Immigration Help for You and Your Family

Family and green card cases

• Family Petitions: U.S. citizens and permanent residents may petition for certain close relatives to immigrate.
• Adjustment of Status: Some people can get their green card without leaving the U.S.
• Consular Processing: Many people finish their green card case at a U.S. consulate abroad, which can carry risks for those living here.
• Immigration Waivers: Certain past problems, like unlawful presence or a past deportation, may be forgiven when a close family member would suffer extreme hardship.

Protection for victims

• U Visa: For victims of certain crimes who have helped, or are willing to help, law enforcement.
• T Visa: For survivors of labor or sex trafficking.
• VAWA: For people abused by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or adult child, who can seek protection without the abuser’s help.

Humanitarian protection

• Asylum: For people who fear persecution in their home country because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
• Humanitarian Parole: Temporary permission to enter or stay in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
• DACA: Protection from deportation and work permits for certain people brought to the U.S. as children. The program’s future depends on ongoing court cases.

Other immigration help

Citizenship (naturalization). Many permanent residents can apply to become U.S. citizens after 5 years with a green card, or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. Other requirements include time living in the U.S., good moral character, and passing English and civics tests. Recent policy changes mean officers now look more closely at each applicant’s history, so a review before applying is wise.

Green card renewal and removing conditions. Most green cards must be renewed every 10 years. People who got a two-year “conditional” green card through a recent marriage must ask to remove the conditions before the card expires to keep their status.

Work permits. Many people with pending cases or certain statuses may qualify for permission to work. Since late 2025, most renewals no longer get an automatic extension while they are pending, so timing matters more than ever.

Case status checks. If your case seems stuck or you received a confusing notice, we can review where things stand and what it may mean for you.

Immigration court and removal defense. If you are in deportation proceedings, you may still have options, such as asylum, cancellation of removal, or other forms of relief. Having an attorney in immigration court can make a real difference.