Call to Speak with Sheila Rivera

(346) 257-3195

Send us a message

Write to Us

Schedule a legal consultation

Appointment

Sheila is a Licensed Attorney admitted by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico located in Texas, she is also an AILA member (American Immigration Lawyers Association)

MEET OUR FOUNDER ATTORNEY SHEILA RIVERA-VAZQUEZ

Attorney Rivera received her Juris Doctor from Escuela de Derecho Eugenio Maria de Hostos in Mayaguez Puerto Rico, and was admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar in 2012. In 2017 she permanently move to the State of Texas and became a member of the American immigration Lawyers Association (AILA member). She assists immigrants of all cultures and backgrounds to successfully resolve or complete their immigration status.

Through her work preparing family-based immigration petitions, employment-based immigration petitions, applications for adjustment of status, and applications for U.S. citizenship or naturalization, domestic violence petitions, religious petitions, business visa petitions and tourist visa petitions she helps provide you certainty so you can live your life with integrity and support your family.

CONOCE A NUESTRA ABOGADA FUNDADORA SHEILA RIVERA VAZQUEZ

La abogada Rivera recibió su Juris Doctor de la Escuela de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, y fue admitida en el Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico en 2012. En 2017 se mudó permanentemente al Estado de Texas y se convirtió en miembro de la Asociación Estadounidense de Abogados de Inmigración. (Miembro de AILA). Ella ayuda a inmigrantes de todas las culturas y orígenes a resolver o completar con éxito su estatus migratorio.

A través de su trabajo en la preparación de solicitudes de inmigración basadas en la familia, solicitudes de inmigración basadas en el empleo, solicitudes de ajuste de estatus y solicitudes de ciudadanía o naturalización de los EE. UU., Solicitudes de violencia doméstica, solicitudes religiosas, solicitudes de visa de negocios y solicitudes de visa de turista, ella ayuda a brindarle certeza para puede vivir su vida con integridad y apoyar a su familia.

Our Services

Appeals and Federal Court Litigation

We represent clients on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals. An Immigrant generally appeals Immigration Judges decision or Final Decisions from Immigration Officers. The BIA states that it generally seeks to adjudicate cases in no more than 180 days, however appeals can take between 8-18 months (depending on the novelty and complexity of the legal issues being reviewed). The BIA's decision is generally the final decision in the case.

Asylum

To be eligible for asylum an Immigrant must show that he was persecuted (or would be); because of one or more "protected grounds": your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Consular Process

Consular processing is the procedure of applying for an immigrant visa (green card) through a U.S. embassy or consulate in a foreign country. It is also one of two paths for obtaining an immigrant visa to the United States through family-based immigration. The second path is adjustment of status. If the applicant is outside the U.S., the only path for immigrating to the U.S. is to use consular processing.

Once a visa is available and the NVC has received the DS-260 with all supporting documents, the consular office will schedule the beneficiary for an interview. The consular officer will complete processing of the applicant’s case and decide if the beneficiary is eligible for an immigrant visa.

If the beneficiary is granted an immigrant visa (green card), the consular officer will give him or her a packet of information. This packet is known as a “Visa Packet.”

Employment-based Immigration

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/employment-based-immigrant-visas.html

Family-based Immigration

Family-based immigration requires the participation of at least two family members, a petitioner and a beneficiary. The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident that wants to sponsor a foreign family member for a green card.
There are two major groups of family-based immigrants: immediate relative categories and family preference categories. When a U.S. citizen or permanent resident petitions a foreign family member, the immigrant will fall into one of these two categories.

Naturalization and Citizenship

To become a U.S. citizen you must meet the following requirements:

You must be 18 years of age or older.
You must have authorization to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis (informally known as a green card) for at least five years (or three years, if married to a United States citizen).
You must have continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years (or three years, if married to a United States citizen) and be physically present in the U.S. for at least half that time.
Must be able to read, write and speak basic English.
- Some people do not have to speak English at all or answer any questions about United States history and civics, depending on many factors such as their age, time in the U.S. as green card holders, and if they have a disability. For more information about language exceptions, disability exceptions, and accommodations, click here.
Must have a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government.
You must be a person of “good moral character.”
You must take a loyalty oath to the United States and support the Constitution and form of government of the United States.

NONIMMIGRANT BUSINESS AND TOURISTS VISAS (B1-B2)

Only those who are not in the US Visa Waiver Program need to apply for a tourist visa to USA. If you are from a Visa Waiver country then you are in luck. You can just follow the simple procedures of applying for an ESTA and then make your travel arrangements.

