Lorena Rivas’ prowess as an authority figure in the world of Oklahoma immigration law continues to grow. Earlier this year, the Fry & Elder immigration law attorney traveled to our nation’s capital to take part in the American Immigration Lawyers Association National Day of Action where she met with many state lawmakers to discuss Oklahoma immigration law and national immigration law policies.
With the month of November now set aside as National Veterans and Military Families month and Veteran’s Day taking place on Nov. 11 of each year since 1954, Rivas penned an article which is featured in this month’s Tulsa Lawyer Magazine and focuses on how military benefits and service can help immigrants and foreigners.
Appropriately titled “Military Benefits to Reach the American Dream,” Rivas’ article is featured on page 20 of the Tulsa County Bar Association’s official publication. Rivas went into detail about how “military personnel and their family members may be eligible to naturalize more rapidly than civilians (3-5 years of legal permanent resident status to apply for citizenship). Their ability to naturalize more rapidly depends on whether they qualify for ‘wartime’ or ‘peacetime’ naturalization.”
The highly-regarded and experienced Oklahoma immigration law attorney then proceeded to elaborate on the difference between the naturalization process during “wartime” and “peacetime,” stating:
“Under the wartime statute, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows any non-citizen who served honorably during specified periods of conflict to naturalize even if they are not lawful permanent residents. Under the peacetime naturalization law, the INA allows lawful permanent residents who have served at least one year in the military to naturalize.”
Rivas also wrote in detail about parole-in-place and how it can be requested by for family members of military personnel. Parole-in-place is essentially a unique program that allows undocumented family members of active or veteran military personnel to apply for a green card without having to leave the country.
Why Consult with an Experienced Oklahoma Immigration Law Attorney?
While more information is available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website about military personnel benefits for naturalization and parole-in-place, it would be in one’s best interest to set up a personal consultation with an experienced Oklahoma immigration law attorney who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) before beginning the application process.
Rivas and her decorated immigration law team at Fry & Elder have the skill, experience and resources in place to better enable one to successfully navigate through application process and attain the above benefits. Fry & Elder provides the following Oklahoma immigration law services:
- Asylum
- Business Immigration
- Citizenship/Naturalization
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
- Deportation/Removal Defense
- Family Immigration
- Fiancé Visa
- Humanitarian Relief
- Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
- Waivers
The Opportunity to Live the American Dream
Rivas recently visited the University of Central Oklahoma in October and delivered her inspirational personal story about what motivated her to pursue a legal career as a first-generation Mexican-American to the school’s Pre-Law Society’s annual monthly meeting.
Patriotism and sacrifice will and should be on the minds of many, immigrants included, on Veteran’s Day this Saturday. As Rivas said to begin her most recent article:
“Nothing speaks more about patriotism than the desire of immigrants and foreigners to be a part of the American Dream.”
Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with a proven Oklahoma immigration law attorney.