Comprehensive
Immigration Services
The
Tan Law Firm also concentrates on immigration law. We
have special expertise in work visas, family based visas,
visa waivers, green cards through family and employment
and asylum. We are well known for our zealous and creative
advocacy on behalf of our clients. Below is a list of some of our services:
- Family and marriage visas
- Employment visas such as H-1B,H-2B
- Asylum visas
- J-1 Visitors Visas
- F-1 Student Visas
- Detention and Removal Proceedings
- Citizenship and Naturalization
- US Passports
The Tan Law Firm assists large and small companies and
institutions nationwide in complying with the complex
immigration requirements of the USCIS, DOL and DOS to
retain highly skilled workers in such fields as information
technology, medical research, computer software, engineering,
hospitality, art, martial arts and medicine.
Immigration law is federal law which means that we are
licensed to assist clients nationwide and even worldwide.
The majority of immigration filings are done through
the mail. This allows us to efficiently represent clients
where they live and work.
Requirements for Naturalization
- Technical Requirements- In
general, an alien must be admitted to a permanent resident status to be
eligible to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. He must also be 18
years old or older at the time of filing for naturalization. This
applies when the alien is filing alone. Certain exceptions apply
allowing a minor alien to become naturalized prior to the minor alien's
18th birthday.
- Residential Requirements - An
alien must reside in the United States for a continuous period prior to
the filing of the naturalization application. If an alien is not
married to an American citizen, he must reside in the U.S. for a
continuous period of five years after lawful admission to the U.S. as a
permanent resident. If an alien is married to a U.S. citizen, he must
reside in the U.S. for a continuous period of three years following
lawful admission to the U.S. as a permanent resident. The alien must be
in marital union with the spouse citizen for three years before the
alien's citizen exam date, and the citizen spouse must have been a
citizen during that time. Immigration regulations define "marital
union" as residing together. A prolonged
absence from the U.S. will break the continuity of the alien's
residence in the U.S. for naturalization purposes, although it may not
affect the alien's ability to return to the U.S. as a permanent
resident. An absence from the U.S. of less than six months does not
break the alien's continuity of residence in the U.S. for
naturalization purposes. However, an alien's absence from the U.S. of
six months or more breaks an alien's continuity of residence. If the
break is from six months to one year, the break can be excused if a
reasonable explanation can be given for the alien's absence.
- Language Requirement - The
prospective citizen must have an ability to read, write, and speak
ordinary English. This is determined by testing by an immigration
examiner. The portion of the English language requirement dealing with
understanding and the ability to speak the language is determined by
the alien's responses to questions asked by the immigration officer in
the alien's interview. The alien's reading and writing proficiency is
tested by written examination.
- Knowledge and Understanding of the Fundamentals of U.S. History and Government Requirement: The
prospective citizen must have knowledge and understanding of the
fundamentals of U.S. history and government. This is determined by the
administration of a multiple choice test. In general, those exempt from
the English requirement must still meet this requirement. Exceptions
are those who are mentally and physically impaired and special
considerations can be given to those who are exempt from the English
requirement based on age and length of stay. Those special
considerations are usually a test in modified form.
- Good Moral Character and Attachment to the Principles of the U.S. Constitution Requirement: The
prospective citizen must have good moral character and attachment to
the principles of the U.S. Constitution. An alien can fail to meet this
requirement in the following circumstances:
