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Call Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office for Immigration Law in Nashville
Are you interested in immigrating to the United States of America? Are immigration laws around marriage and family, confusing? An immigration lawyer in Nashville can help you understand the processes behind immigrating to the U.S. to become a permanent resident or citizen. Based in Nashville, TN, the team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office has over ten years of individual experience in immigration law across the state.
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Family Based Immigration
You and your immigration lawyer can then review your personal situation and decide the best path forward in family-based immigration. Because every case is different, your legal team will need to build your case around your specific conditions to enter the country on a family-based visa. Our team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office has over 20 years of experience helping immigrant families build their cases.
Have immediate relatives who are U.S. citizens, like a parent or child.
- Be an unmarried individual under 21 years of age with one parent who is a U.S. citizen.
- Be parents of a U.S. citizen who is over the age of 21.
- Be an adopted child of a U.S. citizen.
- Be a spouse or a recent widow or widower of a U.S. citizen.
Other conditions may also apply, so finding an immigration lawyer in Nashville who is experienced in immigrant family law is a great first step in the path to U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
You and your immigration lawyer can then review your personal situation and decide the best path forward in family-based immigration. Because every case is different, your legal team will need to build your case around your specific conditions to enter the country on a family-based visa. Our team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office has over 20 years of experience helping immigrant families build their cases.
Marriage Based Visa
You can also enter the country on a K-1 “fiancé visa,” a temporary visa that allows entry in order to marry a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. You must intend to marry within 90 days of the non-U.S. citizen spouse entering the country. Once married with proof of marriage, you or your spouse can apply for permanent residency or citizenship once all conditions are met.
You and your spouse will have to prove that the marriage is real outside of the opportunity for a path to citizenship. You both must also prove that the marriage is legal, that neither spouse is already married, and that the U.S. citizen spouse can provide proof of citizenship or permanent resident status.
Marriages outside of the United States qualify for legal recognition of marriage if they are recognized by the government of the non-citizen spouse’s home country. Because one condition includes legal proof of marriage, domestic partnerships often do not qualify for consideration for immigration. If you are not married within 90 days of entering the country, complications could arise.
Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)
Green card permanent residents in the U.S. enjoy several benefits over temporary visa holders. With a green card, you can live and work in the United States indefinitely without having to reapply for authorization to reside in the U.S.
Additionally, you can apply for many state benefits with a green card. You may be eligible for certain tax benefits, social security benefits, or other retirement benefits as a permanent resident.
If you are a permanent resident student, you can qualify to apply at state colleges or universities and pay in-state tuition for your classes if you attend a school in the state where you live. You would also be eligible to apply for federal and state financial aid to attend classes at a U.S. institution for higher education.
Green card permanent residents can also hold dual citizenship with their native countries and can even petition for a spouse or other immediate relatives to immigrate to the United States. With a permanent resident card, you can enjoy many of the same rights as U.S. citizens.
Once you have obtained your green card, there is a risk of losing your permanent residency status if you commit certain failings to uphold your residency. You may have your status revoked if you leave the country for a year or more, fail to obtain a re-entry permit, or if you obtain a re-entry permit but don’t return to the United States before the two-year expiration of your re-entry permit.
You may also lose your permanent resident status if you do not file your taxes, or if you declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax forms. You could also lose your green card if you are charged with or are found guilty of committing a crime, and you could even face deportation. It is much easier to lose permanent residency than to obtain. An immigration lawyer can help you build a defense if you find that your permanent residency status may be at risk.
When you’re ready to apply for your green card, you’ll want an experienced immigration lawyer to help you fill out the correct forms, build your case, attend the interview and represent your interests across several areas of law. If you need an immigration lawyer in Nashville or the state of Tennessee, contact our legal team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office.
Choose Us to Guide You on Your Path to Citizenship
Let us help you and your family navigate the road to U.S. citizenship. We’re family-owned and operated, with over twenty years of experience helping families immigrate successfully to the United States. We’re motivated to help immigrating families reunite and stay together in and around Nashville, and across the state of Tennessee.
Family is first and foremost in our minds and in our hearts. We practice immigration and family law together in our law office, and we want you to feel welcomed like a member of our family while we address your legal issues.
For your questions about immigration law in and around Nashville, TN, call Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office at 615-242-3333.
Nashville, The City of Music
As the capital of Tennessee, Nashville is known as the “Music City” due to its rich musical history. The city is home to country music legends like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, and modern stars like Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan. In addition to country music, Nashville also has a thriving indie music scene. The city’s music venues offer a wide variety of genres, from rock and pop to blues and jazz.
