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Community Service

At Southern Star Immigration, we believe in cultivating and strengthening our roots in the Central Southeast and we work hard to give back to our community which has been so supportive.

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OUR LOCATION ADDRESS

  • Fort Walton Beach Office

    Address

    362 Beal Parkway, NW
    Suite 103
    Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548

    Phone

    855-692-4649

    Fax

    850-226-7361

  • Enterprise Office

    Address

    210 East Grubbs Street,
    Suite 210
    Enterprise, Alabama 36330

    Phone

    855-692-4649

    Fax

    850-226-7361

  • Pensacola Office

    Address

    101 East Government Street,
    Pensacola, Florida 32504

    Phone

    855-692-4649

    Fax

    850-226-7361

Choose a location to review

Southern Star Immigration, P.A. locations:

Reviews & Ratings

  • 5.0/5.0

    The service provided by Mr Walker and his team is stellar and second to none The whole team is knowledgeable and functions as a well oiled machine The make a promise they keep It. They know the law and explain the process perfectly T...
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    — Client

  • 5.0/5.0

    My husband hired Mr. Stan and the experience was extremely good. He helped us with our Green card. My sons and I are legal and safe thanks to Stan and the firm.

    — Client

  • 5.0/5.0

    Myself and my family had a flawless experience with this firm. Sheila Stringer has always been available and knowledgeable whenever I call, and if there was something she was unsure of? A meeting was set up quickly to answer those questions...
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    — Client

  • 5.0/5.0

    Absolutely recommend! The whole team at Southern Star are amazing and have made our process so much easier.

    — Client

  • 5.0/5.0

    Our experience with SouthernStar Immigration was excellent. We had no legal problems to contend with or work out. Just a straightforward application for Legal Permanent Residence and after the required time application for Naturalization Ci...
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    — Client

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Review Us
  • posted: Oct. 27, 2011

As immigration attorney and his team, we get many questions from couples where one is a United States citizen and the other is not.  Usually, these couples think that all it takes is marriage to a United States citizen to fix all immigration problems.  Unfortunately, there are many cases where marriage is just the first step towards gaining a green card.  Generally speaking, if the non-citizen spouse entered the country lawfully, he or she can apply for “adjustment of status” and receive a green card without having to leave the United States.  However, if the non-citizen spouse entered the United States without a visa, and has been in the United States for more than six months, the situation becomes much more difficult.  In these types of cases, a waiver application may be necessary.

In a waiver application, the initial petition is filed in the United States, but the actual visa interview takes place in the non-citizen spouse’s home country.  If the visa is initially denied (as it will be if the non-citizen spouse has more than six months of unlawful presence in the United States), a waiver application is then filed in the home country.  The non-citizen spouse must show that not allowing him or her to return to the United States will cause an extreme hardship to the citizen spouse (or a citizen parent).  If the waiver is granted, the non-citizen spouse will be able to return to the United States with a green card, and will be able to legally live and work in the United States.  If the waiver is denied, the non-citizen spouse will have to appeal the denial while waiting in the home country or spend enough time outside the United States (usually 10 years) so that a waiver is no longer needed.

The waiver process is long and difficult, and it does not fix all problems.  Not every case qualifies for a waiver.  However, for many couples, the waiver process provides the only current path to legal residence in the United States and a future in this country together.  If you would like to know more about the waiver process, and whether your case might qualify, please call us at (850) 226-7092 for a consultation.

Originally published October 2011