Legal Expertise You Can Rely On
Immigration Law
Green Cards, Work Permits and Temporary Visas
I represent both individuals and organizations seeking immigration rights and status, either on their own behalf, or on behalf of their employees, students or family members. Much of my immigration practice is devoted to helping spouses or parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to obtain work authorization and then green cards.
There is a bewildering array of visas and permits that allow non-U.S.-citizens to visit, live, study and/or work in the United States. Most visas are temporary, but some are permanent. Some visas come through family connections, others require sponsorship by an employer or school, and there are some that individuals can apply for directly.
In addition, most visas provide some kinds of legal rights for the visa holder's immediate family members.
The requirements for each visa or permit are different and complicated, so it can be difficult to know what to ask for, or how to get it. You may need to choose among competing options or even obtain a number of different visas and permits on the way to arriving at your desired goal. In some cases you may have to complete education or gain work experience in order to qualify for the status that you ultimately want.
The journey from temporary visa to green card to citizenship is sometimes a long one, requiring patience and persistence. Proper planning and preparation can go a long way toward avoiding the kinds of disappointments and delays that often occur. I am an expert advocate, here to advise you and move your case forward with professionalism and determination. I routinely assist clients by preparing applications and petitions, responding to USCIS requests for evidence and information, and representing clients at USCIS interviews.
Citizenship
I can assist you to understand and fulfill naturalization requirements, and to submit a high-quality application.
Asylum
If you fled or suffered persecution in your home country, then you may request asylum, which could allow you to live, work and receive benefits in the U.S.
Family Law
Separation and Divorce
Ending a marriage is one of the most difficult things a person can go through. It's emotionally taxing and often financially debilitating. A divorce action can take a year or more to complete, and it's likely to require follow-up in later years for enforcement or modification, particularly if you have children.
Divorce settlements aren't bound by simple rules. On the contrary, judges have great leeway in ordering arrangements according to how they see the facts of each individual case. They can also modify orders later on as circumstances change. The whole process is designed to manage complicated and interrelated issues like custody and visitation, child support and alimony, use of the marital home, property division (including pensions), and monetary awards.
For all those reasons, you need to strike a balance between standing up for your rights, on the one hand, and limiting needless expense and damage to your family, on the other. If you can reach reasonable compromises that both sides will uphold, then you've saved yourself heartache, time and money. I am a settlement-oriented lawyer who favors mediation and agreement to save my clients and their families from unnecessary expense and pain.
Uncontested Adoptions and Guardianship Cases
I am experienced and successful in negotiating the difficult and complicated rules for such cases in the State of Maryland.