Spring Hill, FL Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

To expedite an application or petition which does not allow premium processing, the petition or application needs to meet the following criteria according to U.S.C.I.S.: ·         Severe financial loss to person or company;Emergency situation;       Humanitarian reasons; Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States;  Department of Defense or national interest situation (These particular expedite requests must come from an official U. S. government entity and state the delay will be detrimental to the government); U.S.C.I.S. error; Compelling interest of U.S.C.I.S.   Yo   You would probably have to prove one of the top 3 criteria for the I-130 to be expedited.   

Someone deported for an aggravated felony is inadmissable and may not return to the US at all.  It would depend on whether the drug charge qualified as an aggravated felony and was the basis of the removal action.

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.