Immigration and Naturalization

Special Immigration Practice

Battered Spouse Petitions

Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed by Congress in 1994, the spouses and children of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents (LPR) may self-petition to obtain lawful permanent residency. To be eligible to file a self-petition (an application that you file for yourself for immigration benefits) you must qualify under one of the following categories:

Spouse: You may self-petition if you are a battered spouse married to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Unmarried children under the age of 21, who have not filed their own self-petition, may be included on your petition as derivative beneficiaries.

Parent: You may self-petition if you are the parent of a child who has been abused by your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse.

Child: You may self-petition if you are a battered child (under 21 years of age and unmarried) who has been abused by your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent.

Contact an experienced Battered Spouse Immigration Lawyer to determine if you are eligible to file a battered spouse petition.  Contact US Immigration Attorney Rami Lee for a free initial consultation.  We offer early morning, late evenings, and weekend appointments.  

Asylum Applications

Asylum may be granted to people who are arriving in or already physically present in the United States. To apply for asylum in the United States, you may ask for asylum at a port-of-entry or file the asylum application at the appropriate Service Center within one year of your arrival in the United States except under special circumstances. You may apply for asylum regardless of your immigration status, whether you are in the United States legally or illegally.

Contact an experienced Asylum Immigration Lawyer to determine if you are eligible for asylum status.  Contact US Immigration Attorney Rami Lee for a free initial consultation.  We offer early morning, late evenings, and weekend appointments.   

Religious Worker Options

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two categories of visas for religious workers, one for temporary or nonimmigrant "R" status and one for legal permanent resident or immigrant "SD" status in the United States. Religious workers include ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent.

R1 Temporary Religious Worker Visa: The temporary religious worker classification is divided into three categories of religious workers: Ministers of religion; Professional workers in a religious vocation or occupation; or Other workers in a religious occupation or non-professional vocation.

Any bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the US may file for a religious worker. To qualify as a petitioner, the religious organization must be a nonprofit religious organization granted tax exempt status. To qualify as an R1 religious worker, the religious worker must have been a member of the religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the US for at least the two years immediately preceding the application.

The R1 visa is initially valid for 3 years and then renewable for an additional 2 years, and not valid for no more than a total of 5 years. A religious worker may return abroad and reside abroad for at least one year and then reapply for an R1 visa. R2 visa is available for spouses and dependents of the R1 religious worker. R2 visa is not eligible for work authorization.

Permanent Residence Based on Religious Occupation: A religious worker is a person who for the past two years has been a member of a religious denomination which has a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States; and who has been carrying on the vocation, professional work, or other work described below, continuously for the past two years; and seeks to enter the U.S. to work solely: As a minister of that denomination; or In a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation for that organization; or In a religious vocation or occupation for the organization or its nonprofit affiliate.

Contact an experienced Religious Worker Immigration Lawyer to determine if you are eligible for a religious worker visa or permanent residency status.  Contact US Immigration Attorney Rami Lee for a free initial consultation.  We offer early morning, late evenings, and weekend appointments.