Immigration, Attorney & Lawyers Guide for Individuals

As of right now, there are millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States. Many San Diego immigration lawyers have worked closely with immigrants and discovered several frauds and scams in their documentation, in an attempt to get their status legalized. Here’s a look at the top ten immigration scams that take place in the US (and the ones you need to watch out for). 1. P-Visas. Every year, hundreds and thousands of musicians and entertainers tour and perform in the United States. They come to the country on P-visas. However, many foreign entertainers accept bribes to add and bring some non-entertainers, as part of their crew, to the US. These non-entertainers are individuals seeking immigration. 2. C-1 Transits. This is another common immigration scam. Many people secure low-paid jobs on board ships and vessels that frequently dock on US ports. These workers are issued with a C-1 transit visa that allows them to spend 30 days on land- which is enough for them t...

There is no legal/statutory obligation to appoint an attorney when you apply for a green card or an immigrant visa in the US. If your case is fairly straightforward and has no record of getting into trouble with the law or immigration authorities, you can get a residence status/green card on your own. However, there are several instances when you need a lawyer’s help. If you’re a recent international immigrant in the Bay Area, here are a few instances where experienced and professional  Kazmi & Sakata Attorneys at Law  can prove useful: Litigation If you are facing or have ever faced any immigration court deportation (or removal) proceedings, you may need a legal opinion. In such circumstances, the decision on your immigration status lies with the courts. During this time, you may not be allowed to use the same application procedures as other immigrants use. An attorney can advise you on the outcome of the court decision and help you prepare the best possible alter...

If you are trying to get a green card based on your marriage to a United States citizen, you may worry that you still need to do an interview. After all, the interview is traditionally a huge part of the process of obtaining a green card. However, there are three ways you can obtain a marriage-based green card without having to be interviewed. The purpose of the green card interview is for the USCIS to ensure that your marriage is legitimate and you are not simply trying to gain US citizenship alone. During the process, a USCIS officer meets with the green card applicant to ask questions and assess the individual’s body language to determine whether they are being truthful. Most of the questions pertain to information submitted on Form I-130 or Form I-485. Additionally, the interview is conducted to verify that the information is timely. In many cases, there can be delays in the processing of a green card, meaning that by the time the interview takes place, information on the ap...

In today’s world, where everything is available online, you might wonder why you should bother spending money on hiring an immigration lawyer. After all, you have access to all of the instructions and forms, not to mention research, right at your fingertips on the Internet. However, the topic of immigration is never a simple one. There is a lot to consider, such as visas, filing all of your paperwork in a timely manner, what additional paperwork might be needed and so much more. Doing all of that yourself can be confusing, frustrating and extremely time-consuming.  Kazmi & Sakata Attorneys at Law  share  several reasons why you need an immigration lawyer on your side. Better Efficiency and Reduces Your Risk An immigration lawyer knows exactly how the laws work. He or she can help you to put your application together in an efficient manner and ensure that you include everything necessary for it. This can take four to eight weeks of time for processing. It also ...

Understanding U.S. Work Visas and Their Eligibility Requirements For many people all around the world, being able to live and work in the United States is one of their biggest dreams. As you'd expect, actually being able to do this first requires that you obtain a valid work visa, but luckily, there are a number of ways you can go about this depending on your profession and the type of work you're looking for. Still, American immigration laws can be quite tricky to understand, which is why we'll now present you with four of the most common types of U.S. work visas and what the requirements are to apply for them. Visa for Skilled Workers One of the more common types of visa for foreign workers in the United States, the H1-B visa is given to eligible foreign nationals with a valid job offer from an American company. Although this sounds easy, it's not always so simple, as you must be a skilled worker employed in a specialized field. There are some fields where th...

This information is shared by the Kazmi & Sakata Attorneys at Law 1. What evidence do I need to prove my eligibility for employment authorization? You should provide evidence of your H-4 status, a government-issued photo ID, a marriage certificate or other evidence of your spousal relationship, and evidence of your spouse's H-1B nonimmigrant status. If you are applying based on your spouse's H-1B status under AC21, you should provide evidence that your spouse is a Permanent Labor Certification beneficiary. 2. Do I have to be in the U.S. to apply for employment authorization? Yes. To apply for employment authorization, you must be in H-4 status, which means you must be living in the United States. 3. Is this employment authorization a one-time opportunity? No. As long as you are eligible for employment authorization, you can renew the authorization and receive a new Employment Authorization Document. 4. Is my employment authorization time limited to the time...

