paying this fee. You can find out more information and fill out the latest version of the form at https://www.uscis.gov/i-765.
4. To expedite the process, create a photocopy of what shows your status that you describe on question 16 of the form. For example, if you are an asylee, attach a copy of the asylum office letter or judge’s order granting you asylum.
5. The fee described in this article is current at time of publishing but varies frequently.
6. You can submit your EAD application one of two ways, by mail, or by e-filing. If you do e-file, do make sure you still mail in your supporting documents.
7. Do look carefully at the correct address to send the form, which is based on your category of eligibility, and also varies by whether you use U.S. mail or a different courier service.
8. Create a copy of everything you are going to mail out, just in case!

Also, if you are in the New York City area, contact the best immigration lawyer in NYC!

White Plains Deportation and Removal Attorney

Deportation and Removal Attorney Susan B. Henner

Everyday immigrants receive paperwork informing them of their removal hearings. With growing political turmoil American citizens are getting a skewed view that immigrants are bad people, even the president has referred to them as “gangbangers”. The fact remains that less than half of all deported immigrants have a criminal record and every year that number continues to decline. Those who are in good standing should not be treated like common criminals no matter where they are from. If you have received notice that you are going to be deported it is important that you contact a White Plains Deportation and Removal Attorney. In this article, we are going to be covering a few ways that you can prevent your deportation and continue to live in the United States.

Ways to prevent deportation

The first way to avoid removal is to for you to file for political asylum. While it may sound like a drastic move, you should be able to feel safe where you live. If you are being persecuted in your home country because of your religion, nationality, political opinion, or race you may qualify. If you choose to go the route of Political Asylum, you will need the assistance of your Deportation and Removal Attorney to ensure that all of your documents are in order. The next way that you may be able to stop deportation is to file for prosecutorial discretion. Prosecutorial discretion is when the Department of Homeland Security cancels your deportation for humanitarian reasons. This of course is up to the discretion of the DHS and can be made much easier with the help of a White Plains Deportation and Removal Attorney. The final way in the article we are going to cover is kind of a curve ball. If you find yourself with little hope about stopping yourself from being deported you can simply leave. When you leave on your own “recognisance” you still have to leave but it will make coming back into the country much easier in the future. While we hope that never becomes an option for you it is much nicer than being deported. It is also important to keep in mind that there are other ways these were simply examples of some ways to prevent deportation.

Contacting a White Plains Deportation and Removal Attorney

If you have been scheduled for a hearing for your removal, contact our office today to talk to one of our White Plains Deportation and Removal Attorney. Our team will work through your case to make sure that you get the best results possible in preventing your deportation. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact us at 914-358-5200.

What is a Immigration Attorney in White Plains

Immigration Attorney in White Plains

Whether you are thinking of traveling to the United States or are facing removal, you may need a Immigration Attorney in White Plains. When you have decided that you are going to hire a Immigration Attorney in White Plains, there are some things you have to keep in mind. How do you know that you are choosing the right attorney for you? In this article, we are going to be covering some things to consider when you are considering hiring a Immigration Attorney in White Plains.

The first thing that you should consider when you begin your search for a Immigration Attorney in White Plains is to get references. Ask around and find out if someone you know has used an Immigration Attorney in White Plains and if so did they have good results? If you can not ask anyone, create a list of your top prospects and reach out to all of them. Ask them, all the same, questions and choose the ones you think are the best. After this, you should ask about their fees and see which one is going to fit best your budget. After this, you should be in a good position to make your choice.

Once you have chosen a Immigration Attorney in White Plains, the next step is meet with them so that you can go over your unique situation. During the meeting, you will find out all the things that your Immigration Attorneys in White Plainsis going to do throughout your case to make sure you get the results that you want. After your trial, your Immigration Attorney in White Plains will assist you with any final paperwork you are going to need to fill out. If you have not found a Immigration Attorney in White Plains, the Law Office of Susan B. Henner is happy to assist you. If you would like to contact us for a free consultation, we are available at any time at 914-358-5200.

