Bringing a family member over from another country so that they can become a citizen of the United States can be quite a process. Your loved one is probably very excited about the move, and you want to greet them with open arms and make them feel right at home. Before you can roll out the welcome mat, there are some things you need to do to smooth out the path. Here are a couple of ways you can help when a foreign loved one wants to make America their home.
Set Up A Three-Way Consultation With An Immigration Attorney
Immigration is a legal process that can sometimes get a bit complicated. There are rules and regulations that must be followed if your family member wants to avoid being deported. If you were born in the states or immigrated many years ago, you could be totally unfamiliar with the process. Talking with an immigration attorney can clear up a lot of the confusion and provide you and your family member with the right information that will make it much easier for them to settle into their new country.
Call different law firms until you find an immigration attorney who is willing to do a three-way conference consultation with you and the person you care about. If the other individual does not know English, the lawyer might be able to bring in a translator on the call who can decipher what is being said. Ask your family member to come up with a list of questions to ask the attorney and request that the lawyer give you some must-have tips on what to avoid or which practices will slow down or put a complete halt to the immigration journey.
Help Your Family Member With The Basics
Along with the invaluable advice that you are bound to get from the immigration attorney there are many things that you already know how to do that can help your family member out. Little things such as which side of the street to drive on, how to get a US driver's license, signing up school, filling out job applications, and so many other daily tasks that you might take for granted are going to be essential knowledge for someone who has never lived in the States before.
Immigrating can be a wonderful experience that enriches an individual and shows the different sides of life. Do your part to make the road to immigration as stress-free for the person you know as possible.
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