The dream of living in America is a common one among many people who were born in other countries. Many have come to the United States on visas to work, visit family, or go to school, but have had to return home when the visa expired or risk being in violation of current immigration laws. Some visa holders, however, will make a fateful decision to accept the risk of staying on after their visa expires, hoping that luck will keep their secret from being discovered. If you are someone who has remained in the United States past your visa's expiration date and you would like to come forward now without risk of deportation to pursue lawful citizenship, the following information can help.
Learn all you can about current immigration law
Knowledge is the key to helping you overcome the hurdle of illegal immigration and become a legal citizen of the United States. To do this, take time to research current immigration laws and work to understand how they will apply to you. Much of this information can be obtained online by visiting sites that focus on educating the public about immigration. In addition, make sure that you stay up to date on how immigration issues are being handled in the state and city where you live.
Hire an immigration attorney
Whether you have overstayed your visa by a few days or several years, you are at risk of deportation under current United States immigration laws. Because of this, you will need to seek effective legal representation immediately to help ensure that you will not be deported should your status become known.
When meeting with your immigration attorney for the first time, make sure that you take any documentation you have with you. Include records of all your activities while living in the United States, such as:
- detailed employment records and income information
- proof that you have filed proper state and federal income taxes
- birth records for any children you may have had while living in the United States
- any education records for you and any children you may have
In addition to these records, make sure that you provide authorization for your attorney to do a complete background check, so you can prove to the court that you have not been involved in criminal activity.
Should you be contacted by immigration officials or the police about your current unlawful status, refrain from providing any information or giving a statement. Instead, respectfully ask the immigration officials or members of law enforcement to contact your attorney immediately. While working through the immigration process is sure to be difficult, by seeking legal representation to guide you, your chances of becoming an American citizen will be much improved.
