| An immigration lawyer handles cases that deal with | | | | rights to an alien's child or children, work rights for those |
| U.S. citizenship, visas and alien civil rights. To be a U.S. | | | | with an immigrant visa and medical rights due if an alien |
| Citizen, one has to be either born in the U.S., or one | | | | needs health care. |
| must obtain what is called a green card in order to | | | | If an alien is not a citizen yet has a child in the U.S., the |
| reside in the U.S. legally. | | | | child becomes a citizen automatically at birth. This child |
| An immigration lawyer handles all aspects of obtaining | | | | has the right to every benefit offered to every U.S. |
| citizenship, acquiring a green card or issues that arise | | | | citizen, including the right to free public education, health |
| with temporary visas. An immigration lawyer would be | | | | care as well as the right to work when the child |
| the best counselor to seek advice from if one seeks | | | | becomes of legal age required to hold a job. The |
| to become a naturalized citizen. | | | | parent on the other hand, will not have these rights |
| There are two separate types of visas that an | | | | automatically even if his or her child does. The parent |
| immigration lawyer can apply for when seeking to | | | | does not become a citizen just because he or she has |
| obtain one for non-citizens. One is an "immigrant" visa | | | | a child that is a citizen. The laws concerning these |
| and the other is a "nonimmigrant" visa. A nonimmigrant | | | | types of cases are very complex and an immigration |
| visa is usually issued to those who wish to enter the | | | | lawyer can help a family determine who is entitled to |
| country temporarily, typically for vacation or business | | | | what rights and benefits in the U.S.. |
| trips. An immigration lawyer can handle the immigration | | | | If an alien has an immigrant visa, he or she must also |
| processes that need to be followed in order for these | | | | be treated as equally as a U.S. citizen when working in |
| people to legally visit the country for short periods of | | | | the U.S.. This means that fair labor laws apply to those |
| time. | | | | that hold an immigrant visa and they are entitled to all |
| An immigrant visa is required if one wishes to work in | | | | rights that employees who are citizens are entitled to. |
| the U.S. or if one wants to stay for longer periods of | | | | They have been granted the right to work in the U.S., |
| time than what is allowed with a nonimmigrant visa. An | | | | and as such, they are entitled to fair wages just as |
| immigrant visa is also the one an immigration lawyer | | | | any other worker is. |
| would apply for if one seeks citizenship. It's best to hire | | | | An employer cannot deny certain things to alien |
| a competent immigration lawyer when one seeks an | | | | workers just because the worker may not be a U.S. |
| immigrant visa because the number of visas issued | | | | citizen. An employer cannot mistreat alien workers and |
| per year is limited to a set number. Once the visas | | | | must pay them the same wages that he or she pays |
| have been issued, no more will be issued for the | | | | other employees that perform the same jobs. |
| current year. An immigration lawyer can file paperwork | | | | If an employer is not fair to aliens who hold an |
| in a timely manner that helps to increase one's chance | | | | immigrant visa, an immigration lawyer should be hired |
| of obtaining an immigrant visa with less delay. | | | | to handle the case. By hiring an immigration lawyer, |
| An immigration lawyer also handles cases that deal | | | | aliens can make sure that their legal rights are also |
| with alien's civil rights. These could include educational | | | | protected in the workplace. |