Lawful Permanent Residence/"Green Card"
We know that most of our clients want the ability to permanently reside in the United States, and they want employment flexibility. These goals are achieved when the client is issued an alien resident card, also known as a "Green Card." After a period of time, lawful permanent residents may naturalize as U.S. citizens. Bander and Associates P.A. will identify the best strategy for a client to obtain the "Green Card," be it through a job, family, or other means, including political asylum, and we will guide the client through every step of the process.
Employment and Family Based Immigrant Visa Petitions and Applications
Bander and Associates P.A. offers corporations, small businesses, individuals, and families services to obtain employment and family-based permanent residency in the United States, both of which have become increasingly difficult and complex. Our immigration attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to successfully maneuver through these intricate processes. The firm offers comprehensive services in employment-based visa classifications, most of which have built-in protections for the U.S. labor market and often require labor certification by the Department of Labor. Our team also handles all stages of family-based permanent residency, which has been significantly impacted by complex legislation and regulations.
Alien Labor Certifications
This is the initial step for an alien to obtain a "Green Card" through an offer of prospective employment. Bander and Associates P.A. is an expert at the process known as "RIR" (Reduction in Recruitment), which is an expedited process based on Department of Labor guidelines under which an employer runs a test of the local labor market to establish that it cannot locate qualified, available and willing U.S. workers for the job offered. RIR allows completion of the process in several months and allows the employer full control. Once the employer files a brief report on its recruitment activities, the Dept. of Labor issues clearance that permits the employer and the alien to proceed with the green card process before the USCIS. This is a critical step as it lays the foundation for the balance of the "Green Card" application.
Non-Immigrant Temporary Employment Visa Petitions and Applications
Most aliens require specific permission from the USCIS to engage in employment. There are so many categories through which this employment authorization is granted (ranging from "B" to "V") that these visas are commonly referred to as "Alphabet Soup" visas. Each visa category provides a limited range of employment authorization. It is important that your immigration law firm be well versed in each of the specific visas and have the knowledge and experience to advise you as to which will serve you best. While most are employer-specific, Bander and Associates P.A. can arrange for a change of employer, and can also arrange a change of visa category (usually permitted by the USCIS while the alien is in the United States.)
Citizenship and Nationality Services
Many immigration and nationality law firms pay no attention to the "nationality" part of their practice. We do. No only do we help lawful permanent residents obtain U.S. citizenship through naturalization, we also provide the following services:
- help individuals born abroad prove their parent-transmitted U.S. citizenship
- help individuals who lost or renounced their U.S. citizenship get it restored
- assist U.S. citizens living abroad obtain U.S. citizenship for their children born abroad.
Investor and Entrepreneurial Services
Investors and entrepreneurs seeking to do business in the U.S. need to have the right visa to allow them to "develop and direct" their business efficiently. Looking toward lawful permanent residency, Bander and Associates P.A. will help the investor or entrepreneurial client identify the best visa for their specific enterprise. Bander and Associates P.A. has assisted investors and entrepreneurs arriving in South Florida for over 25 years. Our attorneys' backgrounds in business management and taxation is unique in the practice of immigration and nationality law.
Deportation and Removal
Representation in deportation and removal proceedings has become increasingly complex. Bander and Associates P.A.'s success in this arena is driven by our extensive knowledge and understanding of the governing laws, rules and regulations. We offer aggressive strategies, often involving complicated and intricate waivers and exceptions. We also work closely with criminal attorneys to protect our clients' immigration status.
Federal Court Litigation
In accordance with our commitment to providing zealous advocacy for our clients, Bander and Associates P.A. offers representation in Federal Court. In this complex area of law, our vigilance and understanding of the constant changes in the availability of Federal Court judicial review of immigration matters equip the firm to provide clients with aggressive legal representation and minimize bureaucratic delays.
Affirmative and Defensive Asylum
Bander and Associates P.A. represents asylum-seekers before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Immigration Court. The firm offers bold and comprehensive strategies to the challenges faced by our clients seeking asylum protection under governing statutes, regulations, and international laws that protect the rights of asylees and refugees. The firm's services also involve the application of complex statutes including Withholding of Removal and the Convention Against Torture.
Consular Representation
A visa in one's passport serves as an application to enter the United States. It must be consistent with the purpose of the alien's visit to the U.S. Given our separation of powers in the United States, the USCIS may authorize a specific visa category but the U.S. Consul is charged with ensuring that the granting of the visa (which is an application to enter the country) is appropriate. Following 9/11, obtaining visas at American Consulates is particularly problematic and requires more skill, experience and understanding of the process than ever before. With over 25 years of immigration law experience, Bander and Associates P.A. offers its clients expertise in this specialized area of consular representation.
Unclaimed or Abandoned Property Recovery
With its network of contacts throughout the world, Bander & Associates, P.A. locates overseas individuals who own unclaimed or abandoned property that a financial institution has turned over to a state official. After locating an owner or heir, Bander & Associates, P.A. offers services in recovering the property.
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