What should you be doing to prepare for potential immigration reform?
1. Do NOT pay anyone to get in line for immigration reform; hold your paper work or open a file on your behalf to get a head start! Ethically, an Immigration attorney cannot retain a case for some form of relief until it has been passed or approved by the Immigration Service.
2. Request a valid identification as a consular Id or passport from the consulate from your country of origin within the U.S.
3. Start gathering and saving all proof for the years that you have lived in the United States. Make sure all documents have your name and the date. Examples of documents: pay check stubs, income taxes, doctor/dentist receipts, rental agreements or receipts, school records(transcipts), vehicle registrations, insurance documents, letters addressed to you with a dated postal stamp, bank statements
4. Get any criminal documents if you have ever been arrested and take care of all unpaid traffic ticket or outstanding warrants of arrest.
5. Save, save, save! Congress is suggesting heavy fines payable to the Immigration Service as part of Immigration Reform. The fine may be between $500 – $1000, plus an application fee will apply.