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  • Ralph A. Cantafio
  • Rick Eddington
  • Mark J. Fischer
  • Reed F. Morris
  • Elizabeth Wittemyer
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Immmigration

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. Immigration laws and requirements change frequenntly. The two main areas of immigration that affect most people are the "Green Cards" and "Naturalization".

Elizabeth Wittemyer focuses on Immigration Law at her practice in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Green Cards

A Green Card holder (permanent resident) is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, a person is granted a permanent resident card, commonly called a "Green Card." You can become a permanent resident several different ways. Most individuals are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States. Other individuals may become permanent residents through refugee or asylee status or other humanitarian programs. In some cases, you may be eligible to file for yourself.

The steps to becoming a Green Card holder (permanent resident) vary by category and depend on whether you currently live inside or outside the United States. The two most used categories are:

• Green Card Through Family
• Green Card Through a Job

Naturalization

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

To apply for naturalization, you must file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

You May Qualify for Naturalization if:

• You have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years and meet all other eligibility requirements.
• You have been a permanent resident for 3 years or more and meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen.
• You have qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meet all other eligibility requirements.
• Your child may qualify for naturalization if you are a U.S. citizen, the child was born outside the U.S., the child is currently residing outside the U.S., and all other eligibility requirements are met.

You may also qualify through other paths to naturalization if you do not qualify through the paths described above.

Contact Elizabeth Wittemyer for help with any Immigration issue.