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10.16.2023 The E visa is a wonderful vehicle to bring you to the US if you are a citizen from a qualifying country. The E visa is a nonimmigrant visa given to people who come to the US to make an investment. It is different from the EB 5 investment greencard because it requires far less money in the initial investment. As a rule of thumb, we recommend that the investment be between 100,000 to 175,000, that the business be brick and mortar and that it be already in existence not merely a plan when we start. The visa is not a vehicle to a green card, though we have been able to file green card applications for workers, who have no interest in the business. Even if the investor is not from a listed country, we can file this visa application if the the spouse has citizenship in a listed country.

The U visa is another vehicle to a green card for people who have been the victim of a serious qualifying crime. It takes a long time ot get to a greencard, but it is the most generous and forgiving visa. Victims of crime in the US are given strong protection. IT requires that the crime be reported to the police, that the victim is willing to cooperate with police and that the victim suffered an injury. We recently filed a case for a woman who was the victim of pervasive sexually abuse by a family member who was assisted by his church to flee the country before he was prosecuted. Only then did someone contact children's services. It was difficult for us to persuade the local police to certify this case because the perpetrator did not require prosecution. However, eventually they certified and we filed the case, giving the victim some opportunity to be heard. However, the immigration service, took a statement out of context and have sent us an intent to deny claiming that the 16 year old girl's statement, I can't talk about it anymore is tantamount to not being willing to cooperate and hence the case has to be revoked. Of course we are fighting back with all our guns drawn. We are fierce.

10.02.2023 In the last few days, I was asked to help in a heartbreaking situation. I got a call from a Romanian individual asking me for help with his 15 year old daughter. He was contacted by Immigration and was told was that his daughter was in a hospital in Washington State. I called Customs and Border Patrol (immigrating) and a very polite customs and border agent told me that the child was indeed in the hospital, but under immigration detention. He further told me that they were tracking the car when it crossed into the US, but while they lost sight of it, the car rolled. She was one of the passengers in the car and injured. Others were either hospitalized or arrested. After numerous phone calls, in which I argue that the parents have a fundamental right to see her, I convince the agent in charge to let the girl speak to her parents. I give them the father’s number, and an hour later a very happy Dad call s me to tell me that he just got off the phone with his child and she sounds good. The girl only speaks Romanian. I am trying to persuade CBP to release the child to the parents when she leaves the hospital. CBP works with The Office of Refugee Resettlement which takes custody of unaccompanied children. I argue that this child has parents and there is no need for guardianship. By Tuesday, I learn that she is released from hospital to CBP. She is now in their jail. So the US government thinks it is protecting the child by putting her in jail, instead of releasing her to her parents when the parents are physically present and able to care for their child. I ask them to let her parents visit. No, they have no facility for that. Then I speak the the criminal investigator who tells me the driver is being criminally prosecuted and they subpoenaed the child to the grand jury to testify. The child cannot leave the area as she has a Federal Subpoena. I am livid. The officer tries to appease me by promising to do everything he can to release the child to parents.
In the morning I get a call from the parents to tell me they have the child. Immigration officers stymied by red tape.

07.26.2023 The U visa is a little known mechanism to get status in the US. Eventually one gets a green card. It is available to victims of crime in the US. While being the victim of a crime is a horrific thing, it can bring huge benefits. The victim and his immediate family get status, a nonimmigrant visa and eventually a green card. The crime must be reported to the police and to commence the case, we have to obtain certification from law enforcement. Only listed crimes qualify. It is a very slow process but now people waiting in line for the visa can apply for work authorization. It also stops deportations. After the U visa is approved, one can file for a green card after being on the U for 3 years. Almost all immigration violations are waived, through a separate application process. It is a very effective path to a green card.

06.06.2023 Last year, we had a woman in our office, who was helping a Mexican family with their immigration paper work. Sitting quietly next to her was a young pregnant girl. I asked the woman if this was her daughter, she said, no, the girl was with her in foster care. The girl had a lot of problems with her family and Children's services had taken emergency custody and found her a placement. I asked the woman what the girl's immigration status was. She said that she was illegal. I then explained to our guest that under SJS the girl could get a green card. It was a relief to get an immigrating child whom we didn't have to battle in Juvenile Court. Everyone jumped at the idea that her current situation was exactly what made her amenable to a green card through the Special Juvenile Status provisions. Yesterday we got her Special Juvenile Status approved. She will get a green card. I am not even sure that she fully comprehends her immigration situation and how fortunate she is that she came to my office and I had the curiosity as to what was going on with her and the knowledge and skills to help her. It is an privilege to do immigration work. Every day we save a life.

05.08.2023 We recently won an asylum case for a lesbian from Honduras who was proved she was the victim of persecution on account of her being a lesbian. She will become a green card holder and then a citizen. These same sex cases are of particular concern to us, because the persecution of LGBTQ people is horrific throughout the world. If we can help people find a safe haven to live their lives with the partners of their choosing, then our efforts served a purpose. It is such a privilege to do the kind of work we do.

04.30.2023 Another immigration success story. We are happy to report success in timely filing U visa applications for an undocumented family from India who has lived undocumented for many years. Although their younger children were born in the US, their oldest daughter here and owned a convenient store for years. Their store is in a dangerous neighborhood and although they had been victim of several robberies, they were unaware of the special immigration U visa available to people who are the victim of certain crimes in the US. We were able to file two immigration cases for the parents and the daughter who was now over 21. These applications will give the victims permission to work while waiting for approval of the visa and eventually will lead to their green card.

03.01.2023 In Rare Victory, Immigrants Prevail in Suit Over Meat Plant Raid.
The workers accused the government of racial profiling and excessive force. The agreement is very likely the first class settlement over an immigration enforcement operation at a work site, experts say.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/us/meat-plant-raid-immigrants-tennessee.html?smid=em-share

02.28.2023 Biden Administration Plans Crackdown on Migrant Child Labor.
The move came days after a Times investigation showed children were working in dangerous jobs throughout the United States.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/us/biden-child-labor.html?smid=em-share

12.12.2022 We are so proud to be advocates for the LGBTQ community. We recently wond asylum for a Lesbian from Guatamala. We had, only a few months ago, won asylum for a homosexual refugee from Albania. These are complicated immigration cases, but winning them makes it all worthwhile. So proud to be at the forefront of the battle against persecution and oppression.

11.01.2022 The court has terminated a case for a person battling schizophrenia. In the past, such people would often be deported to a country where they could not get any mental help, away from all family and any possible support group. Our guy threatened to kill his mother and threw his siter out a window. So yes, when his schizophrenia flares, he is dangerous to those around him. He needs hospital treatment. But such people can be treated with medication, and so their immigration cases do not have to be denied because they fail to show up in court, etc. The immigration court should be as forward thinking as other courts and treat mental illness.

