If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individual (LGBT) seeking protection under United States law, you can get help from a qualified lawyer. Your lawyer can help you establish a claim of asylum and defend your case in court.
Asylum is a particular category of immigration relief that protects people who are persecuted or unable to return home due to persecution, discrimination, or violence. You can qualify for asylum if you have been harmed or are at risk of being hurt in your home country because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
If you have been in the United States for more than a year and your persecution has remained primarily unchanged, you may be entitled to seek withholding of removal. It is a type of legal protection that permits you to stay in the U.S. and work while your asylum case is being processed.
Representation
Law firms play an essential role in the immigration process for LGBTQ people. These experts can assist individuals in navigating the complicated United States immigration law and help to ensure they obtain their visas or green cards.
Access
A law firm that understands the immigration process can help LGBT individuals pursue their goals; whether that is to obtain a visa or work permit or bring a spouse or parent to the U.S., they can also provide advice about how to prepare a legal petition and how to keep it moving through the federal government.
A law firm can also help to protect LGBT people in deportation proceedings. They can identify which types of relief are available and which level of hardship must be shown to meet that standard.
For example, same-sex couples have benefited from the recent change in state laws that opened up family-based immigration benefits to same-sex marriages. Previously, these couples had to prove they were genetically related to United States citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Suppose you are a same-sex couple looking to enter the United States legally. In that case, you may need to have your marriage recognized by the federal government before applying for immigration benefits. It is a complicated procedure that can be difficult to navigate without the assistance of an expert immigration lawyer who specializes in LGBT services.
Support
Law firms can help with a range of immigration matters. These include helping with family-based immigration (a person who wants to immigrate to the United States), seeking asylum, or deportation relief.
An immigration lawyer can work with you to protect your rights while getting a visa or green card. The firm will also provide education and support to help you navigate the immigration process.
A law firm is under one name legal practice that hires lawyers to handle matters. Partners at the firm share in the profits and risks of the business and engage other lawyers to work with them as associates.
Advocacy
In the United States, several laws safeguard the civil liberties of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. These laws include employment non-discrimination, civil rights, and equal opportunity.
Advocacy encompasses a wide range of activities, including lobbying and campaigning. To persuade lawmakers to adopt new laws or change existing ones, advocates need to provide convincing arguments backed up by research.
