Documents for Your Initial Consultation

Case Type

Documents

1. All U.S. immigration cases

1. Current foreign passport (all pages except blank)
2. For a lawful permanent resident (LPR): Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (front and back)
3. For a nonimmigrant: most recent Form I-94, Arrival Record
4. Your personal U.S. immigration history records

2. Family-sponsored immigration

1. Evidence of the petitioner’s U.S. immigration status: U.S. passport (ID pages), U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or citizenship certificate; or Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (front and back)
2. Petitioner’s most recent Federal Tax return photocopy or IRS tax return (1040) transcript
3. Evidence of petitioner’s relationship to the family member(s) seeking to immigrate. For example:
   • Parent: child’s birth certificate; parents’ marriage certificate
   • Spouse: marriage certificate; evidence of both spouses’ termination of all prior marriages (divorce, death, or annulment certificate)
   • Fiancé(e): Evidence of both parties’ termination of all prior marriages (divorce, death, or annulment certificate)

3. B-1 (visitor for business) visa

1. Your current resume
2. Documents showing the purpose and itinerary for meetings in the U.S.
3. Any letters and contracts showing prior dealings with the U.S. company

4. F-1 (student) visa

1. Diplomas
2. Transcripts
3. U.S. school admission letter, if available
4. Copies of your application to the school (including any personal statement or recommendation letter)
5. Test scores
6. For master’s or PhD student: research/study plan with detailed information about your planned studies or research in the United States, including the name and e-mail address of your advising professor and/or the head of your department in the United States.

5. L-1 (intracompany transferee) visa

1. Your current resume
2. U.S. job:
   • Employment contract, assignment agreement, and/or job offer
   • Detailed job description
3. Qualifying foreign employment:
   • Employment contract, assignment agreement, and/or job offer
   • Most recent paystub (aka earnings statement)
   • Detailed job description
4. Business licenses and certificates of incorporation (formation) for the U.S. and foreign companies
5. Evidence of how the U.S. and foreign companies are related. For example:
   • Share register (aka share transfer ledger) for the subsidiary company, showing that it is majority-owned by the parent company
   • Share register for both companies, showing that they have the same majority shareholder

6. Naturalization

1. Most recent Federal Tax return photocopy or IRS tax return (1040) transcript
2. U.S. physical presence worksheet: If during the last 5 years you have been outside the U.S. for 4 months or more in any 12 month-period, fill this Worksheet. (It will open in “view only” mode. Save it to your device, fill it in, then provide it to our firm.)
3. Naturalization based on marriage to U.S. citizen:
   • Marriage certificate
   • Evidence of both spouses’ termination of all prior marriages (divorce, death, or annulment certificate)
   • Children’s birth certificates
4. Expeditious naturalization under section 319(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on the basis of a U.S. citizen spouse’s employment abroad for a U.S. company or other qualified entity: Provide these documents.

7. Reentry permit

1. Foreign employment contract or job offer, if any
2. Most recent Federal Tax return photocopy or IRS tax return (1040) transcript

8. Preserving lawful permanent resident status during a prolonged stay abroad.

1. Foreign employment contract or job offer, if any
2. Most recent Federal Tax return photocopy or IRS tax return (1040) transcript
3. U.S. physical presence worksheet: If since you became a permanent resident you have been outside the U.S. for 4 months or more in any 12 month-period, fill this Worksheet. (It will open in “view only” mode. Save it to your device, fill it in, then provide it to our firm.)

9. Citizenship and travel documentation for child with U.S. and China nationality

Provide any of these documents that are available:

1. Child’s U.S. or China birth certificate (China medical certificate of birth and notarial certificate of birth, if available)
2. Parents’ marriage certificate
3. Parents’ passport ID pages
4. Household registration booklet for child and Chinese parent, or certificate of cancellation of household registration
5. Child’s U.S. and China passports (all pages but blank)
6. U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad
7. Child’s previously filed Form U.S. DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Application
8. Child’s China Exit and Entry Permit
9. Child’s China Travel Permit

10. To discuss how Communist or totalitarian party membership may impact your immigration case

1. Your current resume
2. Evidence of termination of membership, if any
3. Any documents related to your application for membership, payment of dues, or otherwise mentioning your membership or affiliation.

11. To discuss how a criminal arrest or conviction may impact your immigration case

1. Arrest records
2. Court records, such as the criminal complaint or indictment, plea agreement, and judgment
3. If you don’t have the relevant records, provide a list showing:
   • Date/place of any arrest
   • Date/name of court that issued judgment