Working with a White Plains Work Permit Attorney

While it may not be difficult to fill out the paperwork to get a work permit, it can be confusing if you are not familiar with the process. The form is one page and must be accompanied by the fee, photos, and the documentation that shows that you are eligible to apply. Unfortunately, the difficult part of this process is determining if you are in fact eligible for a work permit. Work permits are only available to a very select group of immigrants, typically those who are currently in the process of getting a green card. You may also be able to get a work permit if you have a temporary right to be in the United States. The simplest way to work through these difficult situations is to contact a White Plains Work Permit Attorney.

The first thing to note is it is important that you understand that there is a difference between a work permit and a work visa. A work permit is for someone who is in the United States already and is seeking the ability to provide for themselves. A work visa is for someone who is coming to the United States for a period because they have business to do there. After you have filled out the paperwork portion, you are going to need to attach proof of your eligibility. For example, you will need to provide official documentation such as your letter of asylum or other documents that show why you are eligible. You will also need to attach the fee for the application that at the time of this article is 380 dollars. Payment can be paid by check or money order if you are mailing in a paper application.

Ultimately your best chance when you are filling out these applications is to contact a White Plains work permit attorney. The Law Office of White Plains Immigration Attorney Susan B. Henner dedicates her entire firm to immigration cases. Susan and her team will work with you from the application step until you have results. If you would like to contact us, we are available at any time at 914-358-5200.

VAWA? Do you qualify?

 

When you are an immigrant in the United States, it may seem like there are not a lot of opportunities for you. It may seem like a struggle to go through the proper channels to achieve residency but when you do there is no better feeling in the world. Also, sometimes people can achieve residency by getting married though this is not a guaranteed way to residency. Unfortunately, as in every relationship, things can go bad. Domestic Violence is a huge issue all over the world, and when it happens to you, you may feel like there is nothing you can do about it. In the cases of immigrants, they may feel like if the exit the relationship they may not be able to stay in this country. The fear of that situation makes some people feel as if there is simply no hope. Often we do not truly know someone until we are married to them and see them every day. The fact remains that if you are in this situation there is hope, and you can get the help you need through a program called VAWA.

The Violence against women acts or VAWA has been around since 1994. VAWA is in place to assist those who experience violence in their relationship. If you, your children or your parents have been abused by a member of your family, who is a legal resident of the United States you may be eligible to qualify. While the name contains the word women, VAWA does apply to men as well. Doing so allows you to seek safety and independence from your abuser without them being notified. After you file, you may be eligible for additional resources to further prevent domestic violence. You may also be given financial assistance as well as the ability to get a green card.

While it may seem like it is not very complicated their are several things you must prove for your application to be approved. You must be able to substantiate your claim with documents the cover where you met your spouse, when and how you were married, as well as a complete documentation of your injuries. Any medical, police, or injury reports and affidavits will be helpful. It is also important to note that there are very strict confidentiality clauses involved with VAWA. These clauses are in place to ensure that no one feels that they are in danger when the apply for VAWA.

These types of situations are best handled by a White Plains Immigration Attorney. Having the right VAWA cases attorney will assist you in getting the results you need and ending the circle of domestic violence in your life. If you would like to contact an immigration attorney about your brighter future we are available at any time at 914-358-5200.

GOP Debate Divides Presidential Candidates on Immigration

The Republican Debate this past Wednesday divided candidates in a number of hard-hitting issues such as taxes, gay marriage and at the top of the list, immigration.

Eleven Republican candidates took the podium Wednesday night to discuss national and global topics at the GOP Debate. Sensitive topics were discussed and heated arguments ensued among the Grand Old Party’s forerunners. At a high point in the debate, Jeb Bush was asked about Donald Trump’s Mexico Remarks from June. Trump has also previously called Bush soft on immigration due to his wife’s Mexican ethnicity.

Did Trump fo too far?” a moderator asked Bush.

Bush defended his wife going on to say, “she loves this country as much as anybody.” Bush’s response garnered applause from the audience as he went on to take it a step further and throw in a punch of his own.

