An immigrant visa leads to permanent residence, commonly through a family member or an employer, while a non-immigrant visa is for a temporary purpose such as work, study, a visit or an investor stay. Mixing them up is a common source of mistakes. A lawyer reviews your purpose, history and sponsor before recommending a category, and explains risks such as intending to stay permanently on a visa that does not allow it. Plantation residents can work with our immigration-only Orlando firm by video, phone and in person in Orlando.
- Immigrant visas lead to permanent residence; non-immigrant visas are temporary.
- Mixing up the two categories is a common source of mistakes.
- The right category depends on the purpose of the stay, your history and who sponsors you.
- Many residents already in the U.S. ask about adjustment of status.
Plantation, in central Broward County, is home to residents from Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica and many other countries, along with workers who arrived on temporary visas. Their cases range from a first visa application to naturalization. Vasquez Law Firm, an immigration-only firm with its sole office in Orlando, helps people in Plantation by video, by phone and in person in Orlando, and does not have an office in Broward.
Immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas: knowing the difference
An immigrant visa leads to permanent residence, commonly through a family member or an employer. A non-immigrant visa is for a temporary purpose, such as work, study, a visit or an investor stay. Mixing them up is a common source of mistakes. If you are searching for an immigrant visa lawyer Plantation FL residents rely on, you are usually asking whether you or a relative can get a green card through an approved petition and consular processing. A person who needs a non-immigrant visa lawyer Plantation workers and employers can consult is usually asking about a temporary work, student or visitor category.
People also search for a U.S. visa attorney Plantation offers when they are not sure which category fits. The honest answer is that it depends on the purpose of the stay, the person’s history, and who is sponsoring them. A lawyer reviews those facts before recommending a category and explains risks such as intending to stay permanently while on a visa that does not allow it. See our overview of work visas for the temporary categories we handle.
Adjustment of status and green cards
Many Plantation residents are already in the United States and want to become permanent residents without leaving. An adjustment of status lawyer Plantation clients consult will check how the person entered, whether they hold a qualifying relationship or job offer, and whether any inadmissibility issues exist. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, certain family preference categories, employment categories, humanitarian categories and some special programs each have different rules.
For families, an immigration lawyer for green cards Plantation households contact can walk through the family petition, the affidavit of support and the interview. For people who say they want a permanent residency attorney Plantation FL neighbors recommend, the key questions are the basis for the green card and the documents proving it. An immigration petition attorney Plantation FL families hire will file the correct petition, such as Form I-130 for a relative or Form I-140 for an employment-based worker, and keep track of deadlines and notices. Review our green card information for more.
Citizenship and the N-400
Naturalization is the process by which a permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen. In general, an applicant must have held permanent resident status for the required period, have been physically present and resident in the country for the required time, show good moral character, and pass English and civics tests, with exceptions for age and disability. Eligibility turns on details such as long trips abroad, tax filings, arrests and how a green card was obtained.
Residents often look for an attorney for citizenship process Plantation FL clients can meet before they file, or for a citizenship attorney near Plantation FL who can answer a few key questions. A citizenship lawyer Plantation offers can review your travel history and record. An N-400 application attorney Plantation applicants consult will check each question on the form so answers match your records, because inconsistent answers can cause delays or denial. A naturalization attorney Plantation FL families use can also prepare you for the interview. Our page on naturalization explains the steps in more detail.
TPS and parole for Haitian, Venezuelan and Cuban residents
Temporary Protected Status and parole programs have been created, extended, limited and challenged in court many times, and the rules for each country change. Because of that, we do not summarize current designations here. If you hold or applied for TPS, you should speak with a lawyer about your current documents, re-registration requirements and any alternative options.
A Haitian TPS lawyer Plantation residents contact can review whether you registered on time, whether your work permit is valid and whether another path, such as a family petition or asylum, may also fit. A Venezuelan TPS attorney Plantation FL families consult can do the same. TPS is temporary, and it does not by itself lead to a green card, which is why many people review longer-term options with a lawyer.
Cuban nationals have a distinct legal framework. The Cuban Adjustment Act can allow certain Cubans who were inspected and admitted or paroled and who meet its requirements to apply for permanent residence. A Cuban immigration attorney Plantation FL families consult will check how the person entered, how long they have been in the country and whether any complications exist. Parole documents and entry details matter greatly in these cases.
What to bring and how consultations work
- Passports, visas, I-94 records, green cards, work permits or TPS and parole documents.
- Birth, marriage and divorce records and any prior immigration filings.
- Tax returns and employment records, particularly for citizenship and family cases.
- Any notice with a hearing, interview or biometrics date.
We offer consultations in English and Spanish. If you need another language, mention it when you schedule so we can discuss what is possible. William J. Vásquez leads the firm. We serve Plantation, Sunrise, Davie and other Broward communities from Orlando; you can contact the firm to request a consultation.
Other ways people search for this
People look for this help under different names. Related searches include naturalization & citizenship lawyer; adjustment of status lawyer plantation; permanent residency attorney plantation fl.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an immigration lawyer about your situation.
