Immigration law can be incredibly complicated, so you will want to hire an attorney to help you navigate the system. Our experienced attorney is ready and able to helps provide globe-status service in the Orlando, Florida, area and around the world.
Our Immigration Services
Our main focus is helping individuals navigate through the complex immigration system by providing services in areas of visas, permanent residency, naturalization, and deportation defense, just to name a few.
The Merilien Law Firm is based in Orlando, Florida, with a satellite office in West Palm Beach, Florida. We are highly regarded as one of the best immigration law firms in the area. We have developed a successful concentration in specific areas of practice that we have found most relevant to our domestic and international clients.
We offer legal services in English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.
FAMILY PETITIONS
“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American Life”
– President John F. Kennedy
The current immigration system of the United States is mostly based on family relations. There are two primary types of family visas: immediate relative immigrant visas and family preference visas.
Immediate relative visas:
An unlimited number of immediate relative visas (IR visas) are available each year and they are normally granted assuming the paperwork is properly filed and no other red flags, such as, national security risks, present themselves during the visa application process.
These visas are available for spouses, children* (adopted or natural) under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens.
(*in some instances, visas may be available for step-children.)
Family preference visas:
These types of visas are available for more distant relatives of U.S. citizens, such as, adult children, and siblings.
Additionally, legal-permanent residents can apply for visas for members of their immediate family, such as, their spouses and children under 21.
As such, depending on your circumstances, there exist several other viable paths to legal permanent residency (green card) Among them are:
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Fiancée Visas
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Marriage Petitions
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Family Petitions
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Removal of Conditions on Permanent Residence
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LGBT Fiancé(e) and Marriage Petitions
(Since the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act, LGBTQ+ individuals are eligible for the same federal immigration benefits as anyone else.)
Our team can assist you in petitioning for your children, your spouse, and your fiancée among other family members.
Contact us to schedule your consultation.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA
There are two broad categories of employment-based visas:
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Temporary employment visas
Temporary work visas allow entry into the United States for immigrant workers sponsored by an employer.
2. Permanent employment visas.
Permanent employment visas are harder to acquire, but they provide permanent residence status.
Once the visa term expires, the temporary worker must either leave voluntarily or be subject to deportation unless the visa is renewed.
Types of Temporary Employment Visas:
H-1B Visas
H-1B visas are temporary worker visas for workers with unique or highly technical skills. H-1B visas tend to be particularly popular with IT or oil & gas companies, or companies seeking workers with skill sets that they cannot find in the United States. These visas are subject to an annual cap.
H-2A Visas
These visas are temporary worker visas for agricultural workers from certain countries who have a job offer for seasonal agricultural work in the U.S.
H-2B Visas
Looking for a work visas attorney in Orlando? These visas are for temporary “seasonal” non-agricultural workers who come to the United States from certain countries, for specific, time-limited employment.
L-1A & L-1B Visas
These visas apply to foreign employees currently working for U.S. companies abroad or other companies related to U.S. entities whose services are sought in the United States, and who will be transferred to work in the U.S.
Types of Permanent Employment Visas:
EB1 Visas
These permanent employment visas are available for priority workers who demonstrate extraordinary skill in their fields, such as the arts, science, business, education, or athletics.
EB3 Visas
This is a category of permanent employment visas that can be claimed by either unskilled laborers, skilled workers, or professionals.
EB2 Visas
These visas may be claimed by holders of advanced degrees (beyond a bachelor’s degree) or foreigners of exceptional abilities who are professionals in their fields.
EB4 Visas
These visas are for special categories of immigrants, such as religious workers, translators, or foreign government employees.
EB5 Visas
EB5 visas are available to foreign investors seeking to invest in a U.S. based company. While EB5 visas are technically categorized as employment visas, they are more often referred to as investor visas.
ASYLUM
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
– Emma Lazarus, Statue of Liberty
The United States is a party to several international human rights agreements and treaties that require our government to accept asylum-seekers who are fleeing genuine persecution in their home countries.
Persons who may qualify for asylum-related immigrant visas could be political opponents of ruling powers seeking their imprisonment or death, victims of religious persecution, refugees from war-torn nations, and others.
To qualify for asylum in the United States, asylum seekers must have suffered persecution based on their race, religion, political ideology, nationality, or membership within a specific group.
In recent years, the asylum process in the U.S. has become increasingly stringent and complicated. Our team has successfully represented families and individuals from all over the world seeking protection in the U.S.