The L-1 visa is a popular nonimmigrant visa for employers to recruit skilled foreign workers. As with most US visa programs, there is a great deal of confusion about how L-1 visas work and when they are appropriate.  Kazmi & Sakata Attorneys at Law   share six common questions about L-1 visas for employers and workers. Q1. How is the L-1 visa different than the H1B visa? The L-1 and H1B visas are both nonimmigrant visas highly sought after by employers who want to recruit talent overseas. Unlike the L-1 visa, H1B recipients must have specialized knowledge in their field with at least a bachelor's degree. The L-1 visa does not have an education requirement. Only a multinational company can qualify for L-1 visas whereas any US-based company qualifies for an H1B visa. Another significant difference is the maximum duration of stay: six years with an H1B visa and up to 7 years with an L-1 visa. Q2. Can a spouse work in the U.S. with an L-1 visa? One of many benefits o...

Acquiring a green card in the United States can be quite complex. Generally, the US only grants green cards to people who have the intention of staying permanently in the country. At the same time, not every foreign national who wants to move to the US will be granted with the privilege. A foreign national is required to have a sponsorship by a US employer or an immediate family member in order to gain permanent residency in the country. Otherwise, the individual will have no other choice but to somehow win the green card lottery and get a visa to enter the United States. Kazmi & Sakata Attorneys at Law Share some question and with their legal answers. What Can Happen With a Permanent Residency Card? It is important to know that a permanent residency card can be invalidated if the individual holding it neglects to renew the card before its expiration date. Permanent residency cards hold for only 10 years before they expire. Any person who holds a green card must file Form I...

You can begin a business and own a company in the US without a visa and even without coming to the US. It is difficult to open a bank account for a business but often times can also be done from outside the US, which is not totally guaranteed. Running an LLC from outside the country is allowed but may not be allowed without a valid work visa within the US. Being an officer and fulfilling your duties within the US are typically not allowed but being a director and a shareholder of a US company is allowed without any visa. Working for your company or LLC within the US is not allowed without a valid work visa. This may seem confusing to many people, therefore, it is important to consult a business immigration attorney San Diego . If you are planning to start a business in the US, you will need to obtain one of the US business visas. You can be the manager or the owner of a US company without a visa, but you cannot legally work. If you have your own company without a valid visa, chanc...

If you live in the US and like Japanese cars then you can import it in your city. There are certain things to check before you import any kind of vehicle into the US. Make sure your vehicle follow all the protocols to import a car from Japan. You can take advice from San Diego immigration lawyer free consultation on importing a car in a legal way. Here are a few things you should look at before you plan on bringing a car into the US. 1. Visit Japan or Look for a Car Online You can select the car in Japan if you are in the country for traveling or on a business trip. Get in touch with a car dealer in Japan so you can buy your desirable car. You can search online to find a car dealer in Japan to import the car into the US. 2. Look for a Compliant Car Make sure you buy a car that follows US standards and driving protocols before importing it. Check out whether the car you are buying is safer to drive in the U.S or not. You may have to transform the vehicle to follow the s...

The category of people who might be keen to know the 5 frequently asked questions about the immigration services and US citizenship are individuals with extraordinary abilities seeking non-immigrant visa. The exceptional talents may include prowess in athletics, excellent credentials in education, arts and the sciences, or a person who is highly gifted with the skills of making and producing motion pictures. FAQs are common about Part 6 of Form I-129 which deals with petitions for non-immigrant workers. They include: ● The need to know what Part 6 of Form 1-129 means, and its bearing on releasing of technical data or controlled technology to foreigners in the US. Petitioners might want to know what they should do about export control regulations. ● Another area of concern to many people is the need to know the purpose of Part 6 regarding transfer of technology to suspect countries. ● Companies and individuals also frequently want to the requirements or stipu...

