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Trying to navigate the United States Immigration system can be confusing at best. There is a complex web of laws and forms to sort through and a false move can sink your chances of coming to the United States.

Unfortunately, it only gets more confusing with all the changes recently to Immigration Law. Let me help you make sense of it all.

Family-Based Immigration

The majority of immigrants seeking Lawful Permanent Residents come to the United States via the Family-Based immigration route. These are spouses of United States Citizens and Law Permanent Residents (LPRs), their children, parents, and spouses who qualify to enter the US this way. Many factors determine whether or not the prospective immigrant can enter the US this way.

Adjustment of Status

If you're in the United States lawfully on a temporary visa, you may be able to request an Adjustment of Status to secure a "Green Card" without having to leave the United States to do so.

Citizenship and Naturalization

After having resided in the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident for three years if you're married to and living with your US citizen spouse, or five years otherwise, you may want to consider becoming a naturalized US citizen. As with all other types of immigration law, there are a variety of factors that determine an LPR's eligibility to become naturalized.

Non-Immigrant Visas

Non-Immigrant visas include visitor visas for tourists, as well as visas for exchange students, foreign workers, including au pairs, and student visas. This is not an exhaustive list, but are some of the most common non-immigrant visas.

Estate Planning is usually thought of as only for the ultra-wealthy. Even a person who has modest wealth can benefit his/her heirs by planning ahead when it comes to the distribution of assets.

The most common parts of an estate plan are wills, trusts, and advanced directives. Don't make your heirs guess your wishes.

Wills

Wills are, in their simplest forms, a written document that spells out the distribution of the maker's assets, who is to care for dependents, and the final wishes of the maker.

Trusts

Trusts come in many different "flavors." They can keep the transfer of assets out of the public record that happens during probate. They can be used to provide care for special needs beneficiaries, provide an income for life for a beneficiary and then have the remainder go to a charity. They can be changeable during the life of the maker or not. They can move assets out of the estate of the maker so that they aren't taxed at death.

In short, trusts are very flexible ways of accomplishing the transfer of assets that a will can't do on its own.

Advanced Directives

If you are unable to make decisions about your healthcare because of illness or injury, who do you want to make those decisions for you? Do you want to be kept alive on life support? Or would you rather have a "Do Not Resuscitate" order in your medical records?

Estate Plans

An estate plan's objectives include, in part, avoiding probate, minimizing taxes, planning for illness or infirmity, minimizing family conflict, and managing digital assets.

Because Medicaid is a needs-based government program there are strict financial limits in order to qualify for help. By strategic planning, you can be able to use Medicaid to fund long-term care while keeping as many of your assets as possible.

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust

This is an irrevocable trust that holds your assets. If it is created at least five years before you need Medicaid, then the assets aren't counted when determining the value of your assets.

Other Ways to Prepare for Medicaid

There are several planning strategies to help you qualify for Medicaid. Among these strategies are the use of Caregiver Agreements, Annuities, Spending Down assets, making the most of asset exclusions and spousal allowances.

Medicaid qualification can be delayed if assets that aren't excluded are above the $2,000 limit or if assets are liquidated within the five year period immediately preceding the application for Medicaid.

Family Law

Practice limited to low conflict divorce, child custody, child support and adoption.

Contracts

Practice limited to contract review.

Residential Real Estate

Practice limited to the purchase and sale of residential property.