Unfortunately, divorce is a common occurrence in the United States. Often, it is a lengthy and complex undertaking due to custody and visitation issues, as well as division of community property. An additional complicating factor is the immigration status of the divorcing parents. A change in marital status often impacts one spouse's right to remain in the United States. In such situations, it is critical to have an attorney skilled in both immigration law and family law.
For foreign nationals, divorce proceedings are impacted by current immigration status. For example, if one spouse is a conditional lawful permanent resident, a divorce would disallow the spouse from remaining a permanent resident upon the expiration of the conditional status. Removal of the conditions is often available, so it is important to ensure that removal of conditions is timely and properly sought and obtained. Legal representation is necessary to navigate the removal of conditions.
Children of a divorcing couple are also impacted by immigration issues. If one parent is faced with removal from the United States, the child faces the difficult challenge of not seeing the parent for long periods of time. Child custody and visitation rights must be carefully analyzed and fought for to ensure that children and parents maintain a proper parent-child relationship.
Foreign nationals that are victims of domestic violence can qualify for special legal protection that helps protect them and their children without jeopardizing their immigration status. Protective orders can be obtained to help ensure the safety and peace of mind while divorce proceedings are pending. However, applying for these legal protections require the services and expertise of an experienced family law and immigration attorney to obtain a successful outcome.
Christiansen Law Firm has extensive experience in both family law and immigration law, providing clients with effective representation in custody, divorce, adoption, domestic violence, deportation and immigration matters. The immigration and family law attorneys of Christiansen Law Firm strive to make sure that the rights of foreign nationals and their children are protected in divorce proceedings. By having experienced and knowledgeable attorneys, clients can maximize the likelihood of a succesful outcome. For more information on how the attorneys of Christiansen Law Firm can assist you, please contact our office to arrange a free consultation.