Want to be first in line? Then start gathering your documents now! While the Verdin Law Firm cannot predict exactly what comprehensive immigration reform will bring we do know that, generally, immigration petitions and applications nearly always require certain types of evidence. If you start gathering these documents now, you’ll be in good shape for when reform passes.
Here are the Top 8 Types of Evidence that you might need:
(1) Birth Certificates & Photographic IDs. Locate your birth certificate and those of your family members. Have them translated by a translation service. Make sure that the translation service certifies every translation. If you or any of your family members do not have a government-issued photographic ID (i.e. issued by your country, your consulate, or your U.S. state), then procure those as well.
(2) Criminal Documents. If you or a family member has ever been arrested, obtain all of the documents relating to that arrest. For example, if you were arrested for assault, contact the police department that arrested you to locate the relevant arrest report. Then, contact the court that handled your case and request all of the documents relating to your case. The most important document to request, though, is the judgment of the court.
(3) Proof of Status of Relatives. Immigration applications usually request that the applicant list all of their relatives with an immigration status in the United States, and will require a copy of that relative’s birth certificate (if born in the United States), Certificate of Naturalization, or Lawful Permanent Resident Card.
(4) Proof of Lawful Entry. If you entered the United States lawfully (i.e. after checking in with an immigration officer and he or she lets you enter) try to locate your I-94 card. Or, check to see if your passport contains a stamp, indicating when you entered the United States.
(5) Evidence of Continuous Physical Presence. Immigration law tends to favor those who have been in the United States for longer periods of time. Start gathering documents that would demonstrate how long you have lived in the United States. Great examples of these documents are bank/ financial account statements and school records. A checking account statement, for instance, will include where a purchase was made, thus indicating you were in the United States at the time of the purchase. School records are extremely useful because they indicate that student’s presence for almost an entire year—fall to late spring.
(6) Marriage Certificates. Many immigration applications and benefits depend on some sort of familial relationship. Thus, it’s important to have a document proving that a person is married to his or her spouse.
(7) Addresses. Nearly every immigration form will ask where the person has lived for the past, approximately, 5 years. Start making a list of where you have lived in the past 5 years and try to track down your former addresses.
(8) Employment List. Nearly every immigration form will also ask where you have worked for the past, approximately, 5 years. Start making a list of your previous jobs as well, along with the addresses associated with each place of employment.
If you gather all of these items now you’ll be thanking yourself down the road—after reform
passes!
View Original Post: http://deportlaw.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-8-types-of-evidence-to-prepare-for.html
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