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Will my K-1 visa be denied if I do not put the kids down?
The K-1 visa pathway, often referred to as the fiancé visa (and popularized by the television show, 90 Day Fiancé), serves as a gateway for non-United States citizens engaged to Americans to enter the United States for marriage purposes. This process demands meticulous attention to detail and absolute transparency throughout the application journey. One pivotal aspect is the acknowledgment of children.
Disclosure of dependents on K-1 visa petitions
While applying for a K-1 visa, the petitioner is tasked with completing Form I-129F, which requires the disclosure of any children. Neglecting to disclose this information has substantial ramifications for the application. United States immigration law mandates the full disclosure of all particulars, including dependents, as part of the visa application protocol.
Ramifications of concealment
Failure to disclose children on the K-1 visa application may be construed as misrepresentation. Such misrepresentation can culminate in visa denial and potentially invoke a permanent ban from entering the United States. It is paramount for applicants to recognize that candor stands as the cornerstone of the immigration process.
Immigration & Criminal Law Can Sometimes Overlap
Virginia residents who are new to the United States are often wary of dealing with law enforcement. This is understandable, but sometimes these interactions are unavoidable.
According to the law, there are instances in which law enforcement officers need a warrant to make an arrest. In others, they do not. When officers are investigating certain cases and a person who they believe might be an illegal immigrant is involved in alleged criminal activity, both criminal procedure and immigration can be involved. People in this situation should be aware of their legal rights and options.
People in the United States illegally can be arrested for it
Virginia law says that, under certain situations, law enforcement officers have the power to make arrests without a warrant. That includes State Police, sheriffs, members of a city or town police force, U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard reserves, members of the Capitol Police and others.
What are the options when immigrants face expedited removal?
For people who are already in the United States and are confronted with the possibility of being deported, there may be protections available.
Some are dealing with expedited removal. This means that the person can be removed and does not have the right to a hearing or review. It is important to remember that there are exceptions to expedited removal and some might be able to avoid it. They could even be allowed to remain in the United States.
Expedited removal and exceptions
The following people can be subject to expedited removal:
- People who enter the country without valid entry documents and those who enter the United States by using fraud or misrepresentation
- Those who arrived by sea without valid documents and were not admitted into the United States or paroled by immigration authorities, and cannot show they were physically in the country for a minimum of two years before they were apprehended.
Inmigración: Barreras condicionales al buen carácter moral
La determinación del buen carácter moral es una parte importante en el proceso de naturalización para quienes desean convertirse en ciudadanos estadounidenses. Esta evaluación puede ser complicada por la presencia de barreras condicionales en la ley de inmigración de los Estados Unidos.
Este proceso implica que las autoridades revisen su historial penal (enlace en inglés) para determinar si ha sido condenado por un delito que afecte su buen carácter moral y su elegibilidad para la naturalización.
Es importante señalar que existen barreras permanentes que pueden resultar en una prohibición de por vida para solicitar la naturalización. Estas barreras se aplican en casos de delitos graves y violentos, como homicidio.
Por otro lado, hay delitos menos graves que pueden generar una barrera condicional. Un ejemplo común de una barrera condicional es el manejo en estado de ebriedad. Aunque este delito puede afectar su capacidad para demostrar un buen carácter moral, no lo descalificará de por vida.
How might my immigration status affect child custody?
If a non-citizen living in Northern Virginia suddenly finds themselves facing a custody proceeding, they may worry that the other parent or the court may use their immigration status against them.
The good news is that immigration is not a factor Virginia courts consider when deciding custody or parenting time. This is true even if a person does not have legal authorization to be in the United States.
A person's immigration status simply does not have a bearing on the best interest of a child, which is always a Virginia court's main concern. Furthermore, a person's right to have a relationship with their child should not get set aside because of that person's citizenship or immigration status.
A person's immigration status can indirectly affect their custody rights
However, indirectly, a person's immigration status can affect custody rights and parenting time.
¿Una condición de salud puede afectar mi estado migratorio?
Cuando se trata de obtener la ciudadanía en los Estados Unidos, pueden surgir muchas dudas. Una pregunta relevante está relaionada con las condiciones de salud del inmigrante. Para ayudarle a entender un poco más los requisitos de su solicitud de naturalización, compartimos información importante acerca de las condiciones de salud y otros temas que pueden afectar su proceso.
