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Helping clients overcome immigration barriers with empathy and professionalism
SERVICES
Family Immigration
Are you a citizen or legal permanent resident who wishes to apply for a visa for a family member? Our team can help.
Our firm helps the Petitioners (the family member who is a United States Citizens or Legal Permanent Resident) filing a Form I-130 (family-based), Form I-140 (employment-based), or I-360 (special immigrant, widow, or VAWA) immigrant visa petition decide whether they will be complete their immigration process in the United States via the adjustment of status or overseas via immigrant visa processing at a U.S. consulate abroad.
Consular Process
Consular Process is the immigrant visa (IV) processing at a U.S. consulate overseas.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) §221(a) authorizes a consular officer to issue an immigrant visa to an immigrant who has completed the prerequisites for an application.
Adjustment of Status
Adjustment of status (AOS) describes the immigration process to become a legal permanent resident in the United States.
Under INA § 245(a), only non-citizens who were inspected and admitted or paroled and meet other requirements may adjust status in the United States. Our firm can help determine whether you qualify for AOS.
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AOS using INA § 245(i)
I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
Has your immigrant relative been in the United State for more than 180 days of unlawful presence while in the United States?
If your immigrant relative needs to travel abroad to obtain their visa, they will need a waiver to overcome the unlawful presence bars under section 212(A)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act before they can return. The Provisional Unlawful Presence waiver process allows those individuals who are statutorily eligible for an immigrant visa (immediate relatives, family-sponsored or employment-based immigrants as well as Diversity Visa selectees); who only need a waiver of inadmissibility for unlawful presence to apply for that waiver in the United States before they depart for their immigrant visa interview. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will adjudicate waivers of unlawful presence before applicants depart the United States for their immigrant visa interview.
VAWA
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows self-petitioners to adjust status under section 245(a) even if they entered without inspection or fell out of status.
The self-petitioning (immigrant) must be a victim of battery or extreme cruelty by the USC or LPR spouse. Under VAWA, the following people are eligible to self-petition: VAWA self-petitioning for lawful permanent resident status; VAWA cancellation of removal; and abused spouse waiver for conditional permanent residents.
U VISA
The U nonimmigrant status is available to non-citizens who suffer substantial physical or mental abuse resulting from a wide range of criminal activity, including domestic violence, sexual assault, felonious assault, kidnapping, and many other crimes. The principal petitioner can also include qualifying family members such as spouse or children.
USCIS may grant U nonimmigrant status for an initial period of up to 4 years. Principal petitioners in the United States receive employment authorization incident to status. Qualifying family members in the United States are also authorized to work incident to status.
Naturalization
Do you wish to become a citizen?
Citizenship offers many benefits, including the right to vote, the right to serve on a jury, the right to a U.S. passport, the right to certain government benefits, and the right to travel abroad unrestricted. Other benefits include the ability to file a family petition for family members, including parents and adult siblings.
Asylum
Asylum is a protection granted to people who are unable or unwilling to return to their home country after suffering from past persecution
or those who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted. The persecution must be based on account of “race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”
Removal Defense
Are you or your loved one in deportation proceedings before immigration court?
Book your consultation to determine whether you are eligible for relief.
ABOUT US
Esmeralda Santos is an immigration attorney and sole owner of Santos Immigration Law, LLC, a firm dedicated to representing immigrant families.
A child of Indigenous immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico, Ms. Santos grew up in Madera, California. Working in agricultural fields at the age of twelve gave her motivation to focus on her education. In May 2013, Ms. Santos received her Juris Doctorate with a concentration on Social Justice Lawyering from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. Her undergraduate education was at the California State University, Fresno where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Chicano and Latin American Studies.
Ms. Santos has experience with many types of immigrant cases, including very complex situations. Prior to law school, Ms. Santos worked as a developer for affordable housing projects for farm workers in California’s Central Valley, demonstrating her deep understanding of immigrant families.