08.19.2021 US WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN We may be able to help Afghan nationals come to the US
https://www.state.gov/u-s-refugee-admissions-program-priority-2-designation-for-afghan-nationals/
On August 2, 2021, the Department of State announced a Priority 2 designation granting U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) giving access to certain Afghan nationals and their eligible family members.
This is in addition to the Special Immigration Visa (SIV) for certain Afghan nationals. To qualify for an SIV, an Afghan national needs to show a job which involved working closely with the U.S. military for at least a year. In limited situations, the job requires a specific timeframe (Oct. 7, 2001, to December 31, 2014).
The P-2 designation has made the job qualifications broader and those jobs do not necessarily have to show work with the U.S. military for any minimum time in the job.
The 3 categories that qualify for the P-2 designation:

  1. Afghans who do not meet the minimum time-in-service for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) but who work or worked at any time as employees of contractors*, Locally Employed (LE) Staff, interpreters/translators for the U.S. government, United States Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), or Resolute Support;
  2. Afghans who work or worked at any time for a U.S. government-funded program or project in Afghanistan supported through a U.S. government grant or cooperative agreement*;
  3. Afghans who are or were employed in Afghanistan by a U.S.-based non-governmental or media organization.
Please be aware that:
  • There is no resettlement processing in Afghanistan and certain neighboring countries such as Iran. If/when you and your family make the difficult choice to leave Afghanistan, you will need to arrange and pay for your own travel to a third country.
  • Once you have arrived in a third country, you must contact the U.S. Department of State to begin processing your case. Case processing can be lengthy (potentially 12-14 months), so please be aware that this process could require living in and supporting yourself and your family in a third country for a substantial amount of time until case processing is complete.
  • Even if you qualify for the P-2 program and travel outside of Afghanistan, there is no guarantee that you will be approved for resettlement to the United States. In particular, applicants must pass extensive security checks.
  • The United States is unable to provide protection or support to you while you await a decision on your refugee case. If you leave Afghanistan, you can register for international protection and assistance as a refugee with the government of the country you are in, if the country has an established asylum process; or, you can register with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
This article is not legal advice. The law is complicated and each case is different. Speak to one of the immigration lawyers at Svetlana Schreiber & Associates to see if you qualify for this or other immigration benefits.

07.29.2021 We often counsel people to try as hard as they can to stay in the US as long as possible because immigration laws are so fungible. They change daily. The current change in administration has been like opening the shutters in a dark house and letting all the light in. Today we were visited by one of our most unfortunate clients. This man has a 10 year old boy who has muscular dystrophy and has an undocumented wife whose kidneys have completely shut down. She is on dialysis 3 times a week. He was being represented by another attorney when he came to us 3 years ago, facing a deportation trial just 3 months hence. The situation was bleak. He did not have 10 years in the US when he was apprehended by ICE and put in deportation proceedings. His previous lawyer filed for asylum. However, his asylum case did not have any chance of succeeding. It was clear that he could not leave the US. We eere able to help obtain DACA status, but this still didn’t solve his deportation problems. He could not abandon his then 7 year old USC son and leave his extremely ill wife in the US. Neither son nor wife could accompany him to Mexico where they would not have proper medical care. 3 years ago, SCOTUS issued a decision in Pereira which would give them a solid opportunity to stay in the US. Several months later, the Trump administration effectively upended the decision, dashing his hopes. We fought on. We kept his deportation case alive. Two months ago, SCOTUS issued another decision reviving the Pereira decision. SCOTUS went further in Niz Chavez, issuing a decision that as of this date had terminated numerous deportation cases. Our client’s chances of receiving a green card have been revived. This is why you should not let your lawyer convince you to opt for Voluntary Departure unless you have a visa with which you can immigrate to the US immediately.

07.26.2021 One of the attorneys in the office was successful in a VAWA application which lingered for many years. A VAWA application is available to a person who married a US or an LPR spouse and who suffered abuse during that marriage. The abuse can be physical, psychological or emotional. If you’re in a marriage and are experiencing such abuse, please know that you can leave the marriage and still get a green card. In a similar situation, we recently had succeeded in getting a case in which the husband was the victim of chronic psychological and verbal abuse during the marriage. Often in these situations, a person will stay in the marriage, at great physical and psychological risk just to get the green card. VAWA gives the victim the option of leaving the marriage.

07.21.2021 We recently were able to obtain VAWA approval for a client who had a very complicated immigration history. He EWE’d into the US and subsequently married his current wife. They sought the assistance of a lawyer, who advised them to get divorced as he was going to have to go back to his home country to get his green card (see above). They divorced and he went back to his home and had an interview. At the interview, the consular officer uncovered that he had been in the US illegally for more than a year and told him that he needed a waiver. Instead of filing the waiver, our client and his divorced wife decided to come back to the US illegally. This triggered a 2121(A)(9)c penalty. When the client approached us, his wife was very difficult, very stubborn, very controlling and so we tried to ascertain if he was, indeed the victim of psychological abuse .Once we confirmed that he was the victim of abuse by this wife, we filed a VAWA application which was approved today. We expect to terminate his removal hearing under Niz Chavez.

07.17.2021 If your spouse or adult child is currently serving in a branch in the US military or has previously served and is now a Veteran, you may well be able to apply for the special immigration status of Parole In Place or PIP. This benefit is granted by the Immigration Service and it has three benefits: it gives you deferred action and protects you from being deported.; it gives you work authorization and it is viewed as an admission to the US for the purpose of filing a green card application. Thus a person who EWE’d into the US (entered illegally) can apply for a green card, either through a petition filed by a US spouse or a US adult child without having to leave the US. This offers opportunities for people who otherwise cannot get a green card. Remember, that if you entered the country illegally under most circumstances, you have to return to your home country. Leaving the US triggers a 10 year bar to returning. The only way to ask for a waiver of this penalty is to show that your USC or LPR spouse or parent will suffer extreme hardship if separated. Most of our clients do not have a USC or LPR spouse or parent and cannot avail themselves of such a waiver. Thus people who can apply for PIP have get a benefit from having a military family member.

06.11.2021 Our Middle Eastern client married a USC and was trying to get his green card, based on marriage to his USC wife. Although everything was approved, the government charged him with being a terrorist, and as a resul of the terrorist bar,( arguing that his membership in a guerrilla group that was fighting the Hezbollah was a terrorist organization and subjected him to the bar). Our office was able to prove that the said bar did not apply as this clandestine organization, which was in fact, aligned with the US and that fighting against the Hezbollah was counter terrorism. Our client was able to prevail and he was granted his green card.

06.10.2021 Today a Mexico mother of 3 children was granted cancellation of removal by the Immigration Judge. We are so proud of the work of our associates. This Mom was able to convince the EOIR that the rape and abuse she suffered from her husband was nothing compared to the fear she had of taking her 3 children, all of whom have severe learning disabilities and would have no special accomadations in Mexico. The children would suffer extreme hardship if the mother were to be deported.

06.09.2021 Our client, a producer of an environmentally friendly product attempted to hire a foreign engineer to help with operations in the US. We were trying to do an NIV application, arguing that our client had extensive experience to man the work at the Cleveland production facility. When we actually started the work, the employees accreditations were unacceptable and we had to struggle to prove that the company’s work was in the Nationl Best interest and that the workers qualification met the necessary requirement. We succeeded.

