Family-Based Petitions
We prepare and document petitions for spouses, fiancé(e)s, children, parents, and siblings, and we track priority dates in the Visa Bulletin so you know where your family stands.
The U.S. immigration system runs on forms, deadlines, and fine print most people never see explained. McNamara Law guides clients across Central Florida and beyond through family petitions, work and investor visas, humanitarian protection, citizenship, and immigration court, from the first filing to the final decision.
Each service below is labeled with the government form or forum it typically begins with, because knowing which process applies to you is the first step in understanding your own case.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents can petition for spouses, children, parents, and siblings. The right path depends on the relationship, the family member's location, and their immigration history.
We prepare and document petitions for spouses, fiancé(e)s, children, parents, and siblings, and we track priority dates in the Visa Bulletin so you know where your family stands.
Becoming a permanent resident from inside the U.S. means proving a genuine marriage, eligibility, and admissibility. We build complete, well-documented filings, prepare you for the interview, and handle removal of conditions.
When a family member is abroad, the case moves through the National Visa Center and a U.S. embassy or consulate. We manage civil documents, the affidavit of support, and interview preparation.
Entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and the employers who sponsor them rely on a range of temporary and permanent categories. We advise both companies and individuals on eligibility, timing, and long-term strategy.
For nationals of treaty countries who invest a substantial amount of capital in a real, operating U.S. business they develop and direct. We help structure the investment, prepare the business plan, and build the case from source of funds to consular interview.
Full E-2 visa guide →Permanent residence for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability (EB-2), including the National Interest Waiver, and for skilled workers and professionals (EB-3). We guide employers and employees through labor certification, the I-140, and adjustment or consular processing.
Specialty-occupation H-1B petitions, transfers, and extensions, along with other employment-based nonimmigrant options. H-1B rules, fees, and selection procedures have changed significantly in recent years, so we review current requirements with every employer and worker before filing.
For individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. These cases rise or fall on evidence. We help you identify, organize, and present your achievements in the way the regulations require.
Humanitarian options exist to protect people fleeing persecution, violence, or abuse. Waivers can overcome past problems that would otherwise block a green card. These are sensitive cases, and we handle them with discretion and urgency.
Affirmative asylum before USCIS and defensive asylum in immigration court, along with withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture protection. Strict filing deadlines apply, so early advice matters.
Temporary Protected Status, VAWA self-petitions for survivors of abuse by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member, and U visas for victims of qualifying crimes who help law enforcement.
Unlawful presence, certain criminal history, misrepresentation, and prior removals can make someone inadmissible. Where a waiver is available, we build the hardship and discretionary case needed to overcome the bar.
Naturalization is the final step for many clients. Removal proceedings are the most serious. We handle both with careful preparation.
From the eligibility review to the civics interview and oath ceremony, we prepare clients for every stage of naturalization, including cases complicated by travel history, taxes, arrests, or old records. We also handle certificates of citizenship for those who derived citizenship through a parent.
A Notice to Appear is not the end of the road. We represent clients in immigration court and pursue every available defense, including cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, asylum, bond, motions to reopen, and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Every immigration case is different, but the way we approach them is consistent.
We review your history, including entries, status, family, and any arrests or prior filings, to find every option and every risk before anything is filed.
We recommend the strongest path and explain the timeline, cost, and what you will need to gather.
We prepare a complete, well-organized filing and respond to any Request for Evidence on time.
We prepare you for what officers or judges actually ask, and we stand with you through the decision.
Short, honest answers to the questions we hear most often.
Often, yes. Spouses of U.S. citizens who were inspected and admitted or paroled into the U.S. can usually adjust status here, even if they later overstayed. People who entered without inspection generally cannot adjust in the U.S., but may be able to process at a consulate abroad, sometimes with a provisional unlawful presence waiver (I-601A) approved before they leave. Your exact entry history matters, so review it with a lawyer before filing.
Often, yes, but not automatically. Many applicants, including most adjustment-of-status and certain asylum applicants, can request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with Form I-765 while their case is pending. Working without authorization can create serious problems for a future application, so confirm your status before accepting any job.
No. An RFE means the government wants more documentation before deciding your case. It does not mean the case is being denied. It comes with a strict deadline, and your response is often the single most important filing in the case. A complete, well-organized response can turn a borderline case into an approval.
Possibly, but you should not file until a lawyer has reviewed the records. Some offenses have no immigration consequence, some require a waiver, and some can make you deportable. Because McNamara Law also practices Florida criminal defense, we can evaluate both sides of the problem together.
A denial is rarely the end. Depending on the case, you may be able to file a motion to reopen or reconsider, appeal, or refile with stronger evidence. What matters most is understanding why it was denied and whether the denial affects your current status. Deadlines run from the decision date, so act quickly.
Not for everything, and we'll tell you when you don't. Some straightforward renewals can be handled on your own. But immigration filings create a permanent record, and small mistakes can follow you for years. If your case involves any prior denials, arrests, status gaps, or court proceedings, professional guidance is worth it.
The earlier we get involved, the more options you have. Tell us where you are, and we'll explain where you can go.