Broward County residents bring a wide mix of matters: company transfers, PERM labor certifications, student visas, marriage cases and fiancé petitions. Vasquez Law Firm works with clients from Pompano Beach, Coral Springs and Fort Lauderdale by video and phone, with in-person meetings at its only office, in Orlando. The guide explains how L-1, PERM, H-1B, O-1, E-2 and EB-5 options generally work, what F-1 students should know about status, and how marriage, K-1 and adjustment cases are handled.
- Business options covered include L-1, PERM, H-1B, O-1, E-2 and EB-5.
- F-1 students are advised on keeping their status.
- Marriage, K-1 and adjustment of status cases are explained.
- Broward clients work with the firm by video and phone from Orlando.
- Fees, annual limits and agency practices change over time.
Introduction
Broward County residents bring us a wide mix of immigration matters: company transfers, PERM labor certifications, student visas, marriage cases and fiancé petitions. Vasquez Law Firm works with clients from Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Broward by video and phone, with in-person meetings at our only office, in Orlando. To start, call 1-844-YO-PELEO or contact us.
This page explains how L-1, PERM, H-1B, O-1, E-2 and EB-5 options generally work for Broward employers and founders, what F-1 students should know about keeping status, and how marriage, K-1 and adjustment of status cases are usually handled for couples in the county.
The page is general information, not legal advice. Fees, annual limits and agency practices change, and every case depends on its own facts, so confirm current requirements with a lawyer before you file.
Immigration Help for Pompano and Broward County Residents
Broward has a large international business community, several colleges and universities, and many mixed-status families. That shows up in the cases we see. A tech company in Coral Springs may want to bring a manager over from its foreign parent. A family in Pompano Beach may have a U.S. citizen son who wants to petition for his mother. A student in Davie may want to stay and work after graduating. Each of these follows a different legal path, with different forms, agencies and risks.
Someone searching for an immigration lawyer in Pompano whom residents can reach without a long drive usually wants two things: a clear explanation of the options, and someone who will keep the case moving. Our immigration law services page lists the full range of matters we handle.
Business and Work Visas for Broward Employers
L-1 intracompany transfers
The L-1 visa lets a multinational company transfer a manager or executive (L-1A), or an employee whose knowledge of the company's products or procedures goes beyond the ordinary (L-1B), from a related foreign office to a U.S. office. The employee generally must have worked for the related company abroad for one continuous year within the three years before the petition. A lawyer who handles L-1 cases for Broward businesses looks closely at the corporate relationship between the two entities and at the actual duties of the role, because those are the points USCIS most often questions. New-office L-1 petitions have their own additional requirements.
PERM labor certification
Many employment-based green cards start with PERM, a Department of Labor process in which the employer tests the U.S. labor market through required recruitment steps before filing. A company working with a PERM attorney in Coral Springs or elsewhere in Broward should expect careful attention to the job description, minimum requirements and recruitment records, since the Department of Labor can audit the file. After certification, the employer files Form I-140, and the employee later files for adjustment of status or goes through consular processing when a visa number is available.
Other work visas, investors and entrepreneurs
A company asking about work visas may also look at H-1B for specialty occupations, O-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability, and TN for qualifying Canadian and Mexican professionals. For founders, a lawyer can review E-2 treaty investor status (available only to nationals of treaty countries) or the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Which category fits depends on nationality, the business plan and the source of funds. See our business immigration page for more detail.
Student Visas for Broward College Students
F-1 students at Broward's colleges and universities must keep their status: full-time enrollment, a valid I-20 and working only as authorized. A student immigration lawyer in Broward often helps with questions the school's international student office cannot answer, such as what happens after a status violation, whether reinstatement is possible, or how to move from F-1 to an H-1B or another status.
A lawyer can also review options after Optional Practical Training ends. Talk to both the school's designated school official and a lawyer before changing programs or working off campus, since a mistake in status can be hard to repair.
Marriage, K-1 and Adjustment of Status
Family cases are a large share of Broward immigration work. A U.S. citizen who marries a foreign national can file Form I-130 for the spouse. If the spouse is in the United States after a lawful entry, the couple may be able to file for adjustment of status at the same time. A lawyer reviews the entry history, any prior visas or overstays and any criminal history before filing, because those facts decide whether adjusting here is possible.
Marriage immigration lawyers in Broward County also prepare couples for the interview, where the officer looks at whether the marriage is real. Joint leases, bank accounts, insurance and photos over time help. If the marriage is less than two years old when the green card is approved, the spouse receives a two-year card and must file to remove conditions. A common first question is whether the couple should marry here or petition from abroad.
For couples who are engaged and the partner lives outside the U.S., the K-1 fiancé visa is another route. The U.S. citizen files Form I-129F, then the fiancé goes through the consular interview. After entry, the couple must marry within 90 days and the spouse then applies to adjust status.
How We Work With Broward Clients From Orlando
Our only office is at 1111 E Amelia Street, Orlando. Broward clients meet with us by secure video or phone, send documents electronically and can come to Orlando for an in-person meeting when they prefer. Consultations are in English and Spanish. The steps below show a typical case.
- Request a consultation and tell us briefly what your case involves.
- Send the notices, forms and company or family records you have.
- Meet with the lawyer to review the history, the options and the risks.
- Decide whether to proceed and sign a written agreement.
- Prepare the petition or application and supporting evidence together.
- File, then prepare for biometrics, interviews or any request for evidence.
Document Checklist for a Broward Consultation
- Passports, visas, I-94 record and any prior approval notices
- For employment cases: a job description, offer letter and company information
- For family cases: birth and marriage certificates and proof of the petitioner's citizenship or residence
- Proof of any prior divorces
- Any notices from USCIS, the Department of Labor or the immigration court
- For students: the I-20, school records and any work authorization documents
- Records of any arrest or criminal case, even if dismissed
Bring both sides of the record in an employment case: the employer's corporate documents and the worker's education and work history. In a family case, bring proof that the relationship is genuine, such as photographs and shared financial records.
Timeline and Processing Expectations for Pompano Beach clients
No lawyer can tell you exactly how long an agency will take. Processing depends on the type of application, the office that handles it, the agency workload, background checks and whether the file is complete. USCIS and the Executive Office for Immigration Review post current information on their websites, and those pages are the place to look for up-to-date figures.
What a lawyer can do is explain the sequence of events and help you avoid steps that cause delay. The stages below are typical, though your case may follow a different order. If a notice arrives with a date, treat that date as firm until your lawyer or the agency says otherwise.
| Stage | What happens | Who acts |
|---|
| Consultation and case review | We go over your history, notices and goals and explain which options may fit. | Client and attorney |
| Document gathering | Identity papers, civil records, prior filings and evidence are collected and checked for gaps. | Client, with attorney guidance |
| Filing | Forms and supporting evidence are prepared, reviewed with you and submitted to the right agency or court. | Attorney prepares; client signs |
| Receipt, biometrics and notices | The agency acknowledges the filing, may schedule fingerprints and may ask for more evidence. | USCIS, State Department or court |
| Interview or hearing | An officer or judge asks questions about the case and the evidence. | Applicant, with attorney preparation |
| Decision and next steps | The case is approved, denied or sent for further action, and options are reviewed. | Agency or court; attorney advises |
USCIS Appointments and Immigration Court for Broward Residents
Interviews for green cards and naturalization are usually held at the USCIS field office that serves your county, and biometrics are taken at an assigned Application Support Center. If someone is placed in removal proceedings, the case goes to the immigration court that has jurisdiction over the case, which can depend on where the person lives or whether the person is detained.
We tell each client which office or court is handling the matter and what to bring, and we prepare clients for interviews by video before the appointment. The paperwork is federal: the same forms and rules apply everywhere in Florida, so a firm outside the county can handle a Broward case.
Responding to a Request for Evidence
If USCIS sends a Request for Evidence, read it carefully and note the response deadline. It explains what the officer found missing and what kinds of documents may fill the gap. In employment cases, those requests often involve the job duties, the company's ability to pay or the corporate relationship between related entities.
A complete and timely response is far better than a partial one. Your lawyer can help organize the evidence and write a short cover letter that points the officer to the documents that answer each question.
Cost Factors and Fee Breakdown for Pompano Beach clients
The table lists the main items that make up the cost of an immigration case, and none of the amounts below are quoted from memory.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|
| Government filing fees | Check USCIS for the current fee | Each form has its own fee, and fees change. The form page and fee schedule on the agency website are the source of truth. |
| Biometrics or other agency charges | Check USCIS for the current fee | Some filings include fingerprinting costs in the main fee and some list them separately. Read the current form instructions. |
| Immigration court or appeal fees | Check the court or agency for current fees | Court motions and appeals have their own filing rules and fees, which the court or the Board of Immigration Appeals publishes. |
| Attorney fees | Varies by case | Depends on the type of case, the work involved and the written fee agreement you sign. |
| Translations and records requests | Varies by case | Documents in another language need a full English translation, and records from other countries or agencies can carry their own charges. |
| Medical examination, when required | Varies by case | Some applications need an exam by an authorized physician. Fees are set by the physician, not by the government. |
Costs vary because cases vary. A straightforward petition with complete records is a different amount of work than a case with a prior order, a criminal record or a request for evidence. The amounts the government charges are published on the agency websites, and they can change between the time you read an article and the time you file.
Before you hire anyone, ask for a written agreement that explains the scope of the work, how the fee is billed and what happens if the case needs more work than expected. Be cautious about anyone who quotes a price without asking about your history, because the history decides how much work a case takes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid for Pompano Beach clients
- Filing a form without first confirming that you qualify, which can create a denial record or draw attention to a problem.
- Ignoring a notice, a Request for Evidence or a hearing date. Deadlines in immigration cases are strict.
- Leaving out an arrest, a prior application or a past entry because it seems unimportant. Officers can see government records, and an inconsistency can hurt credibility.
- Using a notario, a form preparer or an online service as a substitute for a licensed lawyer. In Florida a notary public cannot give immigration legal advice.
- Signing blank forms or forms you do not understand, or letting someone keep your original documents.
- Traveling outside the United States while a case is pending without first asking whether the trip could affect it.
- Failing to update your address with the agency or court, which can cause you to miss a notice.
When to Call a Lawyer for Pompano Beach clients
Call a lawyer before you file, and call right away if you receive a Notice to Appear, a Request for Evidence, a notice of intent to deny or a denial. You should also speak with a lawyer if you have any arrest or charge, even a dismissed one, if you ever overstayed or entered without inspection, or if a family member has been detained. A short consultation can tell you whether you can handle the matter yourself, whether you need representation or whether waiting is safer than filing. If you are unsure whether your situation is simple, that uncertainty is a good reason to ask.
Related guides for a different focus: Pembroke Pines immigration lawyers.
About Vasquez Law Firm
Vasquez Law Firm practices immigration law only. Our only office is at 1111 E Amelia Street in Orlando. We serve Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Broward County by phone and secure video, with in-person meetings in Orlando. We have no office in Broward County. William J. Vásquez is the founding attorney, and consultations are available in English and Spanish. To talk about your situation, call 1-844-YO-PELEO or contact us.
Sources and References
Related services: immigration services, immigration lawyers in Florida
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This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an immigration lawyer about your situation.
