There is plenty of advice that can be given to assist you with obtaining your visitor’s visa, and a lot of it seems like common sense: Provide complete information, attach all supporting documents, stay on top of deadlines, etc. One of the most critical tips that can be given is to be completely and utterly honest. It is said that a lie is any communication with the intent to deceive. Be 100% honest with your visa interviewer, and do not attempt to hide anything. If they come across some issue that you failed to mention to them, it could turn it into a big issue, even if it was not important in the first place.

Another aspect of the application that can cause issues is the photograph portion of the application. United States visa photograph requirements are quite strict, so make sure that you know them ahead of time, and find a photographer that can meet those requirements. Otherwise, your photo may be dismissed, and you will be required to get a new one.

These past few entries have been specifically done to help you avoid any last minute difficulties that are commonly seen in the application process. Hopefully they have helped provide you with some good information.

If you have any other questions or concerns with the immigration process, please contact an immigration attorney immediately, for legal advice specific to your case.

You may find that during the application process, a lot of time is spent rifling through your paperwork to find a specific paper. This is especially the case if you have hired any sort of legal assistance, and they need to verify your documents. This is the exact reason for our next tip:

Keep all documents separated and organized. Keep your bank statements all in one place, keep your marriage certificate and property papers all together, and keep all documents together that show you still have ties to your current country, so that the U.S. Government doesn’t see you as trying to abandon your home country. It may seem like a silly thing to say, but getting a small file box or one of those accordion file folders is a great way to keep things organized. You can separate documents by what part of the application they are required for, and yet still have everything in one small place. If you are curious what papers are recommended, doing a quick internet search for U.S. Visa checklist will tell you all you need to know.

Once you have everything together and have filed your application, you are likely to soon receive a summons for an immigration interview at the U.S. Embassy. This is where many people make mistakes, since they get themselves all worked up beforehand, and during, they think that they need to go out of their way to prove something to the interviewer. If all your documentation is in order, then just relax and be yourself, and things will go well.

For this interview, being calm and collected is the name of the game. You will be asked a large number of very specific questions. Try not to brag to the visa interview officer, or talk continuously. The interviewer’s job is to make sure that you will not be any sort of liability to the United States Government, and excessive nervousness on your part can send up warning flags to your interviewer.

When asked a question, calmly and concisely provide an answer, and if you have any supporting documentation, make sure you show it or point it out to the interviewer. They will be closely monitoring not only the words of your response, but how you respond as well. Make sure that you are dressed normally (clean and as nicely dressed as you would be for a job interview), clean and well-groomed.

As a final tip, make sure that you are on top of all the changes to immigration laws. Rules for obtaining visas change on a fairly regular basis, so you want to make sure you don’t get caught unprepared. You can usually find all the information you need either at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website (uscis.gov) or through your local embassy’s website. There should be specific sections on both of those websites dedicated to questions related to visas.

If you take all of the outlined tips to heart, then your visa application should be successful, and you may find yourself stepping onto U.S. soil before you know it.

For example, just having the money required for the visa application fee will not be enough. If you go to an interview at your local U.S. Embassy, the interviewer will want to know the exact details of your trip (such as an employer sponsoring your visa, or visiting family members, etc.) and how you plan to pay for everything required.

You will have to take into account the current exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and your local currency (which are constantly changing), and have details written out for things like housing, food, transportation, etc.

If you are obtaining a visa for work purposes, that will factor into the equation, which means they will have to know what your pay will be, and whether you will be paid hourly or on a salary basis.

For this process to go smoothly, you will need to have any applicable letters of recommendation as well as your latest few bank statements.

This entire practice is related to the government official trying to determine whether you will be an asset or liability to the U.S. Government once you arrive. Knowing this, you should try to make yourself seem like as much of an asset as possible.

If you have any questions, or would like some help getting you or a loved one’s financial information in order, be sure to get in contact with a qualified immigration attorney immediately.

If you do have a family member or friend that currently resides in the U.S., you can have them fill out what are known as sponsorship papers. They are not necessarily required, but they tend to help visa applications immensely, since the application reviewer will be able to see that there is a current individual who is willing to take responsibility for your legal return once your visa expires, and is willing to vouch for you as a person.