Call us to schedule a consultation today.
Asylum seekers who make it to the United States may immediately seek asylum assistance.
There is no limit on the number of people who may seek asylum, and immigration officials are required to admit anyone facing legitimate persecution at home.
If you believe you have a legitimate fear of returning to your country, speak with our law firm immediately as time is of the essence in filing these applications.
DEPORTATION AND REMOVAL DEFENSE
Are you an immigrant living in this country either legally or illegally facing deportation?
Removal and Deportation proceedings can be one of the most stressful moments in a family’s life. During these proceedings, a judge will ultimately determine if you will stay in this country or not. The immigrant carries the burden of demonstrating to the judge why he/she should be allowed to remain in the United States.
Unfortunately, if the immigrant cannot afford an attorney, the government will not appoint one, and the person will have to represent himself/herself. Being represented by an experienced immigration attorney who is familiar with these proceedings may make the difference in an individual staying in the U.S. or being removed to their home country. Our office accepts payment plans to make legal representation more accessible.
Grounds for Deportation
Removal from the country can occur if a person does not have legal status. Part of the grounds for deportation are if a person has:
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An overstayed or expired visa
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Misfiled a visa application
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Committed a crime, or violated any law
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Falsified immigration documents
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Represented themselves as a U.S. citizen, when they are not
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Committed marriage fraud
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Done drugs or is a drug addict
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Engaged in a high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint.
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These grounds can come to the attention of immigration authorities. If a person is about to be deported, they will obtain a notice to appear in court at a specific time and date. If this applies to you contact an immigration attorney and criminal defense lawyer today.
Defenses to Removal
The Merilien Law Firm can make defenses for alternatives to deportation, including:
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Adjustment of Status (AOS)
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Cancellation of Removal (42a or 42b)
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Crime Victims
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Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJ)
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Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
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Voluntary Departure
These alternatives can help a person stay in the United States, or leave and be able to come back. In case of deportation, remember that you have the right to an attorney.
Call us to schedule a consultation today.
INVESTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR VISAS
The United States is one of the top investment destinations in the world. Consequently, our immigration system provides potential paths to residency or legal status via business interests in an effort to promote economic development.
Are you interested in buying, starting, or investing in a business in the U.S.?
The following visas might be viable paths depending on your circumstances.
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E2
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L-1A
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EB-5
EB5 visas are available to foreign investors seeking to invest in a U.S. based company.
While EB5 visas are technically categorized as employment visas, they are more often referred to as investor visas.
To apply for an investment visa, a foreign investor must invest $500,000 to $1 million in a job-creating enterprise established after 1990 that employs at least ten workers on a full-time basis. This amount is subject to an increase by the U.S. Congress.
Unlike other employment-based visas, the EB-5 investor visa does not require the investing immigrant to work in the company that he or she invests in.
Let us guide you in your journey. Schedule your consultation today!
CITIZENSHIP & NATURALIZATION
Becoming a U.S. citizen is an honor that grants an individual several benefits such as voting, qualifying for certain federal jobs, and petitioning family members.
The requirements for naturalization will vary depending on the manner in which you became a green card holder.
Our team will:
1) review your immigration history to determine eligibility,
2) prepare all required documentation for the process,
3) prepare you for the interview at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services office, and
4) attend the interview with you.
Do not wait any longer to begin this process. Become a U.S. Citizen!
Give us a call.
STUDENT VISA
“The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources, nourished by so many cultures and traditions and people”
– President Lyndon B. Johnson
Many of the world’s top educational institutions are in the United States. Graduating from an American University can lead to career success anywhere in the world.
Furthermore, besides becoming fluent in another language, the experience of studying abroad will provide cross-cultural competence and life-long memories.
If you are interested in applying for a student visa, call us. We will guide you through the process.
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F1/F2 Visa
ARTISTS, ATHLETES, AND FOREIGN NATIONALS OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY
“Our attitude towards immigration reflects our faith in the American ideal. We have always believed it possible for men and women who start at the bottom to rise as far as the talent and energy allow. Neither race nor place of birth should affect their chances.”
– Robert F. Kennedy
The United States has always attracted the best and the brightest. Our immigration system allows for certain athletes, entertainers, educators, businesspersons, scientists, artists and individuals of extraordinary abilities to enter the U.S. under special visas and, in certain circumstances, apply for Legal Permanent Residence.
Give us a call if you believe you meet the requirements under these qualifiers.
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O Visa
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P visa
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National Interest Waiver Petitions
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