06.08.2021 Another Middle Eastern client who was referred to us by an Islamic social service agency has been facing immigration problems arising out of CIS’s accusation that he had entered into a fraudulent marriage succeeded in reversing that situation and we got him his green card. We are so pleased. Ensalah!!

06.07.2021 Courts drowning in backlog pose lingering immigration challenge

06.02.2021 U.S. formally ends Trump’s 'remain in Mexico' asylum policy

05.13.2021 Yesterday was an excellent day! We were able to stop the deportation of a mother of 3 US citizen girls, ages 16, 12 and 7. While it may appear conclusive that the US government would act in the best interest of children, it does not do so in immigration matters. It is difficult, nearly impossible to stop the deportation of a parent, unless the child has an extremely serious medical condition, one that is a matter of life and death, such as, say, cancer. Yet, with tireless and systematic preparation, at the conclusion of a long 2 day trial, we were able to convince the Immigration Court to grant our client the relief. As a result, she will become a permanent resident and raise her children with no further threat from Immigration Authorities. I was joined at the trial table by two stalwart associates. We won!

05.12.2021 She thought she was adopted. Now, her fight to stay in the US is just beginning.

05.10.2021 Our office has been successful in receiving approvals of T visas with work authorization within one year. These visas are for employees who have been victimized by their employers either by not paying them their wages, threatening to call immigration on them, forcing them to work long hours without properly pay and withholding their immigration documents as a threat.
DACA travel is back and we are sending approved DACA recipients back to visit family in their home country.

05.06.2021 On Apr 29, 2021, the Supreme Court made an important immigration decision. The name of the case is “Niz-Chavez v. Garland.” To understand what this decision means, you have to understand “cancellation of removal.”
Before the government can deport an undocumented immigrant, the immigrant usually has the right present his or her case to an immigration judge. That person may stay in the US if he or she qualifies for certain immigration benefits. Some of those benefits lead to a green card.
One of those benefits is "cancellation of removal." It is hard to get, but one thing an immigrant needs is to live in the country for ten years *before* his or her immigration case starts in the immigration court.
The case with the court starts when the government gives the immigrant a document called a "Notice to Appear." It is similar to a subpoena because it tells a person they have to go to immigration court to stop their deportation.
The Immigration and Nationality Act makes it clear that the NTA must have the date and time. That is an important point.
The US Supreme Court has decided two cases about this point. The first time was in 2018, “Pereira v Sessions.” The Court said that an NTA is not valid if it doesn't have a date and time. This meant that a lot of people who did not live long enough in the country long enough to qualify for cancellation of removal suddenly had enough time.
After that case, the people in charge of the immigration courts made new rules saying if the court sends papers *later* with the date and time, that makes the NTA valid. This meant that a lot of people who were eligible for cancellation of removal were suddenly ineligible again.
The Supreme Court’s new decision says that's wrong. The NTA is invalid if it does not have the date and time, and the court cannot fix that by sending other papers with the date and time. Once again, more people may be eligible for cancellation of removal.
This is a major win for immigrants all across the country. Many people who have no legal status may now be eligible for this immigration benefit. This may lead to more immigrants getting a green card in the future.

This article is not legal advice. The law is complicated and each case is different. Speak to one of the immigration lawyers at Svetlana Schreiber & Associates to see if you qualify for this or other immigration benefits.

04.28.2021 DACA travel good news. It is well know that entry to the US during COVID was severely restricted. One of our clients had difficulty trying to enter US on an approved U visas, despite the very generous and ameliorative U visa rules. However, another immigration client, who has approved DACA was able to reenter the US after a short trip to Mexico. He desperately wanted to see his dying father. We were able to obtain advance parole but cautioned him that he may not be allowed back into the US, even with the approved I131. The good news is that he traveled and was allowed to enter at customs. He will still have to travel to the Consulate to process his approved immigrant visa, as the AG had reversed Matter of Arrabally

04.15.2021 Heather Cox Daughter of Purepecha, Mexican tribe earns full ride to Harvard

03.15.2021 Heather Cox Richardson, in her article today, untangles the complicated history we have with our Southern neighbor.

03.08.2021 When our wonderful legal assistant, Zeynoon Elassal, whose family owns the much loved, Felafel Cafe http://www.falafelcafecleveland.com/ becomes the subject of the immigration story we tell. https://www.msn.com/.../lolas-legacy-how.../ar-BB1e891E... This is why we do what we do!

03.01.2021 We just got a U visa approved for a person who was a victim of menacing incident. He was sitting in a car with 3 other people, when a stranger came up to the car and smashed the car with a baseball bat. We successfully argued to the Immigration Service that the attack on the car with a bat was the same as being threatened with a bat, and hence threatened with assault with a weapon. The case was approved. A person who is a victim of a crime in the US can file for a U visa, if the police certifies that the victim cooperated with the police in the investigation of the crime and the crime is a qualifying crime under that statute. An felonious assault is defined as an assault with a weapon. A person has to maintain U visa status for 3 years, after which they can apply for a green card.

02.24.2021 Biden Revokes Trump’s Pause on Green Cards

02.16.2021 President Biden has sent an Immigration Reform bill to Congress that is very expansive. It proposes the following:

  1. The bill allows undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years if they pass background checks and pay their taxes.
  2. Dreamers, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers who meet specific requirements are eligible for green cards immediately under the legislation.
  3. After three years, all green card holders who pass additional background checks and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics can apply to become citizens.
  4. Applicants must be physically present in the United States on or before January 1, 2021.
  5. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may waive the presence requirement for those deported on or after January 20, 2017 who were physically present for at least three years prior to removal for family unity and other humanitarian purposes.
  6. Lastly, the bill further recognizes America as a nation of immigrants by changing the word “alien” to “noncitizen” in our immigration laws

02.14.2021 Biden Administration Unveils Plan to Process Asylum Seekers Subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols

02.13.2021 Biden Is Planning To Scrap Trump's Version Of The Citizenship Test That Critics Said Was More Confusing

02.09.2021 Syrian beneficiaries of approved I-130 Petitions for Alien Relative may apply directly for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program without a referral by UNHCR. Beneficiaries may also include their derivatives on their refugee case. Derivatives are defined as spouses and unmarried children who were under 21 years of age on the date the I-130 petition was approved by USCIS. Refugee processing under this program is currently available in the following locations: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates If a beneficiary is interested in pursuing refugee resettlement through this program, either the beneficiary or petitioner should complete the required forms in accordance with the instructions on the forms. Beneficiaries must be physically present in their selected location of processing before submitting their EOI forms. Regardless of whether an eligible beneficiary elects resettlement as a refugee under this program, his/her approved immigrant visa petition will continue to be processed by the National Visa Center. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is free of charge to applicants.

