our legal services
Inadmissibility Waivers
Our law firm specializes in family-based immigration cases and waivers of inadmissibility. Many clients now qualify for the “provisional waiver” which can be applied for and received before the applicant leaves the United States. The provisional waiver reduces the risk of leaving the US and drastically shortens family separation. To qualify for the provisional waiver, the only issue of inadmissibility must be that the applicant has been unlawfully present in the United States for over a year.
Our firm takes great pride in preparing detailed, comprehensive, and persuasive waiver applications. In particular, we help applicants prove that their US citizen or lawful permanent relative will experience extreme hardship if the applicant cannot remain in the United States, specifically in the areas of health, finances, education, country conditions, and family and community ties. Ms. Heffner regularly attends training and workshops on strategies for preparing the most persuasive waiver applications and has an excellent track record for getting waivers approved.
U Visas
Our firm regularly assists victims of crimes and their qualifying family members apply for the “U Visa”. The U Visa allows victims of certain crimes who cooperate with law enforcement to receive permission to remain in the United States and eventually become lawful permanent residents. The U visa was created so that victims would feel comfortable reporting crimes to law enforcement regardless of their immigration status. Ms. Heffner works closely with the women’s shelters in the county to identify victims of domestic violence and sexual assault who may qualify for this program. Ms. Heffner has extensive experience engaging with law enforcement agencies to receive the I-918B Certificate that is a requirement of eligibility.
Fiance/Fiancee Petitions
US citizens may petition for their fiance/fiancee living abroad to enter the United States on a K visa for the purposes of marriage and receiving lawful permanent residency. The most important part of the K visa application is demonstrating that the relationship is “bona fide” and not just for the purposes of immigration. Our firm assists in preparing not only the K visa forms, but also organizing and presenting a “bona fide relationship” packet to the US consulate. Once the K visa is approved the fiance/fiancee may enter the US, get married to the US citizen petitioner, and apply for lawful permanent residency.
Parole in Place
“Parole in Place” is a unique option available to military families. Active members of the US Armed forces and individuals serving in the Selected Reserves (and veterans of these forces) may apply for Parole in Place for their undocumented spouses, parents, and children. This allows family members to stay in the country and adjust their status rather than leave the country to attend a visa interview at a consulate overseas. Many parents who are in the country without inspection are unable to consular process, even if they have adult US citizen children, because when they leave the US for their interview they will trigger the unlawful presence bar to admission. Unfortunately, US citizen children are not a qualifying relative for purposes of applying for a waiver to this bar. This means that many US citizen children are unable to petition for their undocumented parents even when they reach the age of 21. With Parole in Place, however, family members may apply to be “paroled” into the United States which qualifies them for adjustment of status rather than consular processing and they will not trigger the unlawful presence bar. If you are in the military or a veteran and would like to petition for lawful permanent residency for your family members, our office will provide a free consultation to determine eligibility and will provide at 10% discount on legal fees.
Asylum
Ms. Heffner has a special place in her heart for asylum cases. These are the very first pro bono cases that she did as a new lawyer. Asylum may be granted to people who are in the United States and have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted in their home country on account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Ms. Heffner has successfully represented individuals from Mexico, Guatemala, Laos, Zimbabwe, Burundi, and El Salvador in their asylum applications. She currently is concentrating on assisting unaccompanied children from Central America in their asylum applications.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) is available to minors under the age of 21 who were abandoned, neglected or abused by a parent. In order to apply for SIJS, the minor must first petition a state court (usually juvenile, family, or probate court) to make a SIJS order finding that 1) the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, 2) that the minor was abandoned, neglected, or abused by a parent, and 3) that it is not in the minor’s best interest to return to their home country. After the order is granted, the applicant may then apply for SIJS status and adjustment to lawful permanent residency. This is an excellent option for undocumented minors who have been abandoned, neglected, or abused. Ms. Heffner is currently evaluating unaccompanied minors from Central America for both SIJS and asylum eligibility. Ms. Heffner will consider taking these cases on a pro bono basis for those in the most need.
Naturalization
We are always happy to help individuals file their applications to become United States Citizens. Eligibility to apply for naturalization begins 90 days before the applicant reaches their 3 year anniversary of lawful residency status (if you immigrated through a spouse) or 5 year anniversary (for all other categories). In order to naturalize, the applicant must pass both a civics exam and an English language test and swear an oath of allegiance to the United States. If an applicant has ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, it is recommended to consult with an immigration attorney before applying for naturalization.
