Receiving a Notice to Appear (NTA) is always stressful. However, by taking the right steps, it may be possible to avoid the serious consequences. With immigration laws changing rapidly, you must have an experienced legal expert by your side to navigate them.
If you received an NTA, do not take any action before speaking to a competent Elgin Notice to Appear lawyer. A seasoned deportation defense attorney could outline your next steps and help you and your family remain in the country.
An NTA is a legal document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The goal of this document is to notify a non-citizen about initiating the process of his or her removal from the country.
The NTA outlines the reasons for the proceedings (e.g., violations of immigration law) and explains the obligations to appear before an immigration judge. If a person does not comply with the NTA and attends the hearing, the judge may issue an order of removal without his or her presence.
Receiving a Notice to Appear does not automatically mean deportation. However, making mistakes after accepting the notice could lead to removal from the country. The key steps to take after the notice arrives are:
Examine the document for accuracy, including name, address, allegations, and the legal grounds for removal, and find the hearing date, time, and location.
The next and most important step is to contact an experienced Elgin Notice to Appear lawyer, who could evaluate the case, explain the options, and outline the next steps. The faster someone hires an attorney, the more chances he or she has of achieving a fair outcome at the hearing.
No matter how unfair the initiation of removal proceedings may seem, all hearings must be attended. The law allows the judge to issue a removal order without the person present. Failing to attend a hearing may demonstrate to the judge the person’s agreement with the removal.
An experienced Elgin Notice to Appear lawyer can build a robust defense by gathering relevant evidence, filing applications for relief (e.g., asylum or cancellation of removal), and presenting the case to the court.
The key to achieving the desired results is full transparency in attorney-client communications. Otherwise, even the smallest mishap could turn into removal.
Before initiating the process of getting U.S. citizenship, the individual must resolve all the issues related to the NTA. The goal is to confirm the right to remain in the United States. Failing to follow the procedure after getting an NTA could affect the person’s journey toward getting an American passport.
If you received a Notice to Appear, do not panic. The first thing to do after you read the document is to consult an experienced Elgin Notice to Appear lawyer. With legal assistance, it is possible to confirm your status and avoid removal.
At Godoy Law Office, we are passionate about helping people remain in the country and start a new life as American citizens. Call us as soon as you receive an NTA, and speak to a competent immigration attorney about your options.