02.09.2021 Syrian beneficiaries of approved I-130 Petitions for Alien Relative may apply directly for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program without a referral by UNHCR. Beneficiaries may also include their derivatives on their refugee case. Derivatives are defined as spouses and unmarried children who were under 21 years of age on the date the I-130 petition was approved by USCIS. Refugee processing under this program is currently available in the following locations: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates If a beneficiary is interested in pursuing refugee resettlement through this program, either the beneficiary or petitioner should complete the required forms in accordance with the instructions on the forms. Beneficiaries must be physically present in their selected location of processing before submitting their EOI forms. Regardless of whether an eligible beneficiary elects resettlement as a refugee under this program, his/her approved immigrant visa petition will continue to be processed by the National Visa Center. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is free of charge to applicants.

02.03.2021 Biden signs immigration executive orders and establishes task force to reunite separated families

01.21.2021 Biden administration to pause deportations, curtail arrests

01.21.2021 Biden’s day one immigration bill, explained - Vox

01.19.2021 Joe Biden’s immigration plan lays out path to citizenship
The Biden/Harris plan, if it becomes law, will have an eight-year pathway to actual citizenship, not just green card. It will put millions of qualifying immigrants in a temporary status for five years and then grant them a green card once they meet certain requirements such as a background check and payment of taxes. They would then be able to apply for citizenship three years later.

Options for someone who has come to the US on a student visa and wants to stay permanently.

It is important to maintain status in order to move from visa to visa. If you are interested in remaining in the US permanently, it would be best for you to maintain your status. With a student visa already approved, you have to merely enroll in school in the fall to maintain your I20 currnet. Check with your DSO.

We will discuss the H1B, the U visa, a H visa, O visa and employment based green card.

  1. The H1B visa, available to people with a 4 year degree who have an offer of employment in a position that requires a 4 year degree to do this, you need a qualifying sponsor. The visa is available for a part time job as long as both the applicant have, and that the job require a 4 year degree.
  2. The U visa is available if you or one of your children were a victim of a crime. Domestic violence is a qualifying crime. The crime has to have been reported to the police.
  3. The O visa is available to people with extraordinary ability. For example, if you have worked as an artist has been reviewed and that you have had several exhibitions. It is not uncommon to ask people who have access to help generate some press. Equally important are letters of opinion from recognized experts. So you could ask some of you professors to comment as to your abilities and hopefully friend can also comment. Since these cases are adjudicated on the paper submission, the more letters we have the better. It is possible that we could file the O by August, and that would preclude your having to go to school to maintain status.
  4. Lastly the green card requires that you have a sponsor, either an employer or a family member. So you could marry a USC or greencard holder, that person becomes the petitioner. Perm application initiate the process with the DOL and then the case moves to CIS. This is most likely the best option. As long as both parties sincerely believe that the process is bonfide, it does not require you to continue to work for employer after greencard.

Our stories

07.31.2018
For the past 15 years I have both the honor and privilege of working with immigration clients from around the globe. It is through my immigration work here at Svetlana Schreiber & Associates that I have come face to face with the hardships, trials, and tribulations that our immigration clients and their families face on a daily basis. Their escape from terrible sufferings in their home countries, to being hounded in the US while all they are looking for is a chance to live safely and hopeful to obtain green cards, or some other form of permission to stay here permanently, safe from the harrowing dangers of their own countries.

The recent immigration raid in Sandusky, Ohio was no exception. A news story which only existed in print for most folks, directly affected me in my work and tragically showed me again, the direct impact of such raids on our clients, and on their families.

One such client’s father was arrested by ICE two days after his High School graduation. He is only 18 years old and on DACA. When he and his family came crying into our office we immediately set out to help them. His future of going to college in August was in limbo. The family used all his college savings to help pay his father’s bond and help support his mother and two younger siblings. He started working 17 hours a day to make sure he was keeping up with their monthly bills. His family, friends, pastor and local church members worked hard to get us the documents needed to get the father out on bond. This was a community that came together to help each other. This is the American way. As I sat with him in my office I reassured him that we would get through this together and his dream of going to college was in reach. Our office was successful in getting his father a bond. We hope that we will be able to help this family immigrate and get green cards.

Vivian Gambino-Holly
Law Clerk
Svetlana Schreiber & Associates

Latest News

04.02.2015
AILA members document their experiences on the ground as they offer pro bono services to Central American detainees at the family detention center in Dilley, Texas. To find out more information, visit AILA’s CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project webpage ...

12.04.2013
The Supreme Court has found section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. That means that the Immigration Service and U.S. embassies and consulates will adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way that they adjudicate applications for opposite gender spouses. ...

07.11.2013
The office of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates announces that the recent Supreme Court decision, striking DOMA, has resulted in allowing same sex couples the privilege to pursue all the immigration benefits available to heterosexual couples. So if you are in a long term relationship and plan on getting married, please contact us to discuss your immigration options. ...

03.12.2012
Immigration Judge granted permanent resident status (through NonLPR Cancellation of Removal) to a client from Mexico whose daughter was born here in the United States without an arm.

03.12.2012
After some bad luck with another attorney, succeeded to obtain permanent resident status for an HIV positive client after terminating deportation proceedings.

03.12.2012
Succeeded in obtaining permanent resident status for a client, who was told by several other attorneys that he would not be able to get permanent resident status because of his criminal history.

03.12.2012
Succeeded in having immigration proceedings terminated for a lawful permanent resident after his criminal attorney successfully reopened his criminal case because of substantial legal errors made in prior criminal proceedings.

Latest Testimonials

10.10.2018
Hi Svetlana.I just wanted to let you know that since yesterday I’m in American citizen , it’s been a long time but I finally made it, so I just wanted to thank you for all the help and let you know that you are a big part of this. Thank you with all my heart!!
From Mircea

07.24.2012
Svetlana Schreiber and her staff are my heroes! I adopted two undocumented teenagers at age 12 and 14. Little did I know it would be so complicated to get their legal status here! After talking to another lawyer who told me I would have to have the adoption recognized by the Mexican government ("and good luck with that," she said!), I spoke with Svetlana who impressed me with her knowledge and expertise ...

04.16.2012
The moment I met Atty Schreiber , I found a new ray of hope and positiveness. She has pointed me to a direction where others have failed to even mention. It is through her vast experience and knowledge that has gotten me where I could not imagine possible. Years of waiting and pitfalls finally produced a success that I could only dream of ...

01.24.2012-
I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Svetlana Schreiber in an appointment scheduled throughout the phone. First i would like to thank her. I have been advised by a large number of attorneys over the years regarding my immigration status and absolutely none of them has been really trying to understand my problem and most importantly to find a solution for it ...


Svetlana Schreiber Esq. in Moline IL
Lawyer Svetlana Schreiber interviewing a couple at Palomares Social Justice Center.

We are a law firm with expertise in all areas of immigration law, ranging from business and family based immigration to asylum and deportation.

