Immigration law governs who gets to enter the United States, how long they can stay, and what they get to do while they are here. Whether you want to study or work in the country temporarily or make the United States your permanent home, you may need legal help.

Magee Goldstein Lasky & Sayers, PC can help people from foreign countries (and their employers) obtain visas and work authorization – or assist those who wish to become permanent residents in obtaining green cards and going through the process of naturalization.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AMERICAN DREAM IS, WE CAN HELP YOU WORK TOWARDS IT. CALL US AT (540) 343-9800 TO GET STARTED TODAY.

Understanding Your Immigration Status

In the United States, there are different categories of immigration status: U.S. citizens, permanent or conditional residents, non-immigrants, and undocumented immigrants.

U.S. citizens were born in the United States or went through the naturalization process to become citizens. Permanent or conditional residents usually have green cards or are in the process of getting their green cards. Once an immigrant is a lawful permanent resident for 3 to 5 years, they can apply for naturalization.

Non-immigrants are people who are in the country legally but do not intend to stay. Students, businesspeople, and even family members may have visas and non-immigrant status. People with temporary protected status (TPS) are also considered non-immigrants. Many people move from non-immigrant status to permanent or conditional residents when they realize they wish to stay in the country.