NOTARIOS ARE NOT LAWYERS

What is the Difference Between an Immigration Attorney and a Notario/Notary Public? A notario (notario publico) translates to “notary public” in English. In the U.S., a notary public is a person who is authorized to witness the signing of documents. They may not give legal advice or provide immigration legal services. Florida law requires notaries […]

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The Immigration Consequences of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

En Español In addition to public safety considerations, driving while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is a crime in every state in the U.S. A DUI conviction may cause serious immigration problems for a foreign national. For people without lawful status in the U.S., an arrest for a DUI in Jacksonville will result in […]

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Obtaining Permanent Residence through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen

If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you may be able to apply for permanent residency based on that marriage. The pathway to becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. can be achieved in two ways, depending on how the foreign national entered the U.S. If the foreign national was lawfully admitted to […]

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Bringing Your Fiancé to the U.S.

With the ever increasing popularity of social media and on-line dating sites, more people are meeting that special someone via the internet. If your perfect partner happens to live abroad, there may be immigration options available for you to be together in the U.S. The fiancé visa, a K-1 visa, allows a foreign national to […]

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Duval County’s 287g program

As of the writing of this entry, there are only a few counties in Florida counties with a 287g agreement (can be seen here). These agreements between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies are expected to increase significantly throughout Florida under the Trump administration. While pitched to localities as enhancing community […]

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Eleventh Circuit Gives Hope to Detainees Subject to Prolonged Mandatory Detention

In Sopo v. Attorney General, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that the mandatory detention statute at U.S.C. § 1226(c), “authorizes detention for a reasonable amount of time. When this reasonable period is exceeded, the government must provide a bond hearing to determine whether the person’s continued detention is permissible. Such continued detention would […]

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