There are a few different types of sponsorship papers you can get. They are:

• Personal sponsorship. This would be from a friend or family member, and they would need to fill out a Form I-134, form of sponsorship.
• Employer sponsorship. This would come from an employer who wants to bring you into the United States explicitly for employment purposes. They would need to provide what are called letters of invitation.
• University sponsorship. If you are looking to travel to the U.S. specifically to attend a university, then along with your visitor’s visa application, you would need to provide all the documentation from the university that states you have been accepted to the university, and your current admission status.

Sponsorship papers will bind you with whoever is sponsoring you by U.S. law, so make sure your sponsor is someone you know and trust. It will go a long way in helping your case, though, so make sure you obtain a sponsor if it is at all possible.

As always, if you have any questions at all about obtaining visas, or any of the laws related to sponsorship, contact an experienced immigration attorney immediately. The answers and peace of mind you seek could be just a phone call or email away.

That is not necessarily the case, however. There are many times when it will be required to obtain a visitor’s visa before you can enter the country.

Obtaining a visitor’s visa is a combination of good preparation and good timing. Preparation is an enormous part of the process, since not putting in any ground work before an interview at an embassy, for example, can get your visa application denied quicker than you might think. There aren’t any tricks to get through the process easier, but our next few entries will provide some tips to make sure your application is successful:

Make sure you fill out the paperwork completely. We have done previous entries on this exact subject before, and it seriously can not be stressed enough: Completely fill out the paperwork. Providing not only accurate but complete and concise information will do wonders for your application process.

It is extremely common for applications to be denied because the application reviewer thought that some information was being held back. Make sure you attach all supporting documents to your application, and bring them with you whenever you have an interview or meeting.

Unfortunately, once your application is accepted and you are granted a visa or green card, there are still many things you must always remember. One of these things is your address.

Many people will live in the same place for years, and when it comes time to move, forget all about one very important thing: You must update the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services with any new addresses within 10 days of moving.

Moving can be a very complicated time. It often takes days of prep work, a day or two to move and get everything unpacked at the new house, and sometimes it is even necessary to return to the previous place to make sure everything is clean.

During all this process, it is common for someone to forget to update USCIS with their new address, which can lead to issues. USCIS is getting stricter with punishments and enforcement, so it is best to not even chance it.

In previous years, it might have been difficult to get an address updated, either having to mail in a form, or wait on hold to speak with an agent. Nowadays though, the USCIS has forms on its main website to make address changes quick and easy.

If you are moving soon, or have already moved recently, be sure to update the USCIS as soon as possible. Not only will this help protect you from any trouble, but if you have anything pending in your case, all correspondence will go to the correct address.

In an interview with The Daily News, 22-year-old Araceli Mercado Sanchez said that she had simply gone to the store for paper plates, when she was pulled over for a traffic violation. The officer determined that she was not in the country legally, and threatened her with deportation.

When questioned about her citizenship status, Sanchez admitted that while she has been living in the United States since she was a child, she has done so illegally. However, she did show the officer her military spouse ID card, so according to her lawyer, the arrest should never have happened.

Her husband, Pfc. Guillermo Garcia, is currently serving in Germany.

Sanchez also admitted that she does not possess a green card, Social Security card or driver’s license, but regardless of the fact that she was brought to the U.S. illegally by her mother and father, she has absolutely no criminal record.

According to the family attorney, Richard Green, when Garcia heard about his wife’s arrest, “he was freaking out,” as being stationed overseas rendered him essentially powerless to help.

Green went on to state that her arrest by police was in direct violation of a law that the Obama administration enacted in 2010. That law, titled “parole in peace” was set up specifically to allow the loved ones of military personnel the chance of applying to become legal citizens without being forced to first exit the country.

Green says that the papers for Sanchez to begin receiving the parole were filed back in March, but that they never heard anything back on their status.

Sanchez reported that while she was in custody, she spent time in 2 separate prisons in which she received inadequate amounts of food, and water that she described as “foul smelling.”

A spokesman from the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol transferred Sanchez to them, and was almost immediately released upon ICE learning of her marriage to a service member.

The ICE official went on to say “through smart and effective immigration enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is committed to ensuring that its limited resources are focused on the removal of those who pose a threat to public safety such as criminal aliens and national security threats, as well as repeat immigration law violators, recent border entrants, and fugitives from immigration court.”

