Preparing for an immigration reform

Starting today, I am once again writing a weekly column that will appear every Tuesday on LaOpinion.com and in other impreMedia digital publications around the country. This week's topic is how to prepare for immigration reform. It is important to keep in mind that a reform is not going to happen right away, but it will give people time to prepare. Here is my column:

President Obama is finally making good on the promise he made when he launched his first presidential campaign: to dedicate efforts to initiate comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a path to legalization for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

During the last week of January, a bipartisan group of senators presented a plan and President Obama emphasized the need to accelerate the process to pass reform this year. Last week, the first hearing was held in the House of Representatives and this week, one will be held in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Although there is a lot of pressure for reform, it will not be easy. There are many legislators who do not support it and insist that there must be more border security before there can be any talk of immigration reform. That is why it is so important that you make your voices heard.

For starters, they should ask U.S. citizen employers, family members and friends to contact their representatives in the U.S. Congress and demand that they support a bill that would protect the millions of undocumented immigrants in this country. They should also send letters and flood their representatives' switchboards with calls asking them to support immigration reform.

The exact details of the bill and who would qualify are not yet known, but be prepared for when it is finally passed.

Here are some tips on how to prepare:

Maintain the best moral conduct - Any immigration benefit requires a thorough study of the applicant, including his or her criminal history. It is extremely important that you stay out of trouble. If you currently have a case pending in criminal court, do not plead guilty to any crime without first speaking to an immigration attorney.

If you have been convicted of a crime in the past, do not apply for any immigration benefits without first consulting with an immigration attorney to determine the immigration consequences of the crime you committed.

Do your taxes - It is essential that you do your taxes. Consult an accountant to determine your tax liability. People who are in the country illegally can file taxes using an ITIN number.

Keep proof that you have lived in the U.S. - the federal government will most likely require applicants for immigration reform to prove that they have lived in the U.S. for a certain amount of time. You will need to keep documents such as rent receipts, student records, mortgage and car loan payments, medical records, utility bills, phone bills, etc. that prove you have been in the country.

Save as much as you can - any reform will likely require the payment of fees and penalties for those who are eligible to apply for immigration benefits under the new bill. In addition, you will have to pay for the services of an immigration attorney or a federally accredited representative to assist you with the process.

If you are low-income, you may be able to get help from a non-profit organization for legal advice. But the reality is that there will be so many people seeking help that these organizations will not be able to serve everyone. If you do not have the necessary funds or legal advice, you will not be able to take advantage of future immigration reform.

Consult with an immigration attorney - Immigration reform will provide a temporary provisional legal status that in the long run may turn into a permanent residency. You will probably have to wait several years to get a green card. This is because they will first process the cases of people who are already waiting for an immigrant visa.

Immigration reform will take time to pass. Then it will take even more time for it to be implemented. Therefore, I recommend that you immediately consult with an immigration attorney to see if you may have other options to legalize your status.

There are several ways to obtain permanent residency as long as you are eligible, such as through family-based petitions, employment-based petitions, or special programs like NACARA and the U visa.