If your country does not qualify for a US VISA Waiver Program then you can request a B1/B2 VISA;

The requirements for a B1/B2 Visa are:

Prove your visit will be temporary.
Prove your intention to depart the U.S. at end of your stay (or any extension)
Hold a valid foreign passport.
Maintain a residence abroad to which you intend to return.
You are able to support yourself financially while in the country.

Financial or bank statements to prove you have the finances to stay in the US of at least $266 for each day of your planned stay. Ties to your home country. Family, job contract, lease, or property deed, which prove you will return.

RELIGIOUS VISAS

To qualify as an immigrant religious worker, for at least two years before a petition may be filed on your behalf, you must:

Have been a member of the religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States for which you are coming to work; and
Have been continuously carrying out the religious vocation or occupation that you intend to carry out in the United States.

Removal (Deportation) Defense

Some of the types of relief from removal that may be available to an undocumented immigrants who is in immigration court are

1. Family-based adjustment of status.

2. Asylum.

3. Withholding of removal.

4. Protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

5. Cancellation of removal for persons who are not lawful permanent residents.

6. Cancellation under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

7. Voluntary Departure.

8. Deferred action.

9. Prosecutorial Discretion

Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa

For a child to qualify for SIJS, it must be "determined in administrative or judicial proceedings that it would not be in the alien's best interest to be returned to the alien's or parent's previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence." familiar one under the laws of almost every state.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT VISAS

VAWA self-petitions are available to: Spouses and former spouses of abusive U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Divorced spouses may self-petition if the termination of the marriage was related to the abuse and if the application is filed within two years of the termination of the marriage.

Immigration Services

U.S. Citizenship or naturalization

Learn More

Our Blog / Nuestro Blog

Sep 06, 2020 | International

We’re offering hope to people all over the world

May 13, 2020 | Texas

Evite las estafas de inmigración

Apr 22, 2020 | Katy, Texas

Hearings in non-detained cases are postponed through May 15, 2020

Apr 21, 2020 | Texas

Acusan a HAFA/CRECEN de cometer irregularidades

Apr 21, 2020 | Texas

Desmontan trama que organizaba matrimonios falsos

Apr 20, 2020 | Katy, Texas

Nuestros horarios de oficina se redujeron de 10-3 durante la emergencia del COVID 19

Testimonials

"I contacted Sheila and she scheduled the interview for the next morning with my spouse and I. She was very attentive and thorough with my husbands case. She is very professional.”

Nallely Cortes

"Sheila is such an excellent, amazing and wonderful attorney! She prepared our documents so well that the uscis Officer didn’t have to ask us much question. Our interview went smoothly.”

Nhung Dao

"Came to Sheila to talk about our options &we felt so confident in our choice for picking her! She answered all of our questions, gave us some awesome advice, and her staff was amazing! So kind!”

Lorenna Montoya

"La abogada Sheila es de lo mejor, no engaña como muchos otros abogados, es una gran abogada que cuenta con un gran equipo pero sobre todo es una persona con un corazón muy noble”

Elvira Pineda

"Gracias a la abogada pude arreglar a un familiar. Muy professional y muy educada. Hizo mi caso muy fácil. Les recomiendo mucho esta abogada.”

Angel Campos

"Mi experiencia con la abogada Sheila y su equipo de trabajo es de agradecimiento porque yo y mi hija obtuvimos los permisos de trabajo rapido. La recomiendo 100%..”

Karina Saravia

"I never had people to defend me, but Sheila and her team did not stop defending me and fighting for me. they are truly an amazing group of people and a blessing to me and my life!”

Amazonian Luxy

Resources / Recursos

Departamento de Estado | U.S. Visas

Información Automatizada de Casos

Biometric Passport Photo iOS App

Verificar el Estatus de su Caso en Linea

Member of AILA

American Immigration Lawyers Association

VISION

Sheila Rivera Law Office vision is to advocate for your American dream.

La visión de la oficina de Sheila Rivera es abogar por su sueño americano.

MISSION

Sheila Rivera Law Office mission is to encourage justice, advocate for fair and due processes for our fellow immigrants’ and dignify our client’s lives with the legal service we provide, offering hope to humankind through our legal experience.

La misión de Sheila Rivera Law Office es fomentar la justicia, abogar por procesos justos y debidos para nuestros compañeros inmigrantes y dignificar la vida de nuestros clientes con el servicio legal que brindamos, ofreciendo esperanza a la humanidad a través de nuestra experiencia.

Contact Us

E-mail
sheila@sheilariveralawofficepllc.com
Phone
T. (346) 257-3195
Address
6671 Southwest Freeway Suite 472
Houston, Texas

Fighting for Your american Dream