“We’re at a crossroads right now,” said Bush, “Are we going to take the Reagan approach, the hopeful optimistic approach, the approach that says that, you come to our country legally, you pursue your dreams with a vengeance, you create opportunities for all of us? Or the Donald Trump approach — the approach that says that everything is bad, that everything is coming to an end?”

This is the great Republican immigration divide. The fight over immigration has cornered many Republican candidates in a corner between policy and hopes of improving standing with Latin voters. Democrats have taken full notice and released policy of their own in the wake of these fragile debates.

The morning after the GOP Debate, President Obama kicked off a campaign of his own to drive public awareness towards immigration reform efforts. The immigration efforts of the Obama administration would help 8.8 million immigrants become U.S. Citizens.

But if there’s one thing we can learn from Wednesday’s GOP Debate it’s this: the Republican Party is clearly divided on the issue of immigration. One one side there’s Trump with severely harsh views on the matter. On the other, leading candidates Bush, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson band together with varying degrees in views on immigration.

One of the biggest standouts for immigration hopefuls came in the form of Cuban-American Florida Senator Marco Rubio who opened up about his Spanish-only speaking grandfather.

“My grandfather instilled in me the belief that I was blessed to live in the one society in all of human history where even I, the son of a bartender and a maid, could aspire to have anything, and be anything that I was willing to work hard to achieve,” Rubio said. “But he taught me that in Spanish, because it was the language he was most comfortable in. And he became a conservative, even though he got his news in Spanish.”

Well said Rubio.

Disclaimer: This story is to present objective coverage about the Great American story on immigration. In no way do any the above views or statements reflect the political beliefs of White Plains Immigration Attorney Susan B. Henner. They are purely informational.

2016 Presidential Elections and Immigration Reform Obama Decision

The Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) decision is still held up in courts and it’s ultimate decision will play a huge impact on the 2016 Presidential Election. As presidential candidates begin touching on immigration reform issues, a final decision may not come through until June 2016 – right in the middle of the election race.

“I think we’re already seeing the impact of immigration on presidential politics. Of course, a Supreme Court decision on DAPA/DACA will remind people of the role of Texas and the 25 other Republican-led states in halting a small step for immigration family fairness.”
-Debbie Smith, SEIU Associate General Counsel

“This is a campaign issue that will favor the Democrats, given the Republicans’ refusal to take up comprehensive immigration reform. Republicans can no longer argue that President Obama is weak on enforcement. A majority of the general public is for giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship, and that’s the winning argument in the coming election, boosted further by the backlash against Trump’s anti-immigrant and bigoted remarks.”
– Jon Melegrito, Filipino American Civil Rights Activist

With the DAPA decision sitting silent in courts for the time being, other immigration reform developments are making steady steam way. Immigration advocates are welcoming a July 15th executive action directive by Obama to fast-track the family reunification of an estimated 20,000 Philippine-based children with surviving World War II vets of permanent US residence. The directive not only grants access but would allow children to live and work in the US. The decision has received great welcome by many Filipino Americans and immigration advocates, but most are concerned it may simply be a quick fix to a much larger problem, being immigration reform as a whole.

“Our main call is still to campaign for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform for the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants. This can be done through Congress and not Executive Action.”
-Arnedo Valera, Executive Director of the Migrant Heritage Commission

Immigration Reform and the 2016 Election Race

During his two-year term in office, President Obama has made aggressive moves toward immigration reform. However, with many decision tied up in courts, these directives will no longer apply come the end of his term in January 2017. That is unless his successor continues to follow and advocate for his policies. This explains why both advocates and critics of such reforms as DAPA are in urgent pursuit of tying up loose ends on pushing immigration reform into the Supreme Court.

While enthusiasm for Obama’s immigration reform policies remained positive at first, experts remain skeptical on whether his reform bills stand a chance of passing through this period of pre-election. In March of 2014, Democratic Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Harry Reid introduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act in the 114th US Congress. Even with backing co-sponsors and support, the bill was shot down in the House of Representatives calling the bill “amnesty” to legal aliens who followed the current system.