Immigration Attorneys at Svetlana Schreiber and Associates - help immigrants and employers across the world obtain work visas (H-1B, H-2B, B-1, H-1C, H-3, L-1), visitor visas (B-2, J-1), family visa (H-4, F-2, J-2), student visas (F-1, M-1, J-1), healthcare visa (h3B, h3C, O-1, or TN).

We also prepare green card applications including PERM labor certifications, I-130, I-140, I-370, I-485, and handle U.S. citizenship applications, Asylum/Refugee, BCIS Representation and Consular Practice.

The office of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates announces that the recent Supreme Court decision, striking DOMA, has resulted in allowing same sex couples the privilege to pursue all the immigration benefits available to heterosexual couples. So if you are in a long term relationship and plan on getting married, please contact us to discuss your immigration options. You may also be able to use your same sex relationship to qualify for other immigration benefits, such as visa based on domestic abuse, or waivers proving hardship to your US spouse, or U visa, if a family member was victim of a crime. Call us for a free conference.
Remember, we are in Painsville Tuesday and Thursdays and on Saturdays by appointment. Call 216-621-7292 to get more information.

We have Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, German, French, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bangla, Macedonian, Serbo Croatian, Albanian and Hebrew speaking staff.

We also have offices in Cleveland Ohio, New York , Toronto Canada, Bucharest Romania, Tel Aviv Israel.


Firm Profile

The firm of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates, LPA is committed to the practice of Immigration and Nationality Law. With an office in Cleveland, Ohio, and associates in Toronto, Ontario and Bucharest, Romania, the firm is well on its way to becoming one of the premier firms practicing exclusively in the area of immigration law.

The scope of the firm's clientele varies from students, investors, executives, managers, researchers and professors, to companies interested in hiring highly technical and professional personnel. The firm's corporate clientele ranges from small businesses to large multi-national corporations. Svetlana Schreiber & Associates, LLP provides a variety of immigration services for these businesses, including H-1B temporary work visas for professionals, L-1 visas for intracompany transfers, labor certifications and I-9 compliance.

The firm also represents individuals and families in seeking political asylum, aliens in deportation proceedings, and individuals interested in obtaining lawful permanent residency (ie. "green cards") for themselves or family members.

Immigration law is highly specialized and technical and is constantly changing. We stay abreast of these changes and provide creative solutions to assist individuals and companies with all their immigration needs.

The attorneys at Svetlana Schreiber & Associates, LPA maintain the highest standards of quality and ethics. It is the firm's goal to remain accessible and forthright to all its clients, and the firm gains the respect of its clients through the diligence and hard work of its attorneys.

We care deeply about our clients. The staff is constantly reminded that our clients have "placed their lives in our hands" and "our work is to save our clients' lives". Simply put, "we are a law firm with heart". We are more like a team, and like a team each member has a special realtionship and role to play in regards to each file. If one team member makes an error, the entire team suffers. Most importantly, each and every staff member was hired and became part of this team because they have the special quality of "compassion". The staff is encouraged to work overtime to make sure that each client's file gets the time and attention necessary to bring their case to a successful conclusion.

U.S. Immigration lawyers deal with issues relating to foreign nationals who come to this country either temporarily or permanently, including the associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens in the United States. Immigration attorneys also deal with the application processes and procedures involved with naturalization of foreign nationals who wish to become U.S. citizens, as well as deal with legal issues relating to people who are refugees or asylees.

The firm of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates can help you in the following areas of Immigration Law:

Nonimmigrant Temporary Status

Work Visa

  • Specialty Occupation (h3B)
  • Other Temporary Labor (H2B)
  • Registered Nurses (h3C)
  • Agricultural Labor (H2A)
  • Intra Company Transferee (L-1)
  • Visas for Traders and Investors (E-1/E-2)
  • Extraordinary Ability (O-1/O-2)
  • Athletes and Group Entertainers (P-1/P-2/P-3)
  • International Cultural Exchange Program (Q)
  • Religious Vocation or Profession (R)
  • Trade NAFTA Professionals (TN)
  • Representatives of International Organizations (G Classification)
  • Trainee (H-3)
  • Representatives of Foreign News Media (I Classification)
  • Dependants of the above

Family Visa

  • Spouses and Children of F-1 visa holders (F-2)
  • Spouses and Children of H-1, H-2 or H-3 visa holders (H4)
  • Spouses and Children of J-1 visa holders (J-2)

Visitor Visa

  • Business Visitors (B1)
  • Tourist Visitors (B2)
  • Exchange Visitor (J-1)

Student Visa

  • Academic Student Visa (F-1)
  • Vocational Student (M-1)
  • Fiancé/e of U.S. Citizen (K)

Immigrant: Permanent Status, Employment Based

EB1-First Preference

  • Persons of Extraordinary Ability
  • Outstanding Professors and Researchers
  • Multinational Executives and Managers

EB2-Second Preference (Members of Professions holding Advanced Degrees or Aliens of Exceptional Ability)

EB3-Third Preference (Skilled Workers, Professionals and other Workers)

EB4-Fourth Preference-Special Immigrants

EB5-Fifth Preference-Employment Creation Investors


  • Immigrant: Permanent Status, Family Based (First - Fourth Preferences)
  • Diversity Visa (DV1-Green Card Lottery)
  • Asylum/Refugee
  • Citizenship Matters
  • BCIS Representation and Consular Practice

Attorney Svetlana Schreiber has been awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 from Martindale-Hubbell®.

"It is our honor to share this distinction with Svetlana Schreiber & Associates LPA."

Martindale-Hubbell®

AV Peer Review Rating - shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.

  • A - Very High to Preeminent Legal Ability Rating
  • V - Very High General Ethical Standards Rating
Svetlana Schreiber Esq. Immigration Attorney
Attorney Svetlana Schreiber Esq. has been awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 from Martindale-Hubbell® for 2009.
Svetlana Schreiber Esq. Immigration Attorney AV rated 5 years
Attorney Svetlana Schreiber Esq. has been awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 from Martindale-Hubbell® for five years 2005-2010.

For nearly 135 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been the most respected source of authoritative and dependable biographical information on members of the legal community in the United States, Canada, and worldwide.

In the letter sent to our Office, congratulating us on the recognition, Martindale-Hubbell explains:

"The AV rating, which identifies a lawyer with very high to preeminent legal ability, is a reflection of your expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence. Our ratings, established by attorneys for attorneys, clearly indicate you demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards."

"Considered an important tool in the practice of law, the ratings are an invaluable resource for engaging the services of an attorney. They represent a widely regarded measure of esteem for which attorneys strive.

Read more about the ratings ...


