Immigrants in the United States faced much more scrutiny than natural-born citizens. There are more limits on what behaviors they can engage in and more consequences for getting in trouble or asking for help. The public charge rule has long limited citizenship and...
Fighting For Your Rights
Nashville Legal Blog
The penalties you could face if apprehended attempting to re-enter the U.S. unlawfully
Know that unlawful reentry into the U.S. is a federal offense. You may want to learn more about this offense and the penalties you face for engaging in it if you're considering this option yourself. How often does the U.S. convict people for "illegal reentry"? Data...
Do you qualify for a preference immigrant visa?
There are many incentives associated with becoming a green card holder or U.S. citizen. One of those benefits is that it gives your loved ones a priority status when applying for a visa to come to the U.S. Not everyone qualifies for the "preference immigrant" visa....
What you need to know about how the immigration court system works
There are an estimated 750,000 cases on the immigration court's dockets here in the U.S. This is often why the court releases individuals with pending immigration or deportation cases from detention. It can take months or years for cases to process through this legal...
Tennessee has just approved medical marijuana — but immigrants need to be wary
Medical (and recreational) marijuana has gained widespread acceptance in a number of states, but Tennessee hasn’t been particularly receptive to either. There are signs that things are slowly shifting, however, now that the state legislature has finally allowed a...
Factors that could result in a denial of your K-1 marriage visa
There's been an increased interest in K-1 visas ever since the popular TLC show 90 Day Fiance started airing on television a few years ago. These visas allow Americans to bring their future spouse to the U.S. They have 90 days to marry them, or otherwise, they must...
Pregnancy can make getting a U.S. visa challenging
If you are planning to come to the U.S. while pregnant, you may find it harder than you anticipated it would be. Immigration authorities can take a tough stance on pregnant women. At the start of the year, the previous administration introduced rules to make it harder...
There’s a special visa for immigrants who are victims of crimes
Those who engage in violent and organized crimes that victimize others often target vulnerable people. Immigrants or those hoping to enter the country are a highly vulnerable population. Some people will take advantage of another person's desire for a better life and...
Is it worth seeking citizenship if you already have a green card?
If you have lived in the U.S. for some time, you may wonder if there is any advantage to seeking citizenship. Dealing with the immigration authorities can be time-consuming and stressful. You might not feel it is worth it. U.S. citizens have several advantages over...
Could a criminal charge affect your immigration status?
Criminal charges don’t affect all people in the same way. For a U.S. citizen, an irresponsible night of drunk and disorderly conduct could result in spending an unpleasant night in jail. For an immigrant, however, a simple mistake could jeopardize their entire future...