Posted on October 11, 2019 in Immigration

Migrating to the United States for occupational-related purposes can attract the interest of working professionals from all around the world. Athletes, artists, individuals on business, and laborers in search of a new skill can all seek employment in our country. With that being said, there is a requirement of a visa in order to maintain employment in the United States. Depending on the needs of the future employee, he or she can apply for either a temporary or employment-based (EB) visa. Applying for these visas can be difficult, often leaving applicants confused and missing out on future opportunities. Retaining the help of a knowledgeable immigration lawyer could protect your chance at potential residency and employment.

Temporary Work Visa

When a person wants to enter the United States for employment on a fixed timeframe that is not considered indefinite, he or she would apply for a temporary work visa. A requirement of this category is reliant on the future employer to file a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Information regarding your personal accomplishments as well as a background on the job you are seeking would help decipher which temporary visa category you would fit into:

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 Posted on October 04, 2019 in Immigration

Deceitful promises of a new career and a better life in the United States is a very common fabrication that human traffickers will tell immigrants. Ranging from kidnapping to the purchase and resale of human beings, thousands of individuals are trafficked into sex slaves or labor services every day; human trafficking is one of the most prevalent crimes in the world. Nonimmigrant victims that are in the U.S. are often too afraid to come forward due to his or her legal status to remain in our country. The Victims of Trafficking in Persons (T) nonimmigrant visa can provide support to undocumented immigrants that fear deportation.

How to Qualify for a T Visa

According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), the only federal agency allowed to designate immigrants as human trafficking victims and make them eligible for benefits and services is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In order to be considered for a T visa, the individual must:

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 Posted on October 03, 2019 in Personal Injury

Getting into a traffic accident can be a frightening experience. For people who are in enclosed vehicles, such as cars or trucks, accidents can still be alarming, but for those who are involved in accidents when they are on a motorcycle, the injuries can be much more serious and even deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2017. In Illinois alone, approximately 160 motorcyclists were killed and more than 2,500 were injured in crashes in 2017. Motorcycles pose an inherent danger to riders because of the lack of protection the vehicle provides compared to other vehicles. If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, here are a few steps you should take immediately following the crash:

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 Posted on October 03, 2019 in Family Law

Even in the midst of a divorce, when big changes are already in motion in a household, other circumstances can arise that create an even greater divide between a parent and a child. Sometimes new developments at work or with extended family surface, placing a parent in a position where he or she must decide whether or not to relocate in the wake of a divorce. In other situations, one parent simply wishes to retaliate or distance him or herself--and the child the couple shares--from the other, with hopes of starting over after the separation. Whatever the reason for a potential relocation, there are certain laws in place to govern each parent’s rights when it comes to moving after a divorce. Parents cannot simply take off and uproot their child in the process without proper court authorization and approval from the other parent. These restrictions exist for a number of reasons, one of the most important being the protection of the child’s best interests.

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 Posted on September 30, 2019 in Family Law

Under Illinois law, a person other than a child's legal parent may be appointed to act as their legal guardian. While guardianship is considered a separate type of legal proceeding from the dissolution of marriage, the issue may arise when a minor child's legal parent is going through a divorce. Guardianship can be sought by grandparents, even when the legal parents are not divorcing or planning to end their marriage.

Why a Grandparent May Need Guardianship

There are many reasons why a grandparent may need guardianship. The grandparent may be taking care of the minor child after the divorce of the child's parents, and they may need the legal authority to make decisions that affect the child’s life. For example, legal guardianship may be required to include the child in the grandparent’s insurance coverage or to register the child in school.

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 Posted on September 26, 2019 in Personal Injury

There are very few things in this world that are strictly black and white. When it comes to personal injury claims, specifically for auto accident injuries, it can be difficult to place all of the blame on one person. Many car accidents involve actions by more than one driver that led to the crash. In some cases, the person making the injury claim may have even played a role in causing the collision. However, that does not necessarily mean that he or she is unable to claim compensation for injuries suffered in the accident.

Determining Fault for an Accident

After a car accident, the primary task is determining who is at fault for the crash. Figuring out who is liable can be difficult, because the events of the accident must be pieced together. To prove fault, you will have to show that the other driver was responsible for causing you harm, resulting in damages. Typically, this means you are providing evidence that another person acted negligently. In some cases, there may be more than one party responsible for causing the accident, or you may even have played a part in causing the accident. This is when the concept of comparative negligence comes into play.

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 Posted on September 25, 2019 in Immigration

Being granted the opportunity to attend an academic institution or vocational training program in the United States is an achievement for any foreign student to accomplish. Upon being authorized to study at the preferred institution, incoming visitors must also be granted a student visa to support their time in the United States. A student visa is a form of documentation that allows a citizen of a foreign country to enter the United States for educational purposes.

Student Visa Categories

Upon being accepted to his or her desired school of choice, the incoming student must register with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Once certified, the pupil will receive a “Form I-20,” a required document for any international student. The remaining action would be to apply for the correct student visa category, which is distinguished into two classifications:

• Category F-1 would be for people looking to attend a private elementary school, high school, university/college, seminary, conservatory, or any different educational institution, such as a language training program.

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 Posted on September 24, 2019 in Family Law

It has been said that nothing is certain but death and taxes; this rather sardonic depiction of life is credited to one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. What is also almost as certain is if you find yourself in a legal jam, you need a lawyer. It is important to know that all lawyers are not the same, and this is true even for those who limit their practice to areas such as divorce and family law. Statistics show that over 22 percent of first marriages end up in divorce in less than 5 years, and 53 percent of them dissolve by the 20-year mark. If you and your spouse are contemplating divorce, you need to do some homework and make sure the lawyer you hire is the best to handle your legal situation and offer dependable legal counsel.

Personalized Service

Going through a divorce can be difficult and emotionally draining. If there are children involved, then it can be even more painful. In these cases, you need to hire a lawyer who not only has experience handling divorce cases but one who is also empathetic.

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 Posted on September 19, 2019 in Personal Injury

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6.4 million police-reported traffic accidents in 2017 in the United States. Of those, over 2.7 million people were injured and over 24,000 were killed in traffic crashes. Car accidents can result in minor injuries such as bruising, small cuts, or scratches, or more serious injuries such as whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, or even death. The type and severity of injuries sustained in a car crash typically depends on the type of accident. Rear-end collisions are some of the most common vehicle accidents that occur and can result in a variety of injuries. If you have been hurt in a rear-end car accident, you may be entitled to compensation if another driver was at fault.

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 Posted on September 18, 2019 in Immigration

The steps for immigrating to the United States can be complicated and frustrating. In some cases, an individual may be labeled “ineligible” or “inadmissible.” An immigrant who is inadmissible is not lawfully permitted to enter or stay in the United States (if already here).

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets guidelines for inadmissibility. In certain circumstances, it may be possible for a person to obtain a waiver to enter or remain in the country. There are some exceptions written into law and if the individual meets these exceptions, no waiver is required. These include immigrants who have been abused, battered, or subjected to extreme cruelty, victims of trafficking and those who are minors.

Reasons for Inadmissibility

If an immigrant is termed inadmissible, it means he or she will be denied a green card or visa unless he or she meets the requirements to apply for a waiver. Section 212(a) of the INA lists the grounds of inadmissibility. They include certain types of crimes, in addition to communicable diseases, prior immigration violations, and the probability of needing financial assistance from the government. The main categories or reasons for inadmissibility are:

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