| The U.S. Immigration laws were supposed to | | | | a lawyer familiar with U.S. Immigration Law will be |
| change considerably during the summer of 2007. | | | | able to adequately advise on how to prepare for |
| Much debated legislation proposals were supposed | | | | the upcoming Reform and what documents and |
| to have been reconciled under an umbrella-version | | | | information to start assembling. |
| known as "Comprehensive Immigration Reform". | | | | Once the Reform will take place, whatever |
| These proposed changes, which were highly | | | | changes of the Reform will become new law, the |
| debated and seen by many as controversial, | | | | Reform is certain to impact the lives of millions of |
| were supposed to expand the avaible range of | | | | people. It is very likely that any legalization |
| legalization mechanisms, offer temporary work | | | | program will result in a race to file one's papers |
| programs, increase options of alien children to | | | | with the U.S. Immigration Service (USCIS), and |
| attend institutions of higher learning, streamline | | | | the line of filings will be numbering in the millions |
| and expand enforcement efforts by U.S. agencies, | | | | before long. One does not want to be unprepared |
| increase inter-agency communication, step up | | | | or otherwise taken by surprise, or else one will |
| work-site enforcement, and enhance border | | | | end up near the back of the line, while others |
| security, and implement fixes to what were | | | | have prepared. |
| generally seen as 'broken aspects' of the current | | | | A word of advice to those who will seek the |
| immigration system. | | | | advice and counsel of others: Be careful from |
| So what happened to this proposed | | | | whom you accept advice or assistance. As the |
| "Comprehensive Immigration Reform"? Where | | | | reality of the Reform will draw nearer, many |
| does that leave us today? Well, the short answer | | | | individuals, of varying skill, expertise, ethics and |
| is that this Reform has been put on hold and | | | | scruples will be more than willing to assist |
| Washington, or rather the U.S. Congress, has | | | | potentially millions of would-be applicants, but are |
| decided to hold off on passing any portion of the | | | | they really 'able'? Seek only the advice from |
| Reform until the still undecided aspects of the | | | | competent, licensed attorneys who focus their |
| Reform have been resolved. So what does an | | | | practice on U.S. immigration law. Many immigration |
| unfinished Reform mean for the millions of aliens | | | | lawyers are also members of the American |
| presently in the United States, and the millions of | | | | Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), which is |
| aliens living abroad who are considering their move | | | | also a good source to find competent, reputable |
| to the U.S.? | | | | legal representation. |
| Currently, an unfinished Reform is one that has no | | | | Applications filed with the U.S. Government are |
| legal effect at all, since it has not been passed into | | | | time-consuming and costly. Do not waste your |
| law by the U.S. legislative body. This year, 2008, is | | | | time or hard-earned money by allowing unqualified |
| a crucial election year, which will decide who will | | | | persons to assist you, or worse, prepare papers |
| assume control of the White House in January | | | | on your behalf. Do not fall into the temptation of |
| 2009. Constutionally, President George W. seeking | | | | seeking the advice or assistance of so-called |
| a third term of office, and considering that the | | | | "Notarios". "Notarios" in the United States, |
| U.S. Congress has recently been taken under | | | | generally, are NOT licensed to practice law by |
| control by the Democratic Party, the decision to | | | | virtue of being a "Notario" (or Notary Public in |
| vote for the President's (currently a Republican) | | | | English). Notary Publics in the United States are |
| successor, is promising to be very interesting. | | | | not lawyers, unless they possess a law degree |
| Since this year is an election year, and the fate of | | | | recognized by a U.S. State, and have been |
| the Presidential office is undecided, there is little to | | | | licensed by a State to practice law. |
| no incentive by the legislators in Congress to | | | | Ask among family members, friends, and |
| move any further on the Comprehensive | | | | colleagues, chances are that someone has used |
| Immigration Reform. Democrats and Republicans | | | | the services of an immigration lawyer in the past. |
| alike have their own agendas to pursue with | | | | Ask around for referrals. When you have found a |
| regard to Immigration. Not knowing who will | | | | possible lawyer, ask about his or her experience, |
| become the next U.S. President, is essentially | | | | ask about his or her professional credentials. You |
| forcing a stalemate between both political parties, | | | | have to build a relationship with an immigration |
| for now. In practical terms, for the moment, | | | | attorney that you can respect and trust. Once |
| there is no Immigration Reform, and the public at | | | | you have located an attorney, contact the |
| large has to contend with the current Immigration | | | | attorney to schedule a confidential consultation |
| laws and regulations as they are. It is highly | | | | with the attorney. During this consultation you will |
| probable that, once the question of the | | | | be able to freely discuss your situation and get |
| presidential office has been decided by the | | | | reliable, trustworthy answers to your questions. It |
| American voters, the focus of the new | | | | is very important to give the lawyer as much |
| administration, whether Democratic or Republican, | | | | information as possible, and always be truthful and |
| will have to re-address the pressing, and long | | | | honest. Like a doctor, the lawyer is working FOR |
| overdue issue of Immigration Reform. | | | | you and has your best interest in mind. |
| So what can one do until the U.S. Government is | | | | The lawyer's job is to HELP you. In order to give |
| able and ready to address the issues of fixing its | | | | you the best advice possible, the lawyer needs to |
| currently defunct and broken immigration system? | | | | fully understand and be aware of your situation. |
| First, one needs to remember that the question | | | | Even if there are things in your past, that you |
| of Immigration Reform is no longer one of "IF" | | | | may not be proud of, or things that you have |
| but rather now one of "WHEN". Knowing that the | | | | done, that might be less than legal, it is far better |
| Reform will eventually take place, some analysts | | | | to disclose those to your lawyer, than to have |
| in the field think it will be sooner rather than later, | | | | Immigration find out about and disclose it later in |
| should be somewhat of a source of some | | | | the application process. Whether or not something |
| comfort. The logical next step would be for those | | | | in your past is in fact negative or harmful to a |
| who stand to profit personally from an | | | | future application, is a question for the lawyer to |
| Immigration Reform, to start preparing for the | | | | decide. Help your lawyer help you. Knowing that |
| eventuality when the U.S. Government will | | | | the Immigration Reform will eventually happen, |
| announce when and how the sought-after | | | | although it is not known when exactly, or how |
| changes are to be implemented. This means | | | | exactly, is it important to start preparing now. |
| preparing documentation, assembling files and | | | | Start by locating a trustworthy attorney who can |
| information, saving money for inevitable | | | | assist you with your immigration issues. Schedule |
| government fees, and other likely fees. | | | | a consultation to assess your individual situation |
| Before one begins the task of preparing for | | | | properly. Then, based on the lawyer's advice to |
| upcoming law changes, it is of absolute | | | | you, start gathering certain documentation and |
| importance to first seek the advice of an | | | | information. And finally, start saving money for |
| Immigration Lawyer, who is fully licensed to | | | | the fees and expenses that will become |
| practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction, to determine, | | | | necessary when it is your time to file your future |
| based on each person's individual circumstances, | | | | application. |
| what the appropriate course of action will be. Only | | | | |