Modesto, CA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

It should be possible to adjust your mother's status (in other words, to get a green card for her) on the basis of your petition. A problem might arise from the old case her previous attorney started back in the early 2000's. Whatever application that lawyer filed was almost certainly denied - for the failure to follow through if not for any other reason. In immigration, a denial of an application is almost always contains a command to leave the U.S. and a warning of dire consequences for a failure to obey. Worse, the applicant is held responsible for all applications filed on her behalf; so, if the application was, for example, for an asylum (and I think it likely was), its denial would have been accompanied with a deportation order. The way to approach this problem is to request a copy of your mother's records from the Immigration Service and from the Customs & Border Protection. An immigration attorney can decide what can be done in this case only after finding out what is actually in your mother's file. I understand the feelings your mother has after her experience with that scam artist, but she does not have a chance of resolving this situation without help of a competent professional.

You will need to file a petition with your local civil court to legally change your name. After you have received a court order changing your name, you can apply for a replacement resident card with your new name. Or, you can also change your name when you apply for naturalization. The second option is less complicated.

If children are not legal permanent residents yet, then your becoming a citizen does not result in them becoming US Citizens. The have to be legal permanent residents, under the age of 18 and residing with you when you become a citizen for them to automatically become US Citizens.