Svetlana Schreiber is a member of the following organizations:

American Bar Association with approximately 370,000 members is the world's largest voluntary professional association. The Association has long served a dual role as advocate for the legal profession and for the public. With the growing complexity of society and our legal system, the Association's public role has gained both emphasis and breadth. The ABA is comprised principally of practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys and many non-practicing lawyers who are business executives, government officials, etc. The ABA represents state and local bar associations as well as practitioners in specialized areas of the law. It represents affiliated, law-related organizations and groups with specialized interests or needs such as administrative law judges, lawyers in the armed forces, and minority and women's bar associations.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national bar association of over 3,900 attorneys who practice immigration law. AILA Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of U.S. families who have applied for permanent residence for their spouses, children, and other close relatives to lawfully enter and reside in the United States. AILA Members also represent thousands of U.S. businesses and industries which sponsor highly skilled foreign workers seeking to enter the United States on a temporary or permanent basis. AILA Members also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono basis. Svetlana Schreiber and Michele Norton are both members of AILA.

The Ohio State Bar Association is the state organization of the legal profession. It is comprised principally of practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys and many non-practicing lawyers who are business executives, government officials, etc. The OSBA represents practitioners in specialized areas of the law. It also represents affiliated, law-related organizations and groups with specialized interests or needs such as administrative law judges, lawyers in the armed forces, and minority and women's bar associations. Svetlana Schreiber, Michele Norton and Tom Gilbert are all members of the Ohio State Bar Association.

The New York State Bar Association is comprised principally of practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys and many non-practicing lawyers who are business executives, government officials, etc. The OSBA represents practitioners in specialized areas of the law. It also represents affiliated, law-related organizations and groups with specialized interests or needs such as administrative law judges, lawyers in the armed forces, and minority and women's bar associations. Svetlana Schreiber has been admitted to practice in New York State and is an active member of the New York State Bar Association.

How the client should contact the firm for details about consultation (fees, schedule, etc.)

Consultation-what does it mean?

A consultation is a meeting between an attorney(s) and potential client(s) for the purpose of examining their situation, and discussing what the best possible course/option to take is. Consultations are completely confidential, and the attorney cannot disclosure any information given. Along with confidentiality, there is no obligation for the potential client to hire the firm after the consultation.

Why a consultation is important?

  • It is absolutely necessary for anyone with an immigration issue in the U.S. to discuss what possible directions they can take.
  • It establishes position of potential client, different options, and examines each individual case.
  • Allows attorney to gain knowledge/facts to suggest best course of action to take.
  • Allows for any questions the potential client might have to be answered by attorney
  • Can be a place to establish a client/attorney trust relationship

What forms of consultations are available?

  • In office consultation: FREE
  • Over the phone: $100 paid in advance. The conversation can take anywhere from 30-60 min. or as long as needed for attorney to get substantial information

How to prepare for a consultation?

  • Potential client should be completely honest and forthcoming about their individual situation. Remember the firm is here to help you, and confidentiality protects you from attorney disclosing information. Any piece of information may be beneficial to your case.
  • Please bring any documents that may be involved with your case; immigration forms, current status, paycheck stubs, etc.
  • If the client does not speak English, although we have employees in the office that do speak other languages, it might be helpful for them to bring along someone who can translate for them.
    (we have Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, German, French, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bangla, Macedonian, Serbo Croatian and Albanian speaking staff.)

24 Jul 2012

Svetlana Schreiber and her staff are my heroes! I adopted two undocumented teenagers at age 12 and 14. Little did I know it would be so complicated to get their legal status here! After talking to another lawyer who told me I would have to have the adoption recognized by the Mexican government ("and good luck with that," she said!), I spoke with Svetlana who impressed me with her knowledge and expertise. The issues were how long the children had legally been under my guardianship (it had to be two full years), and how the children had entered the country (to determine whether or not we would have to process in Juarez Mexico or not). Svetlana obtained a statement from the school district, a government entity that recognized me as their legal guardian even before the adoption took place, and we obtained detailed affidavits from family members in Mexico as how they were transported through an immigration checkpoint in the back of a car when they were 3 and 5 years old. The children now have their green-cards! Now I can apply for their US passports because as minors adopted by a US citizen, they are automatically eligible to become citizens! Thank you Svetlana (and staff) for all your hard work!!!

Connie Barrett,
Moline, IL

16 Apr 2012

The moment I met Atty Schreiber , I found a new ray of hope and positiveness. She has pointed me to a direction where others have failed to even mention. It is through her vast experience and knowledge that has gotten me where I could not imagine possible. Years of waiting and pitfalls finally produced a success that I could only dream of. Her professional handling of a difficult situation proved to be the solution, I have been seeking all this time. With a staff ready to assist her in every way , and support to her clientele also aided to our success. Special thanks to Atty Irina Dragan for her unending encouragement and assistance.
For others, I would encourage you to seek her services and highly recommend Atty Schreiber with utmost confidence and respect. Atty Schreiber , all the best and thank you for giving me a new life and a hopeful future.

Respectfully yours,
Myrna Anonuevo

24 Jan 2012

I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Svetlana Schreiber in an appointment scheduled throughout the phone. First i would like to thank her. I have been advised by a large number of attorneys over the years regarding my immigration status and absolutely none of them has been really trying to understand my problem and most importantly to find a solution for it. I have always wanted to meet that attorney that will no longer say that there is no solution for me and the answer for now is patience. And I finally have found that person that said I have been wasting way too many years hiding behind my fears and encouraged me to make a step in a changing direction. You will find in Mrs. Schreiber not only a knowledgeable and eager attorney, but an encouraging and supporting people person and I strongly recommend you to establish your first connection with her and dare to dream bigger!

Oana Radu

19 Dec 2011

Dear Svetlana,

I just wanted to take a minute and say: THANK YOU!!! to you and and your team for your all your hard work, patience and for never giving up your efforts on my case until we received a positive result. I am very beyond happy with the results and very impressed with your knowledge in he field and level of professionalism. I would gladly recommend you to anyone in need.
Hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a New Year filled with good health, happiness and many, many winning cases!

Sincerely,
Mihaela Presecan

24 Nov 2011

Dearest team,

I just wanted to send you a note to say Thank you for everything.....for all the great work, sincerity, inspiration and hope that you all gave me during the painstaking process of obtaining the waiver and the green card. This miracle would have not been possible without you and your commitment to success. I will always keep you in my heart and prayers and I honestly hope that I can do the same good to you one day!! Wishing you love, peace, and happiness on this day and always! Have a blessed and very Happy Thanksgiving!

Much love, Ana Maria and family

16 Nov 2011

Multumesc ! Thank you !

Mihai

07 Nov 2011

"Svetlana Is the kind of person who makes America great!"
She helps ordinary people gain their rights in the country of their choice.

Peace. Vince

10 Sep 2010

All Staff,

We are taking this opportunity to thank your good office for helping us winning an asylum case. For us, this is a huge victory in our lives. And all this happened because of your professionals staffs like Tom Gilbert and Michelle Norton who in the other way they worked hard nights and days to make sure everything is going well. Finally, we wish all of you the best in your daily activities.

Mr & Mrs. Mayala

10 Aug 2010

Dearest Svetlana, Thank you ... for the beatiful memories + Future you've given to me and daughter . I can never thank you enough for your help. My gratitude is never ending

Sincerely Rebecca Dee

07 Jul 2010

Tom, just wanted to officialy thank you for all of your help in helping Myriam with the Green Card applicationprocess. It was MUCH appreciated !

