Green Card and Citizenship Services

Pursue Citizenship for Your Future

Are you seeking to secure your future in the United States? Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers is here to help. With over 35 years of experience, we specialize in Green Cards and citizenship services. Our personalized immigration services are tailored to your unique needs, whether you're seeking a Green Card through work, family, or achievement. 

Since 1989, we've been a local, family-owned, and woman-owned business serving Weston and all of southern Florida. Our attorney takes a hands-on approach to every case, ensuring that we're in constant contact with our clients. We pride ourselves on our client-friendly service, providing the best advice to help you achieve your immigration dreams.

We reply to all inquiries in a professional and timely manner, offering free case evaluations and same-day consultations. In case of emergencies, we also provide free emergency consultations. Contact us now!

Contact Us Today for Citizenship Services

We understand that the immigration process can be complex and overwhelming. That's why we're committed to providing you with clear, concise, and compassionate advice. We'll guide you through every step of the process, from understanding your options to achieving your goal of becoming a citizen. We're not just your attorneys. We're your partners in this journey.

Take the first step toward securing your future in the United States Contact Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers today. We're here to provide the personalized immigration services you need with the compassion and commitment you deserve. You don't have to worry about costs with our payment plan options. Get started by contacting us now!

Find Your Path to Citizenship

When your goal is citizenship, finding the best path forward is crucial. There are several critical options to live and work in the United States. At Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers, we are committed to finding the one that best fits your needs.

Beyond family ties and humanitarian needs, you may be able to make your own path in the U.S. with your resources or talents. Employees and people with extraordinary abilities are both eligible for Green Cards and eventual citizenship in this country. Keep reading to find out if you qualify for either path. If you have questions, Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers is here. Contact us!

Use Your Work to Obtain a Green Card

In the United States, we value productive citizens. When foreign nationals can help support the American economy, it is a valid reason for offering residency. There are two main routes to using your work as a means to obtaining a Green Card.

Employment-Sponsored Labor Certification

One way to obtain a Green Card is with employment-sponsored labor certification. With this process, you will rely on a U.S. company to sponsor you for your Green Card. This is the most common way immigrants obtain residency, and thousands of immigrants enter the U.S. each year with this process. At Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers, we have years of experience helping people pursue this route for residency and ultimately citizenship.

The labor certification system is called PERM. With PERM, a U.S. employer offers to sponsor a foreign national with a future job (once the labor certification and I-140/I-485 petitions are approved). PERM can be completed fairly quickly with a turnaround time of just three to eight months. Once the process is complete, individuals with master’s degrees or higher can usually apply for a Green Card immediately. Those with a bachelor’s degree or at least two years of training or experience in their occupation generally need to wait several years or more (depending upon the country of origin) before filing for a Green Card.

EB-5 Investor Visas

You don’t have to get an employer to sponsor you. If you have enough capital, you can invest your way to a Green Card with an EB-5 visa. This is known as an investor’s visa, and it is even faster to obtain than an employment-sponsored visa. If you meet the conditions for an EB-5, you and your family could have a conditional Green Card within four to six months with options for permanent residency within two years.

This type of visa was created by the government as a way to encourage foreign investments and spark domestic employment. There are 10,000 EB-5 visas available each year with 5,000 set aside for areas identified by the government for high unemployment rates. This allows foreign investors to come to the United States while simultaneously promoting job opportunities for American workers.

For an EB-5 visa, there are two categories. First, you can invest $1 million into a new or existing business that you have full direction over. This business must create 10 full-time jobs in the country for two years.

Alternatively, you can invest $500,000 into a designated regional center. These centers are controlled by a partnership or another legal entity composed of other investors. This center must create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers for two years. A variation of this option includes investing $500,000 in a business targeted at a key employment area. This includes businesses in rural areas or in areas with high unemployment rates. Again, the business must employ at least 10 workers full-time for two years.

No matter which option you choose, your investment must have a good return and support the U.S. economy. In return, you have the opportunity for residency. There are pros and cons to each option for the EB-5 visa. You will want to consider your personal assets and your appetite for risk.

You can discuss the options with Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers. We’ll go over each one and explore whether or not it is a good fit for your immigration dreams. To learn more about the EB-5 visa, visit our employment immigration page.

Consider Your Future in the United States

If you’re dreaming about life in the U.S., Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers is poised to help. The options to live here through employment are vast, and you can use your work to build your life. Let us review your case in a free evaluation. We’ll determine your eligibility and talk to you about all the options for labor certification and investor visas. We’re excited to work with you, so contact us now.

Use Your Talent for a Green Card

In the United States, we like to attract the best of the best. That’s why personal achievement visas exist. These visas are designed for people renowned in their field. This could include:

• Actors
• Athletes
• Artists
• Dancers
• Directors
• Doctors
• Musicians
• Painters
• Performers
• Scientists
• Singers
• Writers

Essentially, all professions are covered. To be eligible, you must be recognized at the top of your field. Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers will be here to help you find your path and prove that your extraordinary ability should warrant residency in this country. We can support your case from start to finish and help you understand the process and your eligibility.

With this special type of visa, you can apply for residency directly. You don’t need to be sponsored by a family member or employer. This visa is the Green Card equivalent of the O-1 Visa (for temporary work in the U.S.), and many O-1 Visa holders can qualify for U.S. residency.

The qualify, you must be able to demonstrate that you have extraordinary ability. This means you have notable achievements or are at the top of your field. You should have publicly recognized national or international acclaim in science, the arts, business, education, or sports.

 An offer of employment is not necessary. You simply must demonstrate that you will continue using your extraordinary ability in the field in which you gained this reputation once you are approved for your Green Card. If you previously entered the United States on an O-1 nonimmigrant visa, it is likely that you may also qualify for U.S. residency by virtue of your extraordinary ability.

Specific evidence to demonstrate your extraordinary ability is required. If you have won a Nobel Prize, an Oscar, or a similar internationally recognized award, you are eligible. You can also qualify with three or more of the 10 criteria:

1. Winner of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards
2. Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement (as judged by recognized experts)
3. Significant published material (written by others) about you relating to your professional work
4. Service as judge of the work of others in your field
5. Major contributions to your field (i.e. DVDs, recordings, patents, copyrights, cure for a disease)
6. Scholarly articles written by you in publications
7. Artistic exhibitions or showcases (i.e. art exhibitions, athletic competitions, and so on)
8. Leading or critical role for distinguished organizations (i.e. featured actor in a movie or TV program, being chosen to create a new logo for the Olympics, and so on)
9. High salary or remuneration (compared to others in the field)
10. Commercial success in performing arts (shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disk, or video sales)

Those who qualify can obtain U.S. permanent residency in the United States very quickly. This is by far one of the most expeditious avenues for obtaining U.S. residency. In fact, the USCIS can issue an approval of a qualifying Immigrant Visa application in as little as 15 days!

When you choose Caroly Pedersen, Esq - American Immigration Law Centers, we are committed to providing you with the best representation possible. Once you have compiled your documentation, we will thoroughly review your credentials, determine your potential for visa approval based on this information, and advise you regarding your possibility for qualification.

Because the USCIS has become very strict about approving these types of visas, we do not accept every case and will be honest with you about your possibility for success. Please feel free to discuss your case and options with us before making a final decision about this or any other kind of immigration visa filing.

For more information about immigrating to the U.S. and obtaining a Green Card, please contact our office to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to meeting you and helping you to achieve your immigration dreams!