Our law firm specializes in family-based immigration cases and waivers of inadmissibility. Many clients now qualify for the “provisional waiver” which can be applied for and received before the applicant leaves the United States. The provisional waiver reduces the risk of leaving the US and drastically shortens family separation. To qualify for the provisional waiver, the only issue of inadmissibility must be that the applicant has been unlawfully present in the United States for over a year.
Our firm takes great pride in preparing detailed, comprehensive, and persuasive waiver applications. In particular, we help applicants prove that their US citizen or lawful permanent relative will experience extreme hardship if the applicant cannot remain in the United States, specifically in the areas of health, finances, education, country conditions, and family and community ties. Ms. Heffner regularly attends training and workshops on strategies for preparing the most persuasive waiver applications and has an excellent track record for getting waivers approved.
U Visas
Our firm regularly assists victims of crimes and their qualifying family members apply for the “U Visa”. The U Visa allows victims of certain crimes who cooperate with law enforcement to receive permission to remain in the United States and eventually become lawful permanent residents. The U visa was created so that victims would feel comfortable reporting crimes to law enforcement regardless of their immigration status. Ms. Heffner works closely with the women’s shelters in the county to identify victims of domestic violence and sexual assault who may qualify for this program. Ms. Heffner has extensive experience engaging with law enforcement agencies to receive the I-918B Certificate that is a requirement of eligibility.
Fiance/Fiancee Petitions
US citizens may petition for their fiance/fiancee living abroad to enter the United States on a K visa for the purposes of marriage and receiving lawful permanent residency. The most important part of the K visa application is demonstrating that the relationship is “bona fide” and not just for the purposes of immigration. Our firm assists in preparing not only the K visa forms, but also organizing and presenting a “bona fide relationship” packet to the US consulate. Once the K visa is approved the fiance/fiancee may enter the US, get married to the US citizen petitioner, and apply for lawful permanent residency.
Parole in Place
“Parole in Place” is a unique option available to military families. Active members of the US Armed forces and individuals serving in the Selected Reserves (and veterans of these forces) may apply for Parole in Place for their undocumented spouses, parents, and children. This allows family members to stay in the country and adjust their status rather than leave the country to attend a visa interview at a consulate overseas. Many parents who are in the country without inspection are unable to consular process, even if they have adult US citizen children, because when they leave the US for their interview they will trigger the unlawful presence bar to admission. Unfortunately, US citizen children are not a qualifying relative for purposes of applying for a waiver to this bar. This means that many US citizen children are unable to petition for their undocumented parents even when they reach the age of 21. With Parole in Place, however, family members may apply to be “paroled” into the United States which qualifies them for adjustment of status rather than consular processing and they will not trigger the unlawful presence bar. If you are in the military or a veteran and would like to petition for lawful permanent residency for your family members, our office will provide a free consultation to determine eligibility and will provide at 10% discount on legal fees.
Asylum
Ms. Heffner has a special place in her heart for asylum cases. These are the very first pro bono cases that she did as a new lawyer. Asylum may be granted to people who are in the United States and have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted in their home country on account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Ms. Heffner has successfully represented individuals from Mexico, Guatemala, Laos, Zimbabwe, Burundi, and El Salvador in their asylum applications. She currently is concentrating on assisting unaccompanied children from Central America in their asylum applications.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) is available to minors under the age of 21 who were abandoned, neglected or abused by a parent. In order to apply for SIJS, the minor must first petition a state court (usually juvenile, family, or probate court) to make a SIJS order finding that 1) the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, 2) that the minor was abandoned, neglected, or abused by a parent, and 3) that it is not in the minor’s best interest to return to their home country. After the order is granted, the applicant may then apply for SIJS status and adjustment to lawful permanent residency. This is an excellent option for undocumented minors who have been abandoned, neglected, or abused. Ms. Heffner is currently evaluating unaccompanied minors from Central America for both SIJS and asylum eligibility. Ms. Heffner will consider taking these cases on a pro bono basis for those in the most need.
Naturalization
We are always happy to help individuals file their applications to become United States Citizens. Eligibility to apply for naturalization begins 90 days before the applicant reaches their 3 year anniversary of lawful residency status (if you immigrated through a spouse) or 5 year anniversary (for all other categories). In order to naturalize, the applicant must pass both a civics exam and an English language test and swear an oath of allegiance to the United States. If an applicant has ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, it is recommended to consult with an immigration attorney before applying for naturalization.