Sanchez said that her time in prison was terrifying, including the conditions and her cellmates. “I could have never imagined where I was. I couldn’t pee, and I ended up having blood in my urine,” she said. She went on to say that the stress of the environment was affecting her cellmates as well, with one of them suffering from facial paralysis due to stress, and another one who “was just rocking back and forth. Everyone was so scared.”

Upon her release, she was picked up by her family members, who drove 6 hours to get her.

She stated that her husband was incredibly relieved when he heard of her release. She said “he was very upset about everything.  He’s just glad it’s over. I’m glad I’m home, I’m glad I get to wake up with my daughter. This week has been the longest of my life.”

Q – Will there be a Biometric (fingerprinting) Fee associated with filing the Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 nonimmigrant?

A – Fortunately, no. There is only one fee with the Form I-929, for filing.

Q – Is it possible to have the filing fee waived?

A – Yes. Filing fees can certainly be waived. If you find that you are unable or unwilling to pay the filing fee, you can fill out the Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. It is also sometimes possible to submit a written request with your application. Please check with your local office about the written request option.

Q – If my application is approved, is there a particular status bestowed upon the qualified family members (beneficiary)?

A – No, the I-929 being approved does not confer any special status on the beneficiary.

Q – Does my I-929 being approved mean that I am authorized to seek out employment?

A – Unfortunately, no. While the petition being approved does qualify the beneficiary to apply for their green card, it does not automatically grant employment authorization.

Q – It is late in the fiscal year. Will I be placed on a waiting list because of some I-929 quota?

A – No, there is no limit to how many I-929’s can be awarded in any given year.

Q – Am I allowed to file a Form I-929 for my family members if I am a T visa holder?

A – No, the only person who can file on behalf of family members is a U-1 nonimmigrant visa holder.

Q – Can a qualifying U-1 nonimmigrant (main U nonimmigrant applicant) be the one to file a Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 nonimmigrant, on behalf of one of their siblings?

A – Unfortunately, no. The only ones allowed to file the Form I-929 are the spouse, children, or parents (if the petitioner in question is under 21) of the U-1 nonimmigrant themselves.

Q – When is a U-1 nonimmigrant allowed to file a Form I-929 for one of their qualifying family members?

A – Any U-1 nonimmigrant can file the Form I-929 at the same time they file, or at any point after they have filed their Form I-485.

Q – Can a family member of the U-1 file their Form I-485 at the same time as their Form I-929?

A – No. The only person allowed to file a Form I-929 along with their own Form I-485 is the U-1 principle themselves.

Q – Is it possible for the Form I-929 to be approved before the main petitioner’s Form I-485 is approved?

A – No. While the applications can be submitted at the same time, the main petitioner’s Form I-485 has to be approved before the I-929 can be approved. If the I-485 is denies, then the I-929 will also be denied, automatically.

The foreign national who has been awarded U nonimmigrant visa status is considered a U-1, and his spouse, children, and parents could all be considered eligible for Permanent Resident Status if they:

Have never previously been awarded a U nonimmigrant visa of their own, and if

It can be determined that if they were not eligible for permanent status and were forced to return to their home country, that the U-1 filer would suffer extreme hardship.

If all of the criteria outlined fit for you and your loved ones, here is how your family members can file for Permanent Residency.

Of course, this is all assuming that the principle U nonimmigrant visa filer meets all the eligibility requirements for permanent residence, and their green card application (adjustment of status) has either been approved, is being filed simultaneously, or has already been filed.

In order for a qualifying family member of the U-1 who have their own U nonimmigrant derivative visas to be awarded a green card, they must file a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

For a qualifying family member who has never been awarded a U nonimmigrant derivative visa, the form the U-1 must file is the Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant. It is important that the current principle U visa holder be the one to file this form, and it must be filed either at the same time as the U-1’s adjustment of status form, or soon after. It cannot be before.

If the Form I-929 is approved, then the qualifying family member themselves must file a Form I-485, which is the initial form the U-1 derivative holder files. If the qualifying family member is currently outside the United States, they can visit the local embassy or consulate to obtain their visa.

With all of the tips outlined in these posts, hopefully you feel well-enough informed about the U nonimmigrant visa process to know whether it will apply in your situation or not. If you have any doubt, or any further questions, please contact an immigration attorney immediately, and ask for legal advice about your situation.