The Immigration Process Is Like A Puzzle . . .
We Can Help You Put The Pieces Together To Win Your Case
As an immigration attorney in Riverside, California, I realize the importance and accept the challenge of shaping the diversity and vibrancy of our community, our nation, and our world. Each day, I have the privilege of working with individuals and families from all over the world, helping them navigate the complex and often confusing process of obtaining visas, green cards, and citizenship in the United States.
Whether you are seeking to reunite with family members, escape persecution in your home country, or simply want to build a better life for yourself and your loved ones, our team is here, just a phone call away, from helping you achieve success.
— Carlos Batara
Let’s cut to the chase.
You want to become a permanent resident, win citizenship, or fight deportation.
But immigration law is, well, confusing. And too hard to handle on your own.
You might have problems sleeping, eating, or relaxing.
Unfortunately, this is normal for most immigrants in your situation. After all, you risk losing so many things important to you.
Your job. Your home. Your friends. Worst of all, being separated from your family.
This is where our services come in.
We have helped immigrant families from more than 120 countries overcome difficult situations.
For over 20 years, immigrants have come to our offices for one reason and one reason only.
To fix their problems.
We’re here to help you and your family fix yours.
Do You Have A Hard Immigration Case? Don’t Give Up. We’re Here To Help.
Some immigrants do not reach out to an attorney because they believe their case is too hard to win.
Maybe it is.
But without a personalized in-depth review of your history, how can you know for sure?
For your convenience, we provide strategy and planning sessions in person, by telephone, email, or online.
During our time together, we’ll review your immigration history. Point out problems you have to fix. Assess various paths to meet your immigration needs.
Our goal is simple. To help you figure out what roads lead to your success.
We Believe In Keeping Immigrant
Families Together
Some cases are complex and take several years to resolve. Others are straight-forward. In all situations, avoiding careless errors and hidden traps are the keys to success.
Here is a brief listing of our services to bring your family together and protect them from bring torn apart.
Riverside Immigration
Family Petitions And Visas
Family Visas – At the Riverside Immigration Law Offices of Carlos Batara, we often work with clients who are seeking to bring their family members to the United States or trying to reunite with loved ones who are already here.
In most cases, preparing and filing immigrant relative petitions is the first step in the process.
Here are the the different types of family-based petitions and visas:
- Spouse visas: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and married to a person who was born in another country, you may be able to sponsor your spouse for a green card.
- Children visas: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have a child who was born and lives abroad, you might be able to sponsor your child for a green card.
- Parent visas: Only if you are a U.S. citizen will you be able to petition for your parents.
- Sibling visas: Again, only if you are a U.S. citizen are you allowed to sponsor a brother or sister, who was born outside the United States, for a green card.
Riverside Fiancé Visa Services
Fiancé K-1 Visas – Perhaps you’re only engaged. You are wondering how to sponsor your future husband for a fiancé visa? You hope to help him enter the U.S. legally, get married, and win a green card.
The fiancé visa may be your answer. Often referred to as a K-1 visa, this process allows your spouse-to-be to enter the United States for a period of 90 days. During this time, you must get married. Once the knot is tied, your new spouse can apply for a green card and become a permanent resident of the United States.
Riverside Green Card Services
Green Cards and Permanent Residence – If you’re like many clients, living and working in the U.S. may be your goal. But you’re afraid of taking this big step alone.
Rightfully so.
There are two ways for immigrants to obtain visas, green cards, or citizenship via family sponsorship: through adjustment of status or consular processing.
In general, adjustment of status refers to the process of changing from a nonimmigrant visa, such as a tourist or student visa, to a green card, or permanent residency. To be eligible for adjustment of status, an individual must be physically present in the United States and meet eligibility requirements. (Under certain conditions, immigrants who have overstayed their visas or entered without permission may qualify.)
Consular processing, on the other hand, refers to the process of applying for a visa or green card at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.
It is critically important for immigrants and family members to understand the differences between these two options and to choose the one that is right for them.
Not all cases end in victory. It is not uncommon for Riverside immigrant families to reach out to our office after they have lost their permanent resident cases. Our job in such matters is to try to challenge the denial and get them a second bite of the green card apple.
There are three possibilities. You may be able to file an immigration appeal, a motion to reopen, or a motion to reconsider in order to try to overturn the decision and get a second chance to present your case.
A USCIS immigration appeal is a request to review the adverse green card or visa decision of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For some denials, if you believe the decision was incorrect or unfair, you may be able to file an appeal to have the decision reviewed by a higher court.
Motions to reopen and reconsider USCIS decisions, in some cases, are your best bet for success, If you have new evidence that you believe is relevant to your case or if you can demonstrate there was a mistake in your case, you may be able to file a motion to reopen in order to present this evidence and have your case reconsidered. On the other hand, a motion to reconsider is a request to have the negative decision reviewed on the basis of a legal error made by USCIS or a recent change in the law.
There are strict deadlines for these actions. The rules are complicated, and in almost all such cases, it is essential for you to work with an experienced immigration attorney. If you’re thinking about challenging the government, we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
Riverside Immigration I-601 Waivers
I-601 Hardship Inadmissibility Waivers – One barrier to winning permanent resident for some immigrants is that they are deemed to be inadmissible. This means their application is denied because they have resided in the United States without permission, or they are ineligible due to criminal convictions, health-related reasons, or other types of immigration violations.
In some cases, your spouse will be required to return home for her permanent resident interview. If her I-601A waiver application is denied, she will not able to legally re-enter the United States.
Or perhaps she is residing abroad. But she previously lived in the U.S. or had immigration problems. Then she’ll need to file a I-601 waiver.
