Por Melisa Peña, Esq., Socia Fundadora | Publicado el 18 de Septiembre de 2026 Cada semana, en nuestra oficina de Miami, recibimos a personas que llevan tiempo esperando. Esperando el momento indicado, esperando a que la vida se acomode un poco, esperando a sentirse completamente listas. Y cada semana les decimos lo mismo: el momento indicado casi siempre es ahora. El Mes de la Herencia Hispana, que se celebra del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, nos parece el momento perf

By Melisa Peña, Esq. Founding Partner | September 18th, 2026 Every week in our Miami office, we sit across from people who have been waiting. Waiting for the right moment, waiting until life settles down a little, waiting until they feel completely ready. And every week, we remind them of the same thing: the right moment is usually now. Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, feels like the right moment to talk about something we care deeply about

Por Melisa Peña, Esq., Socia Fundadora | Publicado el 13 de Septiembre de 2026 "Ya lo haré el próximo año." Escuchamos esto constantemente de titulares de Green Card en Miami y el sur de la Florida que son elegibles para la ciudadanía pero todavía no han presentado su solicitud, generalmente porque la vida los mantiene ocupados, el proceso se siente abrumador, o no sienten una fecha límite urgente que los empuje a actuar. En este momento, sí existe una. El Departamento de Se

By Melisa Pena, Esq. Founding Partner | Published September 10, 2026 “I’ll get around to it next year.” We hear this constantly from green card holders in Miami and South Florida who are eligible for citizenship but haven’t filed yet—usually because life is busy, the process feels overwhelming, or there’s no urgent deadline pushing them to act. Right now, there actually is one. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a steep increase to the filing fee for Form N-400—

Escrito por Jarbath Peña Law Group Va a revisar el correo y ahí está: un sobre del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (Department of Homeland Security). Lo abre. En la parte de arriba dice “Notice to Appear” (Aviso de Comparecencia). El corazón se le acelera. Puede que ni siquiera entienda del todo lo que tiene en las manos, pero sabe, por instinto, que es algo serio. En Jarbath Peña Law Group escuchamos a clientes que viven exactamente este momento todo el tiempo. El miedo e

By Melisa Peña Esq., Founding Partner You go to check the mail and there it is: an envelope from the Department of Homeland Security. You open it. The words at the top read “Notice to Appear.” Your heart is racing. You may not even fully understand what you’re holding, but you know instinctively that it’s serious. At Jarbath Peña Law Group, we hear from clients in exactly this moment all the time. The fear is real, and it’s understandable. But here’s what we tell every single

Escrito por Jarbath Peña Law Group Ya lleva algunos años con su Green Card. Su vida está aquí, en Estados Unidos: su hogar, su trabajo, su familia. Esa pregunta que ha tenido en mente desde hace tiempo finalmente se vuelve más urgente: “¿Cuándo puedo solicitar la ciudadanía realmente?” Es una de las preguntas que más escuchamos en Jarbath Peña Law Group, y es una excelente pregunta, porque la respuesta no es igual para todos. El camino hacia la naturalización no se trata de e

By Melisa Pena, Esq., Founding Partner You’ve had your Green Card for a few years now. Life in the United States is your life—your home, your work, your family is here. And the question that’s been in the back of your mind for a while is finally becoming more urgent: “When can I actually apply for citizenship?” It’s one of the most common questions we hear at Jarbath Peña Law Group—and it’s a great one. Because the answer isn’t the same for everyone. The path to naturalizatio

Escrito por Jarbath Peña Law Group Suena el teléfono. La voz al otro lado dice que llama del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (Department of Homeland Security). Le dicen que hay un problema con su expediente migratorio, pero que se puede resolver ahora mismo si paga una multa. El corazón se le acelera. Entra en pánico. Solo quiere que el problema desaparezca. Así es exactamente como operan los estafadores: se aprovechan del miedo y la esperanza que carga cada inmigrante. Sa

