WHAT SHOULD IMMIGRANTS PREPARE TO DO WHILE CONGRESS PROPOSES TO GRANT “GREEN CARDS” TO 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS?
By SID GARBANZOS
Attorney-at-Law
President Biden and Congress are set to move in the coming months on an ambitious overhaul of the immigration system that would include a path to citizenship for most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country including the young “dreamers,” senior administration officials and Democratic and Republican lawmakers were quoted yesterday as reported in the New York Times.
Some Democratic members of Congress are hopeful that the President’s proposal will be enacted into law by the end of this year 2021.
President Biden’s specific proposal to Congress would include an (8) year pathway to citizenship, the payment of fines and back taxes, criminal background checks and other requirements for immigrants who would apply to legalize their status.
WHAT SHOULD IMMIGRANTS PREPARE TO DO WHILE CONGRESS IS PROPOSING TO GRANT ‘GREEN CARDS’ TO THE 11 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS?
- HAVE A RELATIVE FILE A PETITION IF YOU QUALIFY BECAUSE CONGRESS MAY ALLOCATE VISAS TO THOSE ALREADY IN LINE. QUALIFYING RELATIVES INCLUDE BROTHER OR SISTER, MOTHER OR FATHER AND SON OR DAUGHTER WHO ARE CURRENTLY “GREEN CARD” HOLDERS OR U.S. CITIZENS.
- KEEP RECORDS OF YOUR PRESENCE IN THE U.S. such as Checking or Savings Account, Money Remittances (Western Union), Cell Phone or Cable Bills, Credit Card Bills, Utility Bills such as Electric or Gas, Tax Documents, Medical Records (doctor’s/hospital bills/children immunization records), Lease, School Records (Transcript of Records), Your Children’s School Records (Report Cards), Employment Records among others.
- OBTAIN A CURRENT PASSPORT OR CONSULAR ID FROM YOUR CONSULATE OR EMBASSY.
- OBTAIN AN ORIGINAL OR CERTIFIED COPY OF YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
- DO NOT LOSE YOUR I-94 ARRIVAL DOCUMENTS.
- AVOID USING PHONY NAMES ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
- LEARN ENGLISH.
- PAY TAXES. YOU CAN OBTAIN AN INCOME TAX IDENTIFICATION OR ITIN NUMBER IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. A LEGAL OR TAX PROFESSIONAL CAN ASSIST YOU IN OBTAINING AN INCOME TAX ID NUMBER.
- IF YOU WERE ARRESTED, GET AN ARREST DISPOSITION FROM THE CLERK’S OFFICE OF THE COUNTY WHERE YOU WERE ARRESTED.
- BEWARE OF IMMIGRATION SCAMS.
- SAVE FOR FEES, BACK TAXES AND PENALTIES (Fees and Penalties could be up to $5,000 or more).
Attorney SID GARBANZOS is a graduate of the City University of New York School of Law and is admitted to practice in New York and Washington, D.C. Practice areas include: Civil Litigation, RN/Medical Profession Legal Defense, Criminal Defense and Immigration. Please note that this article is written for a gratuitous purpose only and no attorney-client relationship is created in this publication. This article is not, nor intended to be legal advice. The reader should consult with a reputable lawyer based on his or her individual circumstances.
Please call Garbanzos Law Firm at (718)725-7324 or (646)823-7459 www.garbanzoslaw.com if you have any consultation questions.
Tags: 11 million undocumented aliens, congress, dreamers, garbanzoslaw, green cards, Immigration, undocumented aliens
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