La importancia de la salud en el proceso de naturalización
Es importante recalcar que tener una condición de salud, por sí misma, no es una barrera para obtener la naturalización en los Estados Unidos. Este proceso se enfoca en evaluar su admisibilidad de acuerdo con una serie de consideraciones. Algunas de ellas son:
- Examen médico: Este examen tiene el propósito de asegurar que el individuo no padece de enfermedades contagiosas que puedan impactar la salud pública del país de forma significativa. También se verifica si el aplicante ha recibido las vacunas requeridas.
Applying for asylum in the United States
The United States welcomes immigrants each year from all parts of the world. Some of them are seeking asylum, which means they have experienced persecution or are in fear of persecution in their country and want to stay in the United States. There are several steps they must follow.
Reasons for asylum
There are several reasons a person may seek asylum in the United States. These include being targeted based on their race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or practices, or nationality. Also, if they are persecuted based on their political beliefs, criticism of their government or association with certain groups, they may seek asylum for those reasons.
A person applying for asylum must be able to specifically demonstrate their fear of persecution, which can include physical harm, discrimination and threats.
Process overview
The person requesting asylum must be physically present in the United States and must complete an application. The application usually must be filed within one year of the applicant's arrival.
What if an immigrant is being unlawfully detained?
In recent years, immigration has been such a difficult issue to navigate that many people are nervous about their status. Even people who have done their best to follow the law wonder what might happen to them if they are investigated and arrested. Many in Virginia worry they could be detained and deported
This is not limited to people who are unfamiliar with the system. Even those who have been in contact with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement are vulnerable. Often, it might seem as if they are at the whim of ICE and are detained without legal justification.
Critics say that has been the case for three Central American men who were detained but not deported.
Three men detained
According to news reports, the three men were detained by ICE. All three were undocumented and had previous encounters with law enforcement for various reasons – driving under the influence, a traffic stop, an unspecified past conviction – but had been allowed to remain in the United States. They told the judges in their cases that they would be subject to persecution and potentially torture in their home countries if they were deported.
¿Cuáles derechos tendré como residente permanente? ¿Como ciudadano?
La decisión de empezar el proceso largo y arduo de ajuste de estatus migratorio es una decisión que puede tener una variedad de justificaciones. A veces empieza con una persona indocumentada que quiere obtener el derecho de trabajar legalmente. A veces es una persona que ya tiene la residencia permanente, pero quiere obtener los derechos adicionales que vienen al final del proceso de naturalización. Cada persona no ciudadana en este país debería saber cuáles derechos – y responsabilidades – se pueden esperar si siguen en su camino de inmigración.
Los derechos y responsabilidades de los indocumentados
Aun cuando una persona no tiene documentación legal en este país, todavía tiene derecho a usar servicios básicos. Por ejemplo, puede mandar a sus hijos a la escuela, puede usar servicios médicos de emergencia, y tiene derecho a la representación legal si enfrenta procedimientos de deportación u otros problemas legales.
A veces las personas creen que inscribirse en el servicio selectivo militar es una obligación solo para los ciudadanos. Pero en verdad, cada hombre de entre 18 a 25 años que vive en los Estados Unidos tiene la obligación legal de inscribirse, sin importar su estatus migratorio. Esto incluye personas indocumentadas (enlace en inglés).
Do I have to tell the police my immigration status?
Talking to police makes most people anxious and stressed, even if they have done nothing wrong. If you are an immigrant and have an encounter with the police or immigration agents, the experience can be even more frightening, especially if you are asked about your immigration status.
You have certain constitutional rights in the United States, regardless of your immigration status. One of these is the right to remain silent.
No, and here's why
This means you do not have to tell police or immigration officers your immigration status, even if they ask. In most cases, your immigration status has nothing to do with the reason the police are speaking to you, so there is no reason they need to know it.
Saying anything about your immigration status, or any other topic, can be used against you in court. Therefore, you should stay silent and ask for an attorney.
Providing immigration documents
With offices in Herndon, Virginia and Annapolis, Maryland, Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC provides legal help to clients in the areas surrounding Washington, D.C., including Frederick, Leesburg, Ashburn, McNair, Stone Ridge, Reston, Chantilly, Germantown, Woodbridge, Potomac, Gaithersburg, Rockville, McLean, Falls Church, Manassas, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Hyattsville, College Park, Greater Landover, Bowie, and Millersville.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
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1037 Sterling Rd., Suite 201, Herndon, VA 20170
571-441-2233