By Melisa Pena, Esq., Founding Partner The phone rings. The voice on the other end says they’re calling from the Department of Homeland Security. They tell you there’s a problem with your immigration file—but it can be fixed right now if you pay a fine. Your heart drops. You panic. You just want to make it go away. That’s exactly how scammers operate. They prey on the fear and hope that every immigrant carries. They know the immigration system is confusing and intimidating—an

Escrito por Jarbath Peña Law Group Ha trabajado muy duro para llegar hasta aquí: tiene su Green Card y ha logrado construir una vida en este país. Y la ciudadanía —ese último paso— está cada vez más cerca. Pero hay algo en su pasado que no lo deja dormir tranquilo: un DUI de hace años, un cargo por hurto en tienda cuando era joven, son situaciones que usted creía que había quedado atrás. La pregunta que más escuchamos en estos casos es: ¿mi pasado define mi futuro en este paí

By Jarbath Peña Law Group You’ve worked hard to get here. You have your Green Card. You’ve built a life. And citizenship—that final step—feels closer than ever. But there’s something in your past that keeps you up at night. A DUI from years ago. A shoplifting charge when you were young. Something you thought was behind you. The question we hear most often in these situations is: “Does my past define my future here?” The honest answer is: it depends—and the details matter enor

By Jarbath Peña Law Group You get the call. Someone you love has been detained by immigration authorities. You don’t know where they are, you don’t know what happens next, and the only question that matters right now is: “How do we get them out?” At Jarbath Peña Law Group, this is one of the most urgent calls we receive. The fear and confusion that come with immigration detention are real - and so is the time pressure. Every day matters. For many people in detention, the path

By: Jarbath Peña Law Group You have a family wedding abroad. A parent is ill and needs you. Or perhaps you simply have not been back to your home country in years and the time has finally come. For immigrants living in the United States, the decision to travel internationally is rarely simple. Beneath the excitement of the trip sits a question that does not go away: “Will they let me back in?” Leaving the United States is easy. It is the return journey that carries hidden ris

By Jarbath Peña Law Group Summer is the season everyone looks forward to—time with family, a break from routine, maybe a long-awaited trip back home. For immigrants living in the United States, that anticipation often comes with a quiet undercurrent of worry. Travel planning looks different when your immigration status is part of the equation. The wrong document, an expired card, a detail you did not think mattered—any of these can turn what should be a joyful trip into a ser

By Jarbath Peña Law Group Imagine you have packed your bags, said your goodbyes, and prepared everything for your new life in the United States. You attend your visa interview with high hopes, only to be told that you are "inadmissible." In an instant, the door to your future feels like it has slammed shut. Hearing that you are inadmissible can be confusing and terrifying. It sounds final, like a permanent "no." But in the complex world of U.S. immigration, a "no" isn't alway

By Jarbath Peña Law Group Holding a U.S. work permit, officially known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), is a major milestone. It represents freedom and opportunity—the ability to work legally, earn a living, and support your family. With this new freedom, a natural and exciting question often comes up: "Can I travel?" You might want to visit family in another state, take a much-needed vacation, or even travel back to your home country for a special occasion. How

By Jarbath Peña Law Group You have found the person you want to spend your life with. The only problem? They live in another country. Long-distance relationships are hard enough on their own. Add an international border, a complex immigration system, and the anxiety of not knowing how long the process will take—and what should be one of the happiest times of your life can quickly feel overwhelming. The good news is that U.S. immigration law has a specific path designed for ex

By Jarbath Peña Law Group You met. You fell in love. You got married. And now, sitting across from a USCIS officer, you are being asked to prove it. For many couples going through the marriage-based Green Card process, this moment can feel deeply unfair. Your love is real. Your commitment is real. Your life together is real. But the immigration system does not take anyone’s word for it—and in 2026, with USCIS scrutiny at some of the highest levels in years, that reality matte

By Jarbath Peña Law Group For many immigrants in Florida, the path to a Green Card is tied directly to a family member. You fall in love, get married, and trust your spouse to file the necessary paperwork to build a life together in the United States. But what happens when that trust is broken? What happens when the person holding the keys to your legal status becomes the person you fear the most? Abusers often use immigration status as a weapon. They might threaten to "call