Richards Law Office, P.C.Richards Law Office, P.C.2024-02-26T07:11:15Zhttps://www.richardslawofficegws.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1203357/2019/12/cropped-ID-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2485652024-01-05T21:26:11Z2024-01-08T21:25:37ZRefugee status
A refugee is an individual who leaves their home country in fear of persecution for their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social connections. The United States received 25,519 refugees in 2022.
Asylum status
Asylum seekers have also fled their home country in search of safety. However, they are still waiting for a determination on their refugee status. As an asylum seeker, you ask the U.S. government for international protection to keep you safe from your home country due to a fear of persecution.
When the government approves an asylum application, you become a refugee. Not all asylum requests receive approval. The government might deny your request if they find insufficient evidence of persecution fears.
The key differences
When it comes to communicating with the U.S. government and immigration officials, understanding the differences between asylum seekers and refugees can save a lot of confusion. Remember that asylum seekers request protection. While that request is under consideration, they are still waiting for asylum and not yet a refugee.
As a refugee, you have greater protections for your right to stay in the country. While you await an asylum determination, you could still face deportation. It is in your best interest to file asylum or refugee petitions right away to protect yourself.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2485642023-10-13T00:47:11Z2023-10-13T00:47:11ZReasonable suspicion
The key question is whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle. Law enforcement officers must have a valid reason to initiate a traffic stop. Examples include observing a traffic violation or suspecting criminal activity. If they lacked reasonable suspicion, your stop might be unlawful.
No valid reason for the stop
To prove that there was no valid reason for the stop, you can gather relevant evidence. This might include eyewitness testimonies, surveillance footage or even the officer's testimony. If none of these sources corroborate a valid reason for the stop, it could support your claim of an unlawful stop.
Inadmissible evidence
If the stop leading to your DUI charge is unlawful, any evidence obtained during the stop may be inadmissible in court. This means that prosecutors cannot use evidence like blood alcohol content results, field sobriety tests or any statements you made during the stop against you.
The latest reports from the Colorado Department of Public Safety suggest that there are over 26,000 DUI arrests in the state every year. While cracking down on dangerous driving behaviors is an important duty, the reality is that many of these arrests could be the result of unlawful traffic stops.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2485572023-07-14T09:39:53Z2023-07-11T01:49:10ZUnderstand Colorado divorce laws
Colorado follows a "no-fault" divorce system, meaning you do not need to prove wrongdoing on the part of your spouse. You just need to affirm that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Understanding this premise is the first step in preparing for a divorce, as you do not want to waste valuable emotional energy trying to pin the divorce on one specific issue or another.
Collect financial information
Gather all financial documents that reveal both your individual and joint financial status. These include bank statements, credit card bills, tax returns, and details about investments and debts. A clear picture of your financial situation will help when it comes to deciding on property division and support matters.
Assess your living situation
Consider your current living conditions and think about where you will reside during and after the divorce. You might need to research rent prices, housing markets, and the cost of moving. These factors will significantly affect your financial planning pre and post-divorce.
Consider your children's needs
If you have children, their well-being must be a priority. Make sure to have discussions with your spouse about co-parenting, potential custody arrangements, and what would be in the best interests of your children. Ensure you do not involve your children in any fights or drama you and your spouse may deal with as you prepare to file for divorce.
Take care of your emotional health
Divorce can be emotionally draining, and it is important to protect your emotional well-being to the best of your ability. Seeking support from therapists or counselors, joining a support group, or just confiding in trusted friends can be beneficial.
Understanding how to prepare yourself can set the stage for a smoother divorce process. Though this journey might be challenging, preparation can provide you with the control and confidence to navigate it successfully.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2485532023-07-14T09:41:35Z2023-02-17T08:07:14Zhttps://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/state-department-plans-pilot-for-domestic-visa-renewal-this-year
If you are an employer or a visa-holder who needs assistance obtaining L or H-1b visas for employees, or renewing visas for current employees, the Richards Law Office can help. Schedule a consultation today!]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2485342023-07-14T09:41:32Z2023-02-08T17:43:12ZOn Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2485352023-01-09T14:57:12Z2023-01-09T14:57:12ZEB-5 visa program.
Benefits
You, your spouse and any children you have under 21 years of age can move to the US. You can later apply for permanent residency. Your family receives education and can work anywhere.
Requirements
To qualify for an EB-5 visa, you need to invest $900,000 (for targeted employment areas) to $1.8 million in a for-profit business, such as a corporation, partnership or other private or public structure. The investment should be legally acquired cash, property, inventory or unsecured debt.
Within two years, your company needs to create at least 10 jobs. You need to hire 10 employees or create 10 jobs through your business activities. Businesses with a net loss for two years may qualify for extensions.
Cost and timeline
It can take up to 71 months to receive visa approval, and you should check for EB-5 visa availability before applying. Your green card approval process can take four to 45 months based on where you live and the center handling your application.
Also, prepare to pay up to $4,900 for your visa. You and your family also need to pay for a medical exam and biometric services. Whether you are living inside or outside the US has an impact on your costs as well.
