Christopher Kurczaba and Kurczaba & Associates Chicago

Generally speaking, yes. An individual can only complete the naturalization process if they are a permanent resident of the U.S. Furthermore, your permanent residency status must amount to at least five years in the country in order to qualify for naturalization. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. In certain circumstances you may be able to expedite the process if you can prove that you are married and have already been living in the country with a U.S. citizen for at least three years. No matter what the circumstances of your situation may be, it is always wise to include an immigration attorney in the process to ensure that you proceed through the process according to the requirements expected of you.

The Green Card Lottery was established by the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program; through it, the United States government issues 50,000 permanent Green Cards every year. The applicants who are included in the Green Card Lottery are selected randomly through a computer-generated drawing. Immigrants who are selected in the Green Card Lottery will be authorized to live and work permanently in the U.S., as will be the members of their family.

If you were denied your original request for a green card, not all hope is lost. Under the guidance of an immigration lawyer at our office, legal action can be taken to remedy the situation. Some of the options available to you include arranging another interview with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS); having your lawyer file a motion to reconsider; or having your lawyer file new application. We can review the particulars of your situation to make an ultimate determination on how to move forward after your green card application has been denied.

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) is a bill that is currently pending in both chambers of Congress. If passed, it would amend the original stipulations of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. As of right now, a lawful citizen of the U.S. or a permanent resident is not permitted to use their status to help a same-sex partner obtain the same lawful permanent resident status. In fact, as it stands, same-sex partners who attempt to obtain permanent residency can be penalized for immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships. If the UAFA is passed, legal permanent residents will be able to lawfully sponsor their long-term same-sex partner for immigration benefits in a very similar manner as to that which is utilized by opposite-sex spouses.

Notarios, or notary publics, are not lawyers, nor have they been recognized as a valid and accredited representative of the United States government. As such, they should not be relied upon in your immigration case. Notarios are public officers who are constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters such as many of those which relate to immigration law.

The primary functions of a notario include administering oaths and affirmations, witnessing and authenticating the execution of certain documents, taking affidavits and statutory declarations, taking acknowledgement of deeds and other conveyances, providing exemplifications and notarial copies, protesting notes and bills of exchange, among other things.

A notario, or a notary public, cannot under any circumstances provide the same types of legal services that a standard attorney can. Therefore, you could be much better served under the representation of an immigration attorney from our firm whose past experience also includes time spent as a former judge. Together, our professional team can address all of your needs, including those that do not fall within the abilities of a notario.