Parole in Place (PIP) is a special program that allows non-citizen immediate family members of active duty military personnel, or veterans, to apply for their United States Green Card even if they are here illegally and even if they entered without inspection, or EWI. This program allows for the Green Card application to be submitted while the applicant is still present in the US, without having to leave, so as to not create any hardship for the men and women that devote their lives to the service of this country.

Becoming a permanent resident of the United States permits an individual to reside in the United States for the rest of their lives.

The United States issues both immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas. Immigrant visas are sought by persons from other countries who wish to become permanent United States residents.

Family immigration generally involves United States citizens and permanent residents of the United States seeking to sponsor relatives from other countries to obtain immigrant status (permanent residency or green card).

Naturalization is the name we give to the process of becoming a naturalized United States citizen. This usually occurs after the fifth year anniversary of permanent residency, but in some cases it can happen after three years. The process of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is an important one, and confers many benefits. Preparing and filing the application with supporting papers must be done with care and precision. Failure to do so can result in significant delays and other complications. In some less common instances, these complications can be serious.

Windsor v. U.S. was a landmark Supreme Court case, concluding on June 26, 2013, which declared DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) as unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment.  This decision affords same-sex marriages the same protections as traditional marriages.  Same-sex partners who marry may now be sponsored by their U.S. citizen spouse for their Green Card for the first time.

Our office has helped many of the military personnel obtain green cards for their families. I consider it an honor and a particular privilege to be able to help these servicemen and women who sacrifice so much to provide the United States of America it’s security. Questions about getting green cards, permanent residence and visas for their families and family members, which includes wives, children, parents and sisters and brothers, for both immigrant as well as non-immigrant visas, arise frequently for members of the United States military, including United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

Rehabilitation Applications are documents used for individuals who have committed crimes or minor violations in the past, and are denied entry to Canada when attempting to enter at the border.