My Advocate Group
My Advocate Group is a Los Angeles-based law firm that is dedicated to providing excellent legal representation. We handle various areas of legal representation, including but not limited to, Immigration, Criminal, Family/Divorce and Civil/Personal Injury. We are working to increase our areas of practice so please contact us if you need assistance in another area of law, if we are not able to assist you, we will attempt to help you find exceptional legal representation.
Immigration
My Advocate Group handles Immigration-related matters including emigrating to the United States and Immigration Defense in Immigration Court. During this representation, the focus is on our clients. Many times, when people need Immigration attorneys, they are in unfamiliar territory and it can be a very difficult time. We want to make our clients feel at ease and explain the process in a understandable and familiar manner. We take into account the situation and listen to every one of our clients. Through listening and learning about you, we are better prepared to assist you in any manner that you need. Please contact an immigration lawyer to learn more or to discuss your situation.We handle the following types of cases and many more:
- Family-Sponsored Immigration
- Employer-Sponsored Immigration
- Deportation/Removal Defense
- Citizenship
- other non-immigrant programs
Family-Sponsored Immigration
People can become legal permanent residents (green card holders) through certain family members. In order to start the process, the US Citizen or green card holder must file a petition for the person seeking to become a legal permanent resident. Even when the petition is approved, the person seeking the green card will likely have to wait for a green card (visa) to become available. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formally known as INS) allows for so many visas per year. Five countries (China, India, Mexico, Dominican Republic and the Philippines) are oversubscribed which means that at some point people from that country received more green cards (Visas) than they were supposed to and so people from those countries have additional wait times depending on their relationship to the family member that is petitioning for them.
If you are petitioned by what is referred to as an "immediate relative", there is no wait time except the time that it takes USCIS to process the visa application. "Immediate relatives" are spouses of US Citizens, parents of US Citizens that are at least 21 years old or children under 21 years old of US Citizens.
If the person seeking their green card has spent any time in the United States illegally or entered the United States illegally, they may have other issues and should contact an immigration attorney to learn about their eligibility.
Employer-Sponsored Immigration
Employers can petition for workers to come or stay in the United States either permanently or temporarily. The employer can petition for the employee to start the process for the employee to get a green card or the employer can petition for the employee to come or stay in the United States on a temporary basis.
In order for employers to petition for workers, in many cases, they must first find out if there are any US workers that are qualified and available for the job. The employer files for a labor certification with the Department of Labor. Once the Department of Labor issues the Certification, the employer can petition for the employee with USCIS (formally INS).
If the person seeking their green card has spent any time in the United States illegally or entered the United States illegally, they may have other issues and should contact an immigration attorney to learn about their eligibility.
Removal/Deportation Defense
For a variety of reasons, both green card holders and those in the United States illegally end up in Immigration Court. Generally, before almost anyone is deported or removed from the United States, they have a right to be heard in Immigration Court. There are exceptions and the person to be deported/removed may have to remain detained while awaiting their hearing, but almost everyone is entitled to a hearing. At that hearing, the Immigration Judge will tell the person facing deportation/removal that they have the right to an attorney but that the government will not pay for it. Those persons should contact an immigration attorney to find out if they have any relief available to them; in other words, is there a way that they can stay in the United States legally. If the Immigration Judge orders someone deported or removed, then that person will have a more difficult time getting their green card in the future even if they have a way to do it, for example, if they marry a US citizen. Since these hearing have serious consequences, people should at least meet with an experienced immigration attorney to find out about their rights and to find out if there is any way that they can legalize their status in the United States. Also, if the person is detained, you should contact an immigration attorney to find out if they are eligible to be released from detention and have their hearings while they are out on bond/bail.
Criminal
My Advocate Group handles criminal defense cases. Also, during this representation the focus is on the client. Many times, when people need criminal defense attorneys, they are in unfamiliar territory and it is a very difficult time. We want to make our clients feel at ease and explain the process in a understandable and familiar manner. We take into account the situation and listen to every one of our clients. Through listening and learning about you, we are better prepared to fight for you! Please contact a criminal defense lawyer to learn more or if we can assist you.
We handle the following types of cases and many more:- Assault
- Battery
- Driving Under the Influence
- Drug Offenses
- Domestic Violence
- Property Offenses
- Theft Offenses
- Vandalism
- And Any Other Offenses
- Expungements of Criminal Records
- Probation Violations/Warrant Recalls
- Litigating Restitution Hearings {For more information about what a restitution hearing is and how we can assist you, click on restitution hearing above or here.}
- and many other, related services
