American Dreamers

Who Can File?

1. Did you come to the US before your 15^th birthday?
2. Did you live in the US continuously (ie did not leave US) since August 15, 2007?
3. Are you currently under the age of 31?
4. Are you currently in school, have a high school diploma, A GED certificate, or honorably discharged by the military?
5. Do you have any criminal record—ie Felony or a significant Misdemeanor?
6. Were you present in the US on June 15, 2012?
7. Were you out of status on or before June 30, 2012?

When can you apply?

The Citizenship and Immigration Service has said they will release information on August 15, and you can apply from that day

What documents do you need?

1. Proof of present enrollment in school, or Diploma or certificate or military
2. Proof of being in the United States before 16^th birthday----- proof of school records from 9^th or 10^th grade or below.
3. Birth certificate—If in other language, translated in English
4. Proof of current residence (in June) in the United States----like bills, pay checks, school records, etc
5. Citizenship and Immigration Service fees of $380/-
6. 2 passport size photos
7. If minor criminal record, proof of it.

What will You get?

You will not get the Green Card (Permanent Resident Card).  But you will get the WORK PERMIT, can work legally, and won’t get deported

What is the procedure?

You will file on or after August 15^th.

You will have to go in for fingerprints

You can check your status on line

Then you will have the Work Permit mailed to you by Citizenship and Immigration Service.

Contact Houston Immigration Lawyer, or Houston Immigration Attorney Annie Banerjee, for more information

Dream Deferred a little more, Please Wait

Last Friday, June 15th, the Department of Homeland Security announced, following President Obama's announcement that "dreamers" people who were brought into this country by their parents through no fault of their own, and have studied here will get a work permit under what is called deferred action.  However immediately after the announcement  our phones kept ringing with all types of people asking to get work permit.  And I'm sure that there are lots of 'notarios' who are waiting to pounce on illegal people and getting their money.

First its still too early to file anything.  The Citizenship and Immigration Service has said that they will start offering deferred action from August 2012. Please wait for regulations to come out before handing over money to anybody.

Second one has to meet the categories below:

Eligible individuals must:

• Have arrived in the U.S. when they were under the age of sixteen
• Have continuously resided in the U.S. for at least five years prior to June 15, 2012 and have been present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012
• Currently be in school, have graduated from high school, have a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces
• Not have been convicted of a felony offense, a “significant misdemeanor offense,” three or more non-significant misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety
• Have been under thirty-one years old on June 15, 2012

So lets make this clear.  This is not a work permit for all illegal people. This is not even a green card for eligible dreamers. Its just a temporary work permit to people who meet the above categories.

Filing now by anybody will hurt their case.  They can be deported without ever getting the chance to come back to the US.

Contact Houston Immigration Lawyer, or Houston Immigration Attorney  Annie Banerjee, for more information