Remember that you cannot just place your investment in a business bank account and not actually invest it. It must be “at risk” to qualify for the EB-5 visa.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2472742023-07-14T09:39:57Z2022-01-12T15:58:16Zunneeded conflict with your future ex while maintaining control of important decisions ranging from custody and visitation to dividing shared assets.
1. Taking time to consider your options
From unforgiving court schedules to a sense of having to fight for your own future, the litigation process itself can make it difficult to focus on what really matters. Negotiating rather than litigating your separation may give you the time and space to think about your options, consider your priorities, and honestly assess your needs and desires.
2. Helping children through confusing times
Settling out of court may also provide a better environment for your children both during and after your divorce. In addition to shielding them from the daily stress of the court process, you and your future ex may be able to work out a parenting plan for the future that keeps kids feeling secure and loved.
3. Finding creative solutions
While the court tries to resolve divorce disputes fairly, a judge may have limited time and limited information to work with when making a decree. By pursuing negotiation instead, you and your spouse may be able to find creative solutions to decisions about parenting time, separating property, and providing ongoing financial support.
Your divorce is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another; the choices you make today may impact you and your relationship with your children for many years to come. While not for everyone, an uncontested divorce may help your whole family find a better path forward.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2471652023-07-14T09:39:49Z2021-07-09T01:11:48Zfalsely claiming to be a citizen of the U.S. may result in serious immigration-related consequences. Specifically, if you make a false claim to U.S. citizenship, you may be both inadmissible and removable.
False claims to U.S. citizenship
Some false claims to U.S. citizenship are worse than others. If you tell a stranger at a bar you are a U.S. citizen, you probably do not have to worry much. Claiming to be a U.S. citizen to gain some benefit under federal or state law, though, is often problematic.
Benefits under federal and state law
In U.S. immigration law, many types of claims can be for the purpose of securing a benefit under federal or state law. Claiming to be a citizen to obtain an immigration benefit, food stamps, social security benefits, or other means-tested benefits may render a person inadmissible and removable. Even checking the U.S. citizen box on an I-9 Form to obtain a job may land you in hot water.
Possible waivers
Many grounds of inadmissibility and removability have waivers. With these, you seek official forgiveness for actions that are bad under immigration law. Regrettably, a false claim to U.S. citizenship is not typically waivable.
If you falsely claim to be a U.S. citizen, your dreams of becoming a legal permanent resident may be forever out of reach. Ultimately, if you are not one, you must think twice before pretending to be a U.S. citizen.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2471642023-07-14T09:41:28Z2021-04-09T20:52:30Zdetermining child support for families in the state.
Guideline worksheets
Colorado parents can use one of two guideline worksheets to estimate the child support they will receive or pay. Worksheet A, “Sole Physical Care” applies to families where one parent has the child for more than 92 overnight stays a year. Worksheet B, “Shared Physical Care” applies when both parents each have at least 92 overnight stays with the child each year.
Calculation method
Once parents identify the correct worksheet, they can add their combined monthly gross income. Based on this number and the number of children the parents have, the worksheet will provide a recommended amount of child support. The judge can adjust this amount based on the cost of child care, medical bills and health insurance premiums for the child.
The court can also make a low-income adjustment to the support amount if the noncustodial parent earns less than $1900 per month. When one parent does not work, the judge can estimate how much he or she would make with a full-time job, except in cases involving a parent who has a disability or is a full-time student.
Colorado requires child support to continue until the child turns 19 or graduates from high school. Either parent can request a child support modification if custody or financial circumstances change.]]>On Behalf of Richards Law Office, P.C.https://www.richardslawofficegws.com/?p=2471602023-07-14T09:41:39Z2021-01-05T23:15:47ZDuring his campaign, President-Elect Joe Biden vowed to overturn or revise President Donald Trump's restrictive policies on immigration. What can we expect in terms of change as Biden takes office?Review the most recent news about expected immigration reform in the new U.S. presidential administration.
The campaign plan
The immigration plan Biden released during his campaign included these measures:
Removing restrictions Trump placed on those seeking asylum
Replace protections removed by Trump for immigrants whose parents immigrated with them illegally when they were children
Establishing a moratorium on deportations for 100 days
Ending bans on travel from countries that have majority Muslim populations
However, the campaign team did not expound on when or how the future president plans to take these actions.
The timeline
While the nation desperately needs reforms to the immigration system, the administration cautions that changes will take place in months rather than days. For example, the Biden team indicates that it must establish a new processing system at the border before removing the existing system. At the same time, activists urge the incoming administration to act quickly to protect those currently in immigration custody.Biden has pledged to give more than 11 million undocumented individuals currently residing in the U.S. a new path to citizenship. He promised to send a bill with this plan to Senate within his first 100 days in office.The runoff elections in Georgia in early January will forecast Biden's ability to make more extensive immigration reform based on the balance of power in the Senate. A Republican majority may attempt to block many of the new administration's planned measures.]]>