Fairfax LGBTQ Immigration Lawyer
The past ten years have seen a major change in the legal rights of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. The United States can no longer bar a person from entry because of their sexual orientation, and persecution, for this reason, can be a valid cause to seek asylum or to prevent removal/deportation.
A Fairfax LGBTQ immigration lawyer familiar with LGBTQ issues could help people with any sexual orientation or identity in their goal to gain entry to the United States or to obtain U.S. citizenship. They possess a knowledge of the relevant immigration laws as well as an understanding of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that can help people meet their immigration goals.
Relevant Laws to an LGBTQ Immigration Case
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal agency responsible for granting immigration benefits to those who are present in the U.S. This includes work authorization, asylum, lawful permanent resident status, and U.S. citizenship, among other. The U.S. Department of State is the agency charged with ensuring that only people with valid visas or authorization to reenter or U.S. citizenship enter the United States. In the same vein, they are also responsible for issuing visas and processing formal requests for changes in immigration status along with USCIS.
A failure on the part of an individual to follow these rules can have catastrophic consequences. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is empowered to remove any person who does not have permission to be in the United States. This includes people who enter without authorization and those who overstay a visa.
A Fairfax immigration lawyer could help individuals to gain a better understanding of the relevant immigration laws that apply to the LGBTQ community. This includes the effects that a person’s sexual orientation can have on a petition for entry, in fighting deportation, and even in requesting asylum.
How Can a Lawyer in Fairfax Help?
Immigration law is a complex weave of complicated laws and confusing paperwork. Any person who wishes to apply for a visa, to sponsor a relative for entry, or to change their formal immigration status must be sure to follow the specific procedures.
This always begins with identifying the correct paperwork. An attorney works to classify a person’s immigration needs and collect the necessary documentation to improve the chances of success. This can include information concerning a person’s living situation as well as any threats that may not allow them to return home because of their sexual orientation.
In addition, a seasoned lawyer could help to keep a petition moving through the USCIS. Delays can occur for any number of reasons, and a person who does not remain vigilant can find their application sitting for months or years without progress. A Fairfax LGBT immigration lawyer could help to navigate the bureaucracy often present in the USCIS.
Call a Fairfax Immigration Attorney Today for Assistance with LGBTQ Issues
Thankfully for the LGBTQ community, a person’s sexual orientation now has very little to do with immigration law issues. Members of the LGBTQ community can also file for asylum as a defense against removal based on threats of persecution in their home countries. In fact, it is possible for a person to pursue a petition for a same-sex spouse. As a result, members of this community can apply for visas for family members, apply for lawful permanent resident status (Green Card), and apply for U.S. citizenship in the same manner as any other person.
A Fairfax LGBTQ immigration lawyer could help to pursue a person’s immigration goals. Whether this is to obtain a visa, a work permit, or to bring a relative to the country, an attorney could help to promote your rights. Contact an attorney today to schedule a consultation.
