Have immigration-related concerns?
Anike Law can help.

If you are currently living in the state of New York as a non-resident, immigrant or any status other than a U.S. citizen, it is important for you to understand that New York’s laws can play a significant role in the outcome of any legal case or immigration-status issue affecting you. At Anike Law, an attorney from our firm can help you understand these laws and provide professional, caring guidance throughout your immigration process.

Family Reunification

If you and your family members are split between the U.S. and another country, don’t lose hope: It may be possible for you to reunite in the United States, and we can help. The “family reunification process” lets U.S. citizens, refugees, or Green Card holders apply to have family members in other countries come to the U.S. 

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For U.S. citizens: You may file a family petition to get a visa leading to a Green Card upon arrival in the U.S. or apply for a fiancé(e) visa leading to the possibility of applying for a Green Card. Immediate family members (unmarried children under 21, parents, or spouses of people in the U.S.) are eligible to petition to enter the United States. Grandparents, cousins, sisters, brothers, grandkids, and other family members are not eligible for reunification.

For Green Card holders: There are limitations for family reunification. You are not allowed to sponsor your parents or siblings for a Green Card. Also, visas are not given out in an unlimited quantity like they are for family members of U.S. citizens.

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For refugees: If you were granted asylum or refugee status in the U.S. within the last two years, you can apply for asylum or refugee status for your spouse and/or any children that were unmarried and under 21 years of age at the time you became an asylee or refugee. You must be the principal refugee or asylum seeker when you applied; you cannot have obtained asylum or refugee status as a beneficiary. Additionally, you and your spouse must have been married and your child must have been conceived at the time of when you were granted refugee or asylum status.

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Business Immigration Visas

You can get a temporary employment visa or an employment visa for permanent residence to the U.S. based on your education, religious vocation or skills — whether you are outside of the U.S. or in the U.S. when you apply. We can guide you through the process of getting visas such as:

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P1 visa: A temporary work visa for people who are athletes or members of entertainment groups who need to enter the U.S. to perform for specific events.

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O Visa: A temporary employment visa for people with an extraordinary ability and nationally or internationally renowned achievements in the sciences, education, business, athletics, arts, or entertainment industries. To qualify for this visa, you must already have secured employment in the U.S.

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L1 “Intracompany Transferee” visa: This grants non-immigrant status for executives, managers, or specialized employees currently working abroad (for a company with legal status in the U.S.) who need to transfer to their company's U.S. office.

E2 “Treaty Investor” visa: A non-immigrant visa that enables individuals who have significant funds to invest to come into the U.S. for the purposes of setting up a business, practice, or office. The individual must be a citizen of a E Visa Treaty Country. 

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H-1B visa: A temporary work visa for people with a bachelor’s degree and a temporary offer of employment in the U.S. This visa is for people with specialty occupations, such as engineers, lawyers, architects, scientists, accountants, math and health experts, physicians, artists and educators, and business people.

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Citizenship (Naturalization)

There are many immigration benefits in the U.S., and at Anike Law, we want you to be able to enjoy them. We advise permanent residents interested in U.S. citizenship about the naturalization process and help applicants for citizenship overcome any problems that might arise along the way. One of the most common reasons applicants are unsuccessful when seeking immigration to the U.S. is because of improper filing of their application(s). The application process is both daunting and time-consuming. This is why we recommend that you hire an experienced U.S. immigration lawyer. We review all citizenship applications carefully with our clients; our goal is to ensure that we can document your eligibility for citizenship while addressing any problems that might interfere with your naturalization process.

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Refugees & Asylum

Are you facing persecution or fear future persecution due to your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group? If yes, you could be eligible for asylum and/or withholding of removal. To be granted asylum, a person must meet the definition of a refugee, which is: Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality (or, if stateless, outside the country of last habitual residence) and is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. In addition to showing you are a refugee, you must file for asylum within one year of your last date of entry into the U.S. (unless you meet an exception).

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VAWA Self-Petition

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows victims of domestic violence, child abuse and even elder abuse who are not U.S. citizens self-petition for legal permanent residency without the cooperation of their abuser. As a victims of domestic violence, you may also self-petition if you are divorced, as long as your marriage to the abusive spouse was terminated within two years of filing the petition and there is a direct connection between the divorce and the abuse. If your VAWA self-petition is approved, you will receive work authorization, deferred action and an approved noncitizen petition, which will allow you to apply for legal permanent residency. The process to self-petition can be complex, but at Anike Law, we are ready to help you overcome any complications.

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