Immigration resolutions for 2013

Happy New Year! This week in my column in La Opinión I offer some recommendations for immigration resolutions for 2013.

The end of the year gives us the opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments and make resolutions to improve our lives in the new year. Today I propose that you also make the following immigration resolutions in 2013:

1. Do not visit notaries public, consultants or multi-service providers to obtain immigration legal advice. U.S. law prohibits such persons from giving legal advice. Only licensed attorneys or federally accredited representatives are authorized to give proper advice.

2. Become a U.S. citizen. If you are eligible, do it right away. There are more than 8 million permanent residents who could apply for U.S. citizenship. If you are a citizen, you gain the right to vote, you will be able to get better jobs, and you cannot be deported from the country unless you obtained your U.S. citizenship fraudulently. In addition, you can travel outside the U.S. for as long as you want, without having to worry that you must return to the country to avoid losing your status, and you can help other family members immigrate to the U.S. more quickly.

3. Help family members immigrate to the U.S. As a citizen, you can immigrate your parents, spouses, children, and unmarried or married siblings. If your children and siblings are married, their spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may also be able to immigrate with the relative you are petitioning for. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, you may only petition for your spouse and unmarried children of any age.

4. Maintain the best moral conduct. Getting in trouble with the law can hurt your immigration paperwork. For example, permanent residents who commit certain crimes can be deported. Also, people in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program will lose their immigration status if they are found guilty of two misdemeanors or one felony.

5. Apply for permanent residency as soon as possible if you are eligible. This opens the way to citizenship and to petition for certain family members.

6. Do not lie on immigration applications. This is cause for denial of immigration benefits.

7. Doing taxes. It is an excellent way to prove your stay in the U.S. and demonstrate good moral character.

8. Create a legal fund for immigration reform or legal defense in immigration court. I am optimistic that there will be immigration reform. You will need money to defray the costs of the paperwork when the time comes.

Follow these tips and you will soon achieve the American dream!