Hellen Hasek and Myriam Rodriguez

14 Jul 2010

Thank you very much for you and your staff ... We are very pleased with your services and will recommend anyone in need to you ! Thank you- Thank you !

Ismael Maculku

03 May 2010

Dear everyone, Thank you very much for your valuable help and assistance troughout the process of resolving our immigration issue.

Andrei and Melissa

08 Feb 2010

Dear Svetlana and Associates,
This e-mail is on behalf of Mr. & Mrs.Sayed Haroon.They received their green cards today(8-27-09).They would like to take this time to show their gratitude and appreciation for all the help you and your staff provided through out this process.We would esecially like to thank Meme who was in constant communication with us and provided excellent customer service. So, once again thank you for making this expierience which would normally be stressfull and worrisome into a easy and pleasant process.

From
Jalal & Bushra Khan c/o Mr &Mrs.Haroon

04 Apr 2008

Dear Ms. Schreiber,

I would like to sincerely thank you for your time you generously spent with me today for discussion and consideration of my problems related to immigration matters.

Your professional help is very valuable to me at this time. Your ability to highlight the main point, read beetween lines and consider all possible alternatives with deep analysis of consequences is very impressive. Your professional advices, as well as your remarks about needed changes in my personal behavior patterns, clarified the situation and provided with clear directions for the future actions. You are right in all your statements , and I accepted all your advices with gratitude. I enjoyed communication with you, because I discovered an outstanding person with rare combination of high level of professionalism and great personality. I believe that your meaningful and noble work related to people’ problems resolution is the corner stone in maintaining the excellent reputation of the Svetlana Schreiber & Assoc. CO. L.P.A. Office.

Thank you for your help. I am grateful for the opportunity to communicate with you. Your benevolent attitude, understanding, and willingness to help are most appreciated. Thank you for your time and for being so wonderful person.

I pray God to give you strength and keep you and all of us in His Grace.

May God Bless You.

With deepest respect,
T. B.

03 Mar 2008

Dear Svetlana, Tom and Skender and Everyone at Svetalana Schreiber & Associates:

I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me. You have a great staff and a good team. I was very happy with your work and the prompt service and professionalty you showed to me. My case was complicated, but you made it bearable.

I really felt that you cared about me as your client and about my case. Again, thank you for all your work.

Sincerely,
Oscar Cailfano

03 Mar 2008

I am delighted that everything in my immigration case everything worked out so well. I attribute the success to the fact that Svetlana Schreiber had the talent to identify the strength of education and experience (PhD in Geography) and to make recommendations all through the process to the final step (the green card). Overall, the attorney’s office prepared all the documents for my case and prepared me for everything that I had to have to expect, step by step on this process. Also, the office was very responsive and communication between the law office and CIS and between the office and the company which sponsored me was immediate and attentive. Each time that CIS requested more information, Svetlana’s office responded timely with greatly detailed documentation.

So, it is entirely due to the quality of service offered by the office of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates that I was able to get my green in such a short time (17 months after arriving in the US to attend a professional conference). They proved that they know exactly what I need to get my permanent resident status and they knew what they have to do for me to get it in such a short time. I am forever grateful.

Roxana Giusca, PhD

Immigration Judge granted asylum to female from Egypt based on her sexual orientation. The Immigration Judge argued that to send someone back to such a religiously conservative country with such strong animosity towards homosexuals would be tantamount to torture. The Court also granted the client's mother withholding of removal arguing that her alleged compliance with her daughters sexual orientation would put her at risk

Client from Tanzania granted asylum based on the murder of her parents for allegedly practicing witchcraft. We were able to demonstrate to the court that the alleged practice of witchcraft in sub-Saharan Africa is still widespread and alleged witches / traditional healers are often persecuted for any and all maladies which befall the community. In the present case, the client was in the United States when both parents were killed at the hands of a angry mob. We demonstrated that despite the client's own religious convictions, she would be perceived as a witch herself.

Immigration Judge granted asylum to Egyptian women who conceived a child out of wedlock. We successfully argued that such an action would be perceived as a stain on the petitioner's family honor which could lead to her being targeted by members of her own family. Arguing that a women's virtue is of paramount importance to her status within Egyptian society, we convinced the Court that to return the unwed mother and child to Egypt would place both at serious risk of harm.

Asylum grant for woman from Pakistan who had been the victim of extreme domestic at the hands of her husband. The client's husband, a police officer, had extensive ties to both the local and national political parties within Pakistan and had no fear of prosecution for the actions taken against his wife. The client, who was repeatedly raped and beaten by her husband had no chance of finding protection within Pakistan. Worst yet, the Petitioner's son had also been targeted by her husband.

Approval of K2 visa after client mother and husband had divorce. Mother and son came to the United States from the Ukraine. Mother was granted her greencard, her son, initially was not. We convinced the Service that based on the abuse both the mother and son had endured at that hands of her USC husband, the USC petitioner's affidavit of support for the issuance of the visa was ultimately not necessary.

Motion to reopen granted in proceedings after we convinced the Court that the previous attorney erred in withdrawing the Petitioner's asylum case as being time barred. The Petitioner, who was a minor at the time, erroneously had her Asylum application withdrawn by her previous attorney who failed to realize that an asylum application filed by a minor cannot be time barred under 8 CFR 208.4(a)(5)(ii), 1208.4 (a)(5)(ii). The case is currently pending before the EOIR Court.

Motion to Reopen granted after proving client clearly did not receive notice of his immigration hearing. Client entered the United States in 1996 on his border crosser card and was granted permission from the Service to travel outside of the Border area to visit friends and family in to Detroit, Mi. While in Detroit, the client was stopped and confronted by Immigration Officers. The client explained to the Officers that he has a legal entry into the USA and that his Border Crossing card was at his friends house. The Officers he encountered apparently did not believe him and (understandably) assumed he was here in the USA illegally. During his custody, the client was asked for his biographic information, and biometrics were taken. After the Officers had fingerprinted him, they acknowledged that he was listed in their system as the holder of a valid Border crosser card, however the Officers served him with certain documents and told him that he was allowed to leave. They informed him that he would receive notice in the mail at the address given.

The client resided at the address for nearly a year During the time he never received any notice from either the immigration court or the immigration services regarding his case. The client assumed that the Service was able to corroborate the fact that he was who he claimed to be, did have a valid Border Crosser card and was in valid status when detained by the Service. The client subsequently moved to Toledo, Ohio and married his USC wife in 2005. In February 2009, client met with us to discuss filing for his greencard. At that time, the client explained what had previously happened with the Service. Counsel checked the 600 telephone number using the Alien number listed on his border crosser card, the only Alien number he thought he had, to see if he was ever placed in proceedings. According to Court records, he was never in proceedings under the Alien number listed on his Border Crossing card. Despite this, the client was ordered removed October 1997. We successfully argued that, from the record, it was clear that he never received notice of his prior hearing and thus did not have adequate notice of his previous hearings. The client's I-130 was approved and he is awaiting his greencard appointment.

