Perrine, FL Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

By law, an aggravated felony conviction disqualifies you from any relief from removal. So long as this conviction remains on your record, you have no chances at all with USCIS or the Immigration Court. If you were convicted after a trial, and there is no possibility of a successful appeal, you will be deported and have no way to legally stay in the U.S. or to come back after deportation. If your conviction was entered on your guilty plea; and no one advised you, before you took the plea, that the conviction would result in your inability to stay in the U.S., you might be able to convince the court to set aside the sentence and reopen your case. But, before doing that, you need to consult an attorney to evaluate what are your chances of being acquitted if the court reopens your case. Reopening your case does not set you free: it means that you have to go on trial, and, if the prosecution proves your guilt, you can receive a harsher sentence than you got on a plea - and still be deported after you serve your time. So, asking the court to reopen your case is a serious step that should not be taken without a competent professional advice.

Hi.  I am sorry to hear your story. If you get divorced, your case will be canceled and denied. If you do not plan to stay together, you cannot file on your own or keep the case active. 

Whether your cousin can wait for her residence here when her stepfather files for her depends upon a few things. First, is he a US citizen or permanent resident? Being a US citizen has a couple of advantages in a shorter waiting period and the ability to sponsor immediate relatives (spouses, parents, and children under the age of 21 and unmarried) and have them adjust status in the US if they entered legally and are not otherwise barred from immigrating to this country. Second, is  when the stepchild relationship was created. The immigration laws recognize the stepparent – stepchild relationship for immigration purposes only if the marriage creating the step relationship occurred prior to the child turning the age of 18. Third is the age and visa status of your cousin – if the above conditions are fulfilled and your cousin under the age of 21 at the time that the I-485 adjustment of status papers are filed, your cousin would be allowed to stay during the time of the adjudication. If 21 or older at the time of contemplated filing, her stepfather would only be able to file an I-130 petition for alien relative, and she would only be able to stay legally if she had a valid nonimmigrant status during the period of waiting which would be approximately 7-8 years. On the question of travel, there are two answers – if she is eligible for adjustment of status through form I-485 and such is filed, she would only be able to leave the country and reenter under advance parole or a nonimmigrant visa in the H or L categories. If not eligible to adjust but the step relationship is established before the age of 18 and the stepfather files an I-130 petition for alien relative, she could be allowed to travel to the US for short and infrequent visits during the pendency of her case under a B visiting visa. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.