Ms. Santos’ experience includes working as an associate at a private immigration firm in Fresno, California. She focused on removal defense including asylum and cancellation of removal cases. Later, Ms. Santos became the staff attorney for the unaccompanied minors' program and was part of the San Francisco Legal Defense Collaborative (SFILDC), a collective of 15 organizations dedicated to serving the San Francisco immigrant community. Ms. Santos successfully represented Asylum and Special Immigrant Status clients from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
Ms. Santos also worked for a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of immigrant and refugee children. She provided direct legal representation to unaccompanied minors in Fresno, California. Ms. Santos has provided training and mentorship on asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for attorneys, volunteers, law clerks and the public.
In September 2019, Esmeralda Santos opened her firm dedicated to representing immigrant families. Ms. Santos is a member and often volunteers with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Articles I have written:
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Florencia Godoy
Receptionist
I am a teacher of English as a Foreign language and I am currently working on my thesis for a graduate degree in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have always had a passion for helping people and ensuring they receive the best customer service possible. At Santos Immigration Law, I am committed to ensuring all clients receive the highest level of service and support during what can be a difficult and stressful time. I am always available to answer any questions and provide assistance whenever needed. I look forward to welcoming you to our firm and helping you with your legal needs.
Contact Me:
Office Number: 503-479-7963
Email: flor@santosimmigrationlaw.com
Delfino Perez
Legal Administrative Assistant
I am studying Business Management at Chemeketa Community College. I plan to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Business at Western Oregon University. I have a passion for Immigration. As a DACA recipient, I know firsthand the hardships immigrants face and I was able to accomplish my dreams by navigating the immigration process. At Santos Immigration Law, LLC, I enjoy the opportunity to help immigrants achieve their dreams. I enjoy going on walks, hanging out with family and friends, and listening to music.
Contact Me:
Office Number: 503-479-7963
Email: delfino@santosimmigrationlaw.com
Viviana De Silva
Legal Assistant
I am a graduate in Business Administration from Caracas, Venezuela, seeking to pursue my passion and the need to use my technical and communication skills for a greater purpose. At Santos Immigration Law LLC, I have the opportunity to help individuals who are looking for a better life to be heard, understood, and supported in this journey to establish themselves in a place with better conditions and opportunities.
Contact Me:
Direct Line: 503-433-8080
Email: vivi@santosimmigrationlaw.com
HAPPY FAMILIES
"Excellent lawyer, works very well I recommend it to everyone call she to help you and I am grateful to her that she has helped me a lot and it is responsible in his work".
Eddy Perez
"Very good lawyer. I highly recommend them. Very kind, she treats you well, explains everything well, thanks to her I won my residency".
Rebeca Castañeda
"Super grateful for your services. Excellent person, kind, attentive and very responsible. All my acquaintances are very surprised at how quickly they gave me my papers. Many thanks".
Yuritzi Chavez
"I feel extremely grateful to Esmeralda. Thanks to her I am legally in the United States. She is an honest and hardworking person. She likes to help people and she makes us feel at ease. I have great affection and respect for her professional way of working. 100% I recommend it".
Mayra Arellano
DESCRIPTION OF TYPE OF CASES
Ms. Santos’ caseload has included Petitions for U Nonimmigrant Status, Applications for Asylum, Cancellation of Removal (42B), Petitions to Remove Conditions on Residence, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Waivers of Inadmissibility and Naturalization applications, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), U visas, and T visas. Ms. Santos’ removal defense experience includes I-589, Application for Asylum, and Withholding of Removal Cases. She has also represented families in parentage actions and guardianships for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).
CONTACT
Consultation
For a consultation follow these 3 steps:
1
Make your $110 payment
2
Send your receipt to info@santosimmigrationlaw.com
with your name and phone number
3
Wait for us to contact you back to make your appoinment
Office
945 Columbia St NE Suite 11, Salem, OR 97301, USA
esmeralda@santosimmigrationlaw.com
Teléfono: (503) 479 - 7963
Fax: (503) 207 - 6747
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