The National Immigrant Justice Center has represented immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in immigration proceedings for over 30 years. Here are some basic important tips for immigrants to keep in mind when looking for immigration legal advice.

1. Anyone with an immigration matter should consult with an immigration attorney or an organization accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

 

2. Lawful permanent residence is not necessarily permanent: a person can lose his/her status by committing certain crimes or leaving the country for more than six months.

 

3. When a person with legal status in the U.S petitions to help a relative legalize, he or she will receive a letter stating that the application has been approved. However, this does not mean that the relative is immediately eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence or an employment authorization document.

 

4. If a person is undocumented in the U.S., either because he or she did not enter legally or has overstayed the amount of time authorized on their visa, and the person travels outside of the country for any reason, he or she will be barred from obtaining lawful permanent residence for 10 years. Exceptions to this rule are available only in extraordinary cases.

 

5. Be aware that any drug related convictions or false claims to U.S. citizenship can seriously harm your immigration status or application.

 

6. Children are not automatically legalized when one or both parents obtain legal status. Each person is required to submit a separate application.

 

7. Although marrying a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident provides a basis to petition for legal status, is does not automatically resolve all of the spouse's possible immigration issues. For example, criminal convictions or having entered the country illegally still impact a person's immigration case.