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

By Jarbath Pena Law Group Finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with is a beautiful milestone. For international couples, however, the phrase "happily ever after" often comes with a side of paperwork. Navigating the marriage-based green card process can feel like a daunting maze of forms, interviews, and scrutiny. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath. You are not alone. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a spe

by Jarbath Peña Law Group Family is the reason many people embark on the challenging journey to build a new life in the United States. The dream of a better future often includes the hope of sharing it with parents, children, spouses, and siblings. The U.S. immigration system recognizes this powerful human need, making family reunification one of its core principles. However, the process of bringing a relative to the U.S. can feel like trying to navigate a complex map without

By Jarbath Peña Law Group At the heart of the American dream is the idea of building a better life. For millions of people, that dream is incomplete without their family by their side. The joy of a new opportunity, the security of a stable job, and the freedom of a new country can all feel hollow when you are separated from your parents, your spouse, or your children. This deep human need to be with loved ones is a core principle woven into the fabric of the U.S. immigration

By: Jarbath Peña Law Group Becoming a United States citizen is a monumental achievement. For many, it marks the end of a long journey. For others, it is a powerful new beginning. It is the key that unlocks the door to one of the most cherished goals in the immigration system: reuniting with family. One of the greatest benefits of U.S. citizenship is the ability to petition for relatives to come live permanently in the United States. However, this powerful right is often misun

By Jarbath Peña Law Group Navigating the U.S. immigration system often feels like assembling a giant puzzle. You gather documents, fill out forms, and meticulously track every detail of your life. While most people focus on things like their visa history or family ties, there is a piece of the puzzle many overlook until it is too late: taxes. A common question we hear is, "I owe some money to the IRS. Will that really affect my Green Card or citizenship application?" The answ

By Jarbath Peña Law Group In the world of U.S. immigration, few phrases carry as much weight as "unlawful presence." It’s a term that can seem intimidating, and for good reason. It represents a legal clock that, once started, can lead to serious consequences that may impact your ability to remain in or return to the United States for years to come. Many people find themselves in this situation through simple mistakes, bad advice, or circumstances beyond their control. The fea

By Jarbath Peña Law Group You have filled out the forms, gathered your birth certificates, and taken your passport photos. You feel ready to submit your immigration application and get the ball rolling on your new life in the United States. But then, months later, you receive a dreaded letter in the mail: a Request for Evidence (RFE). Suddenly, your case comes to a screeching halt. What went wrong? More often than not, the culprit isn't a criminal record or a visa violation—i

By: Jarbath Peña Law Group Waiting for a decision from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can be one of the most stressful parts of the immigration journey. You have carefully prepared your application, gathered your documents, and submitted your case, only to find yourself facing a long and uncertain wait. If you are feeling this way in 2025, you are not alone. Significant processing delays continue to affect nearly every type of immigration case, from family

By: Jarbath Pena Law Group If you’re living in the United States and want to work legally, you’ll most likely need to apply for a work...

By: Jarbath Peña Law Group On January 3rd, 2023, USCIS released its proposed rule, which includes significant increases in immigration...

If you received your green card through marriage to a U.S. national or permanent green-card resident and were married less than two years...

this past article, we addressed an overview of how to get a marriage-based green card if you are married to a U.S. citizen or green-card...

Have you married a United States citizen or a person who holds a green card? If so, congratulations on your marriage! As the spouse of a...

A new TSA requirement goes into effect for all airline travel on March 1, 2023. It requires the traveler to have a driver’s license or...

Getting a U.S. passport is a fairly easy process. It requires filling out a form and submitting identification information and a picture...

Whenever you fill out your Application for Naturalization (Form N-400), as part of the process, USCIS will conduct a thorough review of...