The O-1 visa is a common way for people who can demonstrate extraordinary ability in science, art, athletics, education, or entertainment to live and work in the United States. Immigration attorneys in San Diego,CA, share five of the most common questions foreign residents have about qualifying for an O-1 visa. 1. What Is an O-1 Visa? The O-1 visa is a non-immigrant, employment-based visa available to foreign nationals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability in athletics, business, education, science, arts, or the television or movie industries. O-1 status can be granted for up to 3 years at a time, but it can be indefinitely renewed in one-year increments. There is a common misconception that the O-1 visa is only for artists, but it can be an option for foreign nationals in most industries who can prove extraordinary ability. 2. How Do I Prove Extraordinary Ability? This visa requires proving extraordinary ability in the individual's field of expertise. There are ma...

As many US immigrants already know, US immigration laws are exhaustive, complex and ever-changing. This provides a playing field for several fraudulent organizations that “guarantee” US visas rob foreigners off their hard earned savings. To save yourself from a possible scam, check out the following seven traits of online immigration frauds, as observed by leading San Diego immigration lawyers . Payment for USCIS Form When applying for immigration, you will have to fill out a detailed USCIS Form. This form is available on USCIS website and is free to download. If your immigration consultants offer to sell you a USCIS form or charge a fee to fill out a form on your behalf, without even letting you access it, don’t proceed any further. They’re scam. Unverified Domain Extension Many online US visa guarantors claim to be working with the US government. If that’s the case, then their domain name should have “.gov” mentioned somewhere. If a website claims to work in close collaborat...

America is a country built by immigrants. None of its achievements would have been possible without the help of immigrants who came here from every corner of the world. San Diego immigration attorneys appreciate the continued efforts of immigrants in building and sustaining the country. Here are a few ways immigrants strengthen the U.S. economy. 1. Starting Businesses Many immigrants start their own businesses sometime after moving to the U.S. Whether it’s a small grocery store or a tech startup, you’re likely to find an immigrant at the helm of things. According to the Small Business Administration, immigrants are more likely to start a business than locals, and about 18% of all small businesses in the country are owned by immigrants. 2. Uplifting the Job Market By engaging across various industries, immigrants help uplift the job market in the U.S. According to a recent estimate by the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 8% of immigrants are self-employed compared to 6% non-im...

Appointing a power of attorney is a legal action that someone may wish to create for their own protection. Appointing a power of attorney allows another person to act on your behalf and make legal decisions for you. This can include such things as medical decisions, the buying, and selling of assets and the creation of new accounts. Protection From Court Intervention Most people need a legal agent if they become temporarily or permanently incapacitated or disabled. If no one is designated to fill this role, then the court will appoint an individual, known as a guardian or conservator. Appointing a power of attorney beforehand gives the incapacitated person more control over who will act in their stead. It also allows the person to set limits on the authority of the power of attorney or appoint different people for different tasks. For example, one person could have power of attorney over medical decisions and a separate person could have power of attorney over buying and selling ...

If you are a foreign national trying to visit the U.S. you may have heard of the O-1 visa. This visa is unlike any other type of immigration visa because it concerns a special class of individuals. In short, this visa is reserved for people who demonstrate extraordinary abilities that will provide some benefit to American society. San Diego immigration lawyers discuss 5 frequently asked questions and answers to help you explore some of the more important aspects of this visa. 1. Why Would Someone Apply For an O-1 Visa? This visa is for foreign nationals who need to enter the country on an employment-based visa. Entry on an employment visa allows the foreigner to legally earn money during his or her stay in the U.S. The O-1 visa requires that the foreigner demonstrate that he or she is a person of national or international acclaim. This means the individual must have widely recognized achievements in fields such as sports, education or science. Members of the artistic community, s...

Immigration fraud is a serious crime. It occurs when someone pretends to be an immigration lawyer promising to sell visa or a fake job to get you a work permit. It also happens when a non-immigrant overstays his or her visa, illegally employs undocumented workers or gets involved in a sham marriage to obtain a green card. Immigration attorneys in San Diego, CA , discuss 5 signs of online immigration fraud you should watch out for. 1. Demanding You Money To Download or Access Official Applications All USCIS forms are free and available on the USCIS website. If a website asks you for money to access an immigration form, or even offers to fill the form on your behalf without giving you the access, report it and look elsewhere. 2. Claiming To Be Affiliated with the American Government but Have No .gov Domain Extension Only government certified websites have this notation. Many scammers use the name if USCIS or other government titles in their website URL but they have .com, .net...