Reach Out Today

Lessons learned........VOTE!

May 24, 2021

Lessons learned........VOTE!

If we have learned anything in recent years, it is that elections have consequences.

To have an impact on an election, you must vote. To vote in the United States, in most cases you must be a registered voter and only U.S. citizens can register to vote. That means, if you did not become a U.S. citizen by birth, you must become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

To do that, you file an N-400 application for naturalization with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”). Foley Law Offices will prepare the 20-page form for you, submit the form via certified mail through the U.S. Postal Service and provide you with an electronic copy of the entire filing.

Depending on where you are in the United States, it is taking about 8-12 months to get your naturalization interview with USCIS.

If we prepare your case, you will meet with a Foley Law Offices lawyer prior to the naturalization interview to assist you on the Civics exam, prepare you for the questions the USCIS officer is likely to ask during the interview and review what evidence you need to bring to the interview. The Foley Law Offices lawyer will make sure you know where to go for the interview, what materials to bring to the interview, and what to wear to the interview.

The bulk of most naturalization interviews is going through the N-400 petition page by page and reviewing your immigration history with the USCIS officer. The Foley Law Offices lawyer will remain with you for the entire process and assist you in responding to the USCIS officer.

Basic Requirements

Not anyone can become a naturalized U.S. citizen. You must be a Legal Permanent Resident (also known as a Green cardholder) and meet the following conditions:

Be over eighteen (18) years of age.

Be physically in the U.S. for half the time during your period of Permanent Residency.

You must have continuous residence in the U.S. without long (6-months or longer) absences.

You must have good moral character. If you have any criminal history, you must inform Foley Law Offices so we can advise you on going forward with a naturalization petition. Minor criminal issues (ie: driving without a license) do not prevent you from becoming a U.S. citizen but major criminal matters (ie: murder, aggravated felonies, etc.) can bar you from ever becoming a U.S. citizen.

English and Civics Test

There is a civics test that consists of ten (10) questions; six (6) of which you must answer correctly. Foley Law Offices and USCIS will provide you with study guides so you are prepared for the test.

You must also be able to read one sentence (usually one of the test questions) and write one sentence (usually the answer to the question you read which will be provided by the USCIS officer).

You may have a lawyer with you for the naturalization test but no one else. Your spouse, even if a U.S. citizen, may NOT attend or participate in the naturalization test.

The entire test takes about 15-minutes and a lawyer from Foley Law Offices will be sitting next to you the entire time.

USCIS Fee

Currently, the USCIS filing fee is $725.

Foley Law Offices Fee

The Foley Law Offices legal fee for most naturalization cases is $2500. If there are criminal matters or circumstances that require additional work, the legal fee will be adjusted accordingly.

What’s the next step?

The next step is to call Foley Law Office at (617) 397-4787 and schedule a time to meet with a lawyer to discuss your personal situation. We look forward to assisting you in becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Why become a U.S. citizen?

The answer to that question has its own informational email. In a nutshell, becoming a U.S. citizen gets you outside the control of USCIS for good, it qualifies you to obtain a U.S. passport (another informational email) and you get to vote in local, state and federal U.S. elections. Once you are a U.S. citizen, we’ll help you apply for a U.S. passport and we’ll help you register to vote. As we know, elections have consequences!

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks,

John Foley

Foley Law Offices, P.C.

Boston, Massachusetts

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Driver Licenses for Those in Massachusetts Without Legal Immigration Status

May 10, 2022

The Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill that may allow people without legal immigration status to get Massachusetts driver’s licenses beginning next year. The Massachusetts House passed a similar bill two months ago by a veto-proof margin. The out-going Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker has repeatedly said he doesn’t support allowing people without legal immigration status to obtain driver licenses. If the Legislature over-rides Governor Baker’s expected veto, people without legal immigration status could obtain a driver’s license by providing two documents that prove their identity. The documentation could be a foreign passport and a birth certificate with a certified English translation or a foreign passport and a marriage certificate. If it becomes law, the new identification requirements would take effect on July 1, 2023. The bill’s passage would mean Massachusetts would join 16 other states and the District of Colombia where undocumented individuals are allowed to receive driver licenses. While it has been considered before, the Massachusetts legislation now has the support of a number of interested parties including a majority of the state’s Sheriffs and district attorneys and the Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association. While the new law will not be implemented for more than a year, Foley Law Offices is compiling a list of individuals who plan to apply for a driver’s license as soon as they are legally able to do so. Attorney John Foley said “these are people who are out of immigration status but they drive every day because they work or they have kids. They are your neighbors. Allowing them to get driver licenses will make our roads safer and it will allow them to breath a bit easier as they go about their day.” For more information on what documents you need to provide to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license and to get on the filing waiting list, call Foley Law Offices at (617) 397-4787.

A Long Journey Powered by Love

April 14, 2022

After a long journey over many years, I was delighted to welcome Souleymane Conde to Boston, Massachusetts and the United States of America. Souleymane is married to Esther King who lives in the Dorchester section of Boston. Esther was a teenager living in Liberia in west Africa when a brutal civil war forced her to walk over 250 miles north to an international refugee camp in Guinea. There Esther met Souleymane where he was working as a teacher. Esther’s refugee status took her to the United States but, in her words “I never forgot the love of my life, Souleymane.” After she had built a life for herself in the U.S., Esther returned to Guinea to find Souleymane. She said “despite the years it was as if we had never been apart.” On a later trip, Souleymane and Esther were married. Esther is a U.S. citizen and she tried to bring Souleymane to the United States in 2014 but for unknown reasons the U.S. Consulate denied her petition. We were hired in 2019 and despite the pandemic and a previous U.S. administration that didn’t want to bring in immigrants from Africa, we were able to make it through the U.S. immigration gauntlet and Souleymane’s case was finally approved. Souleymane arrived in the U.S. on March 18th and was welcomed into the loving arms of his wife, Esther. It was a long journey but they were finally together. It can be a struggle dealing with U.S. immigration and the different U.S. Consulates around the world but when you are able to help re-unite a family ---- it is worth it. Welcome Souleymane! And Congratulations Esther!

Reach Out Today

Lessons learned........VOTE!