The way to overcome a ground of inadmissibility is to apply for an I-601 waiver.
I-601 waivers are requests to forgive or waive certain grounds of inadmissibility, allowing an individual to overcome the barrier and move forward with their immigration case.
To be eligible for an I-601 waiver, you must be able to prove that your inadmissibility will impose an extreme hardship on a qualifying relative, such as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent. The odds of prevailing are slim, and the amount and type of evidence necessary to build a strong case are difficult to organize and present.
In our view, having handled numerous waiver I-601 cases since their inception in the late 1990s, is that no immigrant should try to win a waiver without the help of an attorney.
Riverside Immigration VAWA Self-Petitions
Violence Against Women Act – For many Riverside Immigration clients, the Violence Against Women Act is a lifeline. It offers a way out of abusive relationships and a chance to build a new, safer life in the United States.
If you have been a victim of abuse by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, you may be eligible to file a self-petition and qualify for green card status under VAWA.
Despite its name, VAWA provides protection for men and children, as well as for women who are victims violence and cruelty.
Riverside Immigration Citizenship Services
Naturalization And Citizenship – Once you become our client, we do not consider our work to be finished until you reach the final frontier of American immigration law, U.S. citizenship.
There are various paths to become a citizen of the United States. Besides birth in the United States, the most common way is through naturalization.
To be eligible for naturalization, an individual must be a lawful permanent resident who completed the green card process.
In addition, a child born abroad to U.S. citizen parents, may qualify to be considered born with citizenship. This is known as “acquisition of citizenship”..
Finally, if you are a lawful permanent resident when your parent naturalizes, you might be eligible to become a U. S. citizen through a process known as “derivation of citizenship.”
All of the roads to citizenship have stringent requirements that pose unique challenges for immigrants seeking to become full fledged citizens.
Riverside Immigration Appeals And Immigration Court Services
Deportation And Removal Defense – Are you a Riverside immigration client who faces deportation at immigration court? In such cases, it is almost always in your best interests to never handle your case without legal counsel.
To begin, there are several types of immigration court proceedings, including hearings, trials, and appeals. Each require knowledge of technical rules and procedures.
Immigration court hearings are typically used to resolve specific legal issues or to gather additional information. These hearings occur before immigration trials. Their importance should not be under-estimated, as they shape the main issues presented at trial.
Immigration trials are legal proceedings in which an individual’s case is presented to an immigration judge. Referred to as merits hearings, they are proceedings in which the government seeks to deport the immigrant.
The immigrant has the opportunity to present evidence and testimony in support of their case. At the conclusion, the judge makes a decision. .
Immigration Court Appeals – If an immigrant disagrees with the outcome of the court proceedings, they have the option to appeal – to ask the Board of Immigration Appeals to review the basis of the immigration judge’s decision. .
Sometimes, after a court hearing, your best option to challenge a negative decision is to file a motion to reopen or motion to reopen at immigration court. Similar to an appeal, these motions can help give you a second chance for victory. .
Over 90% of immigrants do not challenge adverse rulings by an immigration judge. Often, cases that could be won on appeal are not contested.
Even if you went to court on your own and lost, you might still be able to fight back. To find out whether the decision can be reversed, clients must be willing to speak with a lawyer who specializes in appeals.
Some programs that may lead to overcoming deportation charges and earning permanent resident status include Asylum and Temporary Protected Status..
Asylum – Were you subjected to persecution, torture, or abuse in your home country? For instance, if you have been subjected to abuse and mistreatment due to your race religion, nationality, political opinion, you may qualify for protection under asylum law.
Temporary Protected Status – When TPS is granted, it allows you to remain in the U.S. temporarily and protects you from deportation. However, one day, the program for your home counry will end. Will you be ready? We can help you explore your options today, and perhaps put you and your family on a path to permanent residence,.
A Nationwide Immigration Practice: We Can Help Make Your Dreams Of Living In The United States A Reality, Wherever You Live
Our immigration law services are not limited to Riverside.
First, our offices provide assistance to families not only living in, but also living nearby, Riverside.
Second, in the Southern California region, we have multiple locations to assist clients.
Third, our immigration services are also not limited to Southern California.
We have grown from our original San Diego and Riverside immigration office locations into a nationwide practice.
Whether you are seeking a green card, visa, citizenship, or other immigration benefit, we’re here to help you navigate the immigration process and achieve your goals.
Besides California, we have successfully assisted immigrants in the following states:
- Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida
- Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana
- Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri
- Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina
- Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas
- Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
We can assist you wherever you live, wherever you were born.
We Leave No Stone Unturned In Our Efforts To Build Your Strongest Case
Once you realize you need immigration help, you should act quickly. A delay might cause you to lose your case.
Your options should be evaluated by an immigration expert as soon as possible.
In many cases, the earlier we can begin to work with you, the greater your chances for success.
Whether you’re trying to achieve legal residency, defend against removal and deportation, or obtain U.S. citizenship, you need to find the right immigration attorney for you and your family’s needs.
Carlos Batara is that kind of attorney.
No stone will left unturned in representing you and your family. Your case will always get the utmost care. All avenues of success, including your possible qualification for little known immigration and green card programs will be weighed.
In other words, we’re here to help you and your family live the American Dream. To buy a house, to build a well-paying career, and to give your children the opportunity to become accountants, doctors, or lawyers.
If you have a hard case, do not go forward without expert advice about what steps you should take. If you have issued lost your case, do not give up without expert advice about your chances for overcoming defeat.
Schedule your personalized strategy and planning consultation today.