Motion to reopen proceedings granted for client for Sri Lanka who originally failed to attend his Immigration Master Hearing in New York City after his train into the city was delayed for roughly two hours due to mechanical failures. The client originally filed an appeal of the Immigration Judge's denial of his case with the Board of Immigration Appeals. Using the repair / work records for the train line that day, we argued successfully that the client's failure to attend his Immigration hearing was clearly beyond his control and the Court was in error for ordering him removed.

Immigration Judge granted cancellation of removal to LPR placed in proceedings because of a firearms conviction. Client is the spouse of a USC and father of five USC children. The Immigration Judge grant means that the client will keep his LPR status and be able to remain with his family. Client was convicted for having his gun stored in the wrong place in his car. This conviction subjected the client to both removal from the United States and mandatory detention by immigration until his case was heard by the Immigration Judge. While you do not have to be a citizen to own a gun, it is not a good idea to have one. Immigration law holds that any and all gun related offenses are a deportable offenses. This is why our client was in jail facing deportation for having his gun stored improperly. Luckily, the client met the basic criteria for cancellation of removal, which include 5 years as a permanent resident and 7 years of physical presence in the United States, and was able to show that the positive factors outweighed the negative factors in his case.

Immigration Judge granted permanent resident status to disabled client with approved VAWA petition.

Immigration Judge grants Motion to Reopen In Absentia Order for client, who arrived late to court because of road construction and street closings. Client was coming from Columbus to Cleveland for court. He left Columbus more than 4 hours before his hearing to account for traffic issues. Unfortunately, as he approached Cleveland, major road construction kept him from reaching the city in time. Then, once in the city, a major event that had a number of city streets closed also kept the client from reaching the court. In the end, the client showed up 5 to 10 minutes after the Immigration Judge had already issued the order. Fortunately, the Immigration Judge recognized that these issues were outside the client's control and the Immigration Judge reopened the case.

Immigration Judge grants Motion to Reopen old In Absentia Order that no one realized existed. Client was in proceedings and Immigration Judge terminated proceedings with consent from government attorney based on approved VAWA petition. At client's adjustment interview, officer asked her if she knew she had an In Absentia Order from the 90's. She said no as she did not know about the order. Apparently, client had been picked up during a workplace raid after she first arrived to the United States. However, immigration released her right away without giving her any documents because she had young children. At the time the client initially encountered immigration in the 90's, she did not speak or understand English. She had no idea what was going on and the immigration officers that had taken her along with the other people working at the factory did not speak her language fluently. Therefore, when immigration released her, the client did not know that immigration was going to seek to deport her. Moreover, immigration did not take her information down correctly, so none of the documents issued by immigration reached our client. With no knowledge or notice of the fact that she had to go to court, our client did not appear at her court hearing in the 90's. Moreover, when immigration placed her proceedings in 2007, no one discovered the old case. It was only after the client's fingerprints were ran for her adjustment and a more detailed background check was ran that immigration discovered the prior case file and the old order. After receiving the information from the immigration officer, our office immediately sought to review and acquire a copy of this old file. We, then, filed a motion to reopen in order to clear this outstanding matter, so our client could get her permanent resident status. Based on the fact that there was clearly no notice to the client, Immigration Judge reopened the old case.

Immigration Judge granted 237(a)(1)(H) waiver for client, who mistakenly believed he could marry after he received his immigrant visa at the consulate, but before entering the United States. Client's father had petitioned for him as an unmarried son. Client did not understand that the process was not complete until he actually arrived in the United States and that, by marrying, his immigrant visa was no longer valid.

Immigration Judge terminated proceedings for mother and two children after we succeeded in obtaining U classification for family.

We succeeded in closing a book with immigration for a client, who after 20 years, finally obtained citizenship. The client had been through it all. He had taken voluntary departure at one time. He came back on an Immigrant Visa. He ended up back in proceedings based on a conviction a number of years later. He was ordered deported by an Immigration Judge. His case was successfully reopened. He, then, filed for several forms of relief and, after a long battle, he was found eligible and was granted Cancellation of Removal. After his grant of cancellation, he waited several years to make sure he met the requirements for citizenship and, this year, he was sworn in as a citizen.

Won appeal from denial of naturalization for a client and client was sworn in as a citizen after a nearly two year struggle with Immigration because of ex-spouse's fraud.


Lawrence O'Donnell On Immigration

Why we do what we do ?
by Michele Norton Immigration Attorney at Svetlana Schreiber and Associates

Everyone,
I know how frustrated and stressed out we all get over our work, especially as it seems to be never ending and more and more complicated.
Every once in awhile I get a good reminder as to why I have chosen to practice immigration law and these reminders keep me going.

Today, I received a call from Monica. She is a young girl that was brought here from Mexico by her mother when she was only 2 years old. She has lived her entire life in the United States. Her mom remarried a USC when she was a small child and, while he tried, he did not know how to solve his wife or stepdaughter's issues.
The family came to us after Monica and her mom were placed in proceedings. Unfortunately, I could not help the mom. However, I was able to help Monica. Her dad adopted her and filed an I-130 petition on her behalf. The I-130 was approved (after fixing a blunder by the Service) and I had Monica take voluntary departure before she started accruing bad time in the United States.
She left and obtained her immigrant visa in Mexico at the end of 2010. While in Mexico, she missed a semester of her senior year of high school.
Monica made up her missed time in one semester and graduated with her high school class today. She called to thank me and to tell me she graduated and to also tell me that she got accepted to Xavier College with scholarships. She also is getting her driver's license and has a job lined up for this summer.
Monica is so thankful to have her life here as it is the only life she has ever known. Moreover, her life is going in the right direction. Monica is a sweet, smart girl and I wish her the best for her future.

And, Monica is why I do what I do and why we should all do what we do.

Michele

How can our Immigration Attorneys help you?

U.S. Immigration lawyers deal with issues relating to foreign nationals who come to this country either temporarily or permanently, including the associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens in the United States. Immigration attorneys also deal with the application processes and procedures involved with naturalization of foreign nationals who wish to become U.S. citizens, as well as deal with legal issues relating to people who are refugees or asylees.

Our attorneys routinely support clients in the matters of non immigrant visas especially for workers coming to the United States to perform temporary service or labor. We assist clients on several other visa matters like, students and trainee visas, visitors for business, visitors for pleasure, exchange visitors, and trainee visas. We routinely communicate with various agencies specially State Workforce Agencies, J agencies, Department of Labor, USCIS, Department of State etc.

Also our lawyers deal with VAWA matters and Religious Workers visas and also assist clients in adjustment of status applications, asylum applications, removal defenses, 10 year and 3 year cancellation applications and other related matters.

If you or a family member is interested in living in the United States, you may need someone who can help you understand U.S. immigration laws and who can help you to apply for legal status .

We can help you !
Call or schedule online a consultation:
Toll-free: 866-553-4643 or 216-621-7292


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