The city has a population of approximately 667,000 people. The Nashville metropolitan area has a population of over 1.8 million people. Nashville is the second-largest city in Tennessee and the 26th-largest city in the United States.
Nashville is also known for its food. The city’s restaurants offer a variety of cuisines, from Southern comfort food to international fare. Nashville is also home to a number of craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries. There are many things to do in Nashville, from visiting the city’s museums and historic sites to attending its many festivals and events.
The scenic Cumberland River flows through the heart of Nashville, and the city is surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque forests. Nashville is a great place to live, work, and play. If you’re looking for a city with a rich musical history and a diverse food scene, Nashville is the place for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it better to hire an immigration lawyer?
Our immigration lawyer has filed these same forms for hundreds of applicants before you. The legal forms necessary to complete at multiple stages of the immigration process can be complicated. Filing them yourself can lead to errors that may negatively affect your case. You also must complete updated forms and submit additional paperwork according to strict deadlines. If you miss a deadline, your case may be denied. Your mail from USCIS could get lost or you could move without properly notifying USCIS. You may have questions about interviews or you may need our attorney to attend your interview with you in Nashville.
If you currently live in Tennessee or intend to immigrate to the area, you’re much more likely to win favorable results if you hire an immigration lawyer in Nashville. You’re also less likely to face denials, notices of intent to deny, requests for evidence, and other negative consequences of an infraction with the knowledge and experience of an immigration lawyer on your side.
2. What do immigration lawyers actually do?
Immigration lawyers represent you on your path to permanent residency or citizenship. The government has a strong vetting process that can lead to a denial or harsh consequences if not taken seriously. Even if English is a first language for applicants, the immigration system is complex with “exceptions to exceptions” and other pitfalls. This process can be especially difficult for those people who have English as a second or third language. In these cases, it is essential that these individuals get the necessary assistance in completing the correct forms in English from an immigration lawyer and to represent you at the field office. If such forms are filed incorrectly, an unauthorized resident may have to wait between three and ten years to return to the United States after their removal.
Legal forms, field office appearances, tests, oaths, and moral judgements are all parts of the immigration procedure. Our immigration lawyer has the education and experience to complete forms accurately, appear at field offices on your behalf, explain to you the meaning and importance of Constitutional knowledge for the citizenship test, and build the case for the goodness of your character. Your immigration lawyer will monitor and assist your progress through the entire immigration process.
3. What is the difference between green card and permanent resident?
They’re the same thing! The green card is another name for a Permanent Resident Card. Your green card or permanent residency status must be maintained to retain the benefits of residency. For example, your permanent residency status may be called into question if you leave the country for a period of one year or longer. You may not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. if you are deemed to have abandoned your residence.
If you intend to leave the United States for an extended period after getting your green card, you need to file for a re-entry permit to be allowed back into the country. The re-entry permit will expire after two years. If you don’t return within that time period, you could lose your permanent residency status.
4. How do you find a good immigration lawyer?
The most important thing in seeking legal services from an immigration lawyer is to find one whose experience you trust.
- First, look in the area where you intend to live once you’re authorized to enter the country. To find an immigration lawyer in Nashville, look to the internet, referrals from friends and family, and be ready to compare multiple recommendations.
- Research each of the lawyers under consideration. Look for clues to their experience, reputation, and reviews from real clients. You can also find information about immigration lawyers from the State Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
- Make your short list of qualifying immigration lawyers who you might like to represent you or your family member.
- Interview your list to ensure you find the best fit for your needs. Does your first interview understand your case? Is your third interview’s rate higher or lower than the previous two?
o Hire the right immigration lawyer. You’re likely to find a good balance between someone who understands the legal issues and offers their services at a reasonable price.
5. How can an immigration lawyer in Nashville help me or my family?
Suppose you or a family member are currently in the process of immigrating to Nashville, TN, or anywhere in the state of Tennessee. In that case, it is recommended that you retain an immigration lawyer in Nashville. Not only would you benefit from retaining a lawyer to assist in standard immigration proceedings, but also if your or your family’s immigrant status is threatened by criminal charges, travel outside the country, or improper tax filing.
An immigration lawyer can ascertain if certain conditions would threaten your or your family member’s immigration status. They can then begin building an argument and planning course correction to put you back on the path to legal U.S. citizenship.
6. Can an immigration lawyer help me fight criminal charges?
Part of the qualifications for citizenship include that you be “of good moral character.” However, it isn’t always so simple as to avoid being charged with a crime. A conviction could lead to denial of citizenship and possibly deportation.
An immigration lawyer can see how criminal charges may affect your path to citizenship. Our team at Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office can advise you and represent you.
Visit our about us page for more information on our law office!