IMMIGRATION

Bailey Law Office is proud to assist individuals and families, not just in Northern Michigan but throughout the United States and other countries, through the practice of Immigration Law.  Drawing from years of experience in helping to unify family members to live together in the United States or assisting with the process of obtaining legal status for foreign nationals to remain in the United States with their family members, this firm is ready and able to evaluate your situation and provide family-sponsored immigration law services.

The following categories are among the options in which to petition for family members to come to or remain in the United States:

•  Fiancé(e)s of United States Citizens
• Legal Permanent Resident / "Green Card"
  • Immediate Relatives: Spouses (including same-sex marriages), Parents (child petitioner must be 21 years of age or older), and Unmarried Children of U.S. Citizens
  • First Preference: Unmarried Sons/Daughters (21 years of age or older) of U.S. Citizens
  • Second Preference: (A) Spouses and Children (under 21 years of age) of Permanent Residents and (B) Unmarried Sons/Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
  • Third Preference: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
  • Fourth Preference: Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

Bailey Law Office also stands ready and able to evaluate whether a legal permanent resident or other foreign national may be able to obtain U.S. Citizenship through the naturalization process.

Among the options for an individual to obtain or petition to become a U.S. Citizen are the following:

• Birth in the United States or Certain Incorporated Territories
• Children born outside the United States where one or both parents are United States Citizens
• Adopted Children
• Naturalization after certain period of time as a legal permanent resident

With some exceptions, the following are the general factors that will be considered with the process of applying for naturalization as an avenue to obtain U.S. Citizenship:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a legal permanent resident (LPR or "green card")
• Have lived in the U.S. as a LPR for at least five years (three years if obtained LPR through U.S. Citizen spouse and still married to that spouse)
• Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months (or 18 months if eligible after 3 years)
• Be a person of good moral character
• Speak, read, write, and understand English
• Certain knowledge of U.S. history and government
• Support the U.S. Constitution and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance