https://www.neilslaw.com/news daily 0.75 2023-09-27 https://www.neilslaw.com/news/tpsafghanistan monthly 0.5 2023-09-27 https://www.neilslaw.com/news/public-charge monthly 0.5 2023-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/0a8ee78e-c78d-49f5-b50a-ab8c0367b3ac/publiccharge.jpg Immigration News - USCIS Implements Significant Public Charge Changes To Green Card Applications - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.neilslaw.com/news/huge-changes-to-uscis-policy-on-310-year-unlawful-presence-bars monthly 0.5 2022-08-11 https://www.neilslaw.com/news/540-is-the-new-180-employment-authorization-document-extensions-helping-asylees-and-refugees-with-record-processing-wait-times monthly 0.5 2022-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/1654638121105-AF40QQ7H18PTRW2D4H7A/GettyImages-1275465344.jpg Immigration News - 540 is the new 180: Employment Authorization Document Extensions helping Asylees and Refugees with record processing wait times - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.neilslaw.com/news/blog-post-title-one-zyrb3 monthly 0.5 2022-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/14cf2b5a-dc2b-4a53-b75f-a52e13323f7d/immigration-is-beautiful-mural-art-e1528228976728.jpg Immigration News - June is Immigrant Heritage Month - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.neilslaw.com/home daily 1.0 2025-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/07327911-e615-44a7-8e84-9f258f865b15/IMG_2606.jpg Home - Immigration legal services rooted in integrity, compassion and results. Neils Law understands what is at stake in your immigration case, and our goal is to protect your rights and future in the United States. To that end, we have extensive experience in navigating the immigration system and offer stability, clarity, and positive results to our clients during stressful and uncertain periods in their lives. Our firm’s team is prepared to stand by you and will do everything we can to obtain a favorable outcome. Our practice is based on the idea that all people, regardless of wealth, nationality, or legal status, deserve the right to quality legal representation. Through diligent legal work, compassionate client interaction, and a holistic approach to the practice of immigration law, we strive to make that right a reality for all of our clients. With over 10 years of experience, Neils Law will provide you with a clear understanding of the immigration steps that lie ahead and work diligently to find the best solutions for your unique situation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/41f0307c-6d44-44cf-871c-23a33d5f1069/Neils-Law-Family-Immigration.jpg Home - Family Immigration To Neils Law, keeping families together is important, which is why we devote our time towards helping family members get the visas or green cards they need to reunite or stay united with their loved ones here in the United States. No matter how complex the legal issue, we are ready to take on the challenge of making sure families stay together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/78786b39-6226-4914-a664-76d1a4b14795/troy-neils-family-visas-green-cards.jpg Home - Humanitarian For vulnerable communities, seeking safety can be not only difficult to navigate in specific conditions, but high-risk. We are passionate about providing expertise and knowledge about immigration legal services. We have years of experience helping people and children who are victims of violent crimes and we hold governments accountable under law to protect our clients. Neils Law are expert advocates in the area of humanitarian law. We work to increase access to justice for victims of domestic and sexual assault, stalking and other types of violence. We also work on affirmative and defensive asylum, U visas, deportation and removal defense, and DACA cases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/3aa14375-f2fc-42e6-b55b-cb2f7ec605f8/we+the+people+.jpeg Home - Deportation and Removal Being removed (deported) from the United States is a life-changing event that rips people away from their families and communities. With the right planning, strategy, and litigation, these cases can be won. If you or someone you love is facing the threat of deportation, you need an aggressive and experienced immigration attorney who will fight to win and keep families together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/c027573a-8769-4337-9910-a23be39b8252/defend-daca-defend-dreamers-1-e1573594675199.jpg Home - DACA, Deferred Action DACA is a program that was established by executive order in 2012. Under DACA, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses its discretionary authority not to pursue removal proceedings against certain individuals who came to the United States as children and who are currently residing in the U.S. without lawful status. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/1654551772998-ALUN72QK5IOZNRLUIAIN/unsplash-image-1_EedIBc6jY.jpg Home - Citizenship and Naturalization Becoming a U.S. citizen is a meaningful way to participate in this country culturally and politically, but it is also about belonging and establishing in a place where a person or family can thrive. Citizenship allows someone to vote and serve on a jury and also provides important protection against removal from our country. For some immigrants, living in the U.S. means moving on from temporary employment, a student or visitor visa, or a permanent green card into full citizenship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/349ed681-c79f-4e4c-992d-8070c36c75d9/IMG_0427.jpg Home - LET’S WORK TOGETHER We are an immigration firm that believes our country’s strength lies in our diversity and that we are better when we work together. It is this belief that drives our unwavering commitment to our clients during a time when much of immigration law remains in flux. No matter your circumstances, our San Francisco immigration lawyer can provide the compassionate representation you need to overcome a wide spectrum of obstacles. Discuss your case with our team by calling (415) 744-4721 or contacting us online. We offer our legal services in English and Spanish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/82e31045-1c81-426e-9893-3235ffdb7bcd/aila.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/3e3c5589-3c96-4d40-82d5-1eede08a4d90/CalBar.jpg Home https://www.neilslaw.com/team daily 0.75 2026-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/c91d7551-131e-4069-a0e8-a189baf45267/IMG_1432.JPG Meet Our Team - Raemi Neils Raemi Neils is an experienced immigration lawyer who brings her passion for immigration issues to fight zealously for her clients. Her firm specializes in family-based immigration, naturalization, asylum, immigration applications for domestic violence survivors, and removal defense. Ms. Neils prides herself with bringing a unique holistic approach of compassionate professionalism to all her cases that allows her to develop personable, close-working relationships with her clients while delivering results at a near perfect success rate. Ms. Neils has been recognized as a leader in the field of immigration law, and has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers every year since 2019, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40, and in San Francisco Magazine’s List of Top Women Attorneys in Northern California for 2024. An advocate for immigration rights and active in her local immigration community, Raemi regularly provides pro bono services to unaccompanied minors through the San Francisco Unified School District and conducts legal advisory seminars to undocumented workers through the Coalition of Concerned legal Professionals and the Western Service Workers Association of Santa Cruz and Sonoma Counties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/354939bb-9bcb-443f-abab-386d60b57ae9/troy-neils-law-Elan-Henry-photo-895x900.jpg Meet Our Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/d9f7e235-03ab-44a4-9dcd-103f3f80c4a2/CE928F51-6609-4A39-80DB-37AA1E69FE1C.jpg Meet Our Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/728475a2-dc22-41b8-94d4-6c81593e6f8b/0874BE25-0A72-4FF0-9CF6-517FAD8007CB_1_105_c.jpg Meet Our Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.neilslaw.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-04-17 https://www.neilslaw.com/deportation-and-removal-defense daily 0.75 2022-04-21 https://www.neilslaw.com/asylum daily 0.75 2022-04-21 https://www.neilslaw.com/daca daily 0.75 2022-04-21 https://www.neilslaw.com/humanitarian daily 0.75 2022-06-06 https://www.neilslaw.com/schedule-a-consultation daily 0.75 2025-02-25 https://www.neilslaw.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2022-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Testimonials https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Testimonials https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Testimonials https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/a4a7d00d-0bcc-4ea2-808d-81d3dbdb60a6/F6CE867E-807C-4803-845F-4293FD7E80D3.jpeg Testimonials https://www.neilslaw.com/family-based-green-cards daily 0.75 2022-05-26 https://www.neilslaw.com/extreme-hardship-waivers daily 0.75 2022-05-26 https://www.neilslaw.com/our-method daily 0.75 2022-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/b1aa0149-5b62-4e36-9df9-f5f7ecb6aea0/IMG_0965.JPG Our Method Who We Are Immigration laws are not only complex and confusing, but in constant change. Neils Law understands that immigration is often a daunting and uncertain experience for individuals and families and we strive to support the entire family through the overwhelming process. Attorney Raemi Neils is committed to serving your needs through honesty, compassion, determination, and a results-focused approach. She values integrity and honesty above all, ensuring an honest evaluation of your case and a realistic assessment of the outcome that can be achieved. Neils Law focuses exclusively on immigrants’ needs. What sets us apart from other law firms is our holistic approach to immigration. Our services include legal representation, the creation of safety plans for undocumented immigrants and their families and connecting our clients to community resources as needed. Our services are where quality meets affordability. Our staff is where professionalism meets compassion. We believe immigrants make America stronger and play a leading role in the history and future of building the most prosperous nation in the world. Many immigration lawyers are often not invested into the journey of their clients, which can make you feel unsure about your future. At Neils Law our clients are our first priority. We offer a fully personalized service and support individuals and families in every step of the way through their immigration journey. Gained from more than 10 years of experience, our expertise ensures creative solutions. At Neils Law we are here for you. This means we invest in your case from start to finish and empower each client to make decisions that are best for them. https://www.neilslaw.com/waivers-of-inadmissibility-and-removal daily 0.75 2026-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61ba98b9a16b7a7c53d21af8/bdac62f5-ac50-47c2-88be-523f487858bf/images.jpg Waivers of Inadmissibility and Removability What is an Extreme Hardship Waiver? Extreme hardship waivers are a specific type of immigration waivers that use the same legal standard: extreme hardship. Not all waivers use this standard. Generally speaking, proving extreme hardship means showing that the hardship suffered by someone is above and beyond that which a normal person might suffer. This same standard is used for a variety of waiver types, including those for unlawful presence in the US, misrepresentation or immigration fraud, and certain criminal convictions. When is an Extreme Hardship Waiver Required? You must file an I-601 or I-601A extreme hardship waiver if you are “inadmissible” to the United States for one or more of the following reasons: unlawful presence, misrepresentation/fraud, or crimes involving moral turpitude. · Unlawful Presence (3-year bar, 10-year bar): Unlawful presence is accrued when a person is in the United States without lawful status. If you have entered the United States “without inspection,” meaning you entered the United States without interacting with a Customs and Border Protection officer, you begin accruing unlawful presence the moment you arrive in United States. If you enter the United States with a visa and overstay the amount of time in the United States allowed by that visa, you are accruing unlawful presence. If you have accrued more than six months but less than one year of unlawful presence, you face a three-year bar of inadmissibility. If you have accrued more than one year of unlawful presence, you face a ten-year bar of inadmissibility. · Misrepresentation/Fraud: If you have obtained or attempted to obtain an immigration benefit by willfully presenting fraudulent documents or false information to an immigration officer or on an immigration application, you are inadmissible. The misrepresentation/fraud inadmissibility bar is a lifetime bar. · Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude: If you have been convicted of or admitted to committing a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT), you are inadmissible. A CIMT involves engaging in morally reprehensible and intrinsically wrong conduct with willful, reckless, or malicious intent. How do I get my Extreme Hardship Case Approved? Extreme hardship waivers may be available in certain instances where a person who is otherwise inadmissible to the U.S. can show that not be admitted into the country would cause extreme hardship for a ‘qualifying relative’. The USCIS maintains that strong evidence that the relative would face extreme hardship in the U.S. if the otherwise inadmissible individual was not let into the country or strong evidence that the relative would face extreme hardship in the home country. The ‘qualifying relative’ actually depends on the type of waiver. But, generally, the standard is referring to someone other than the person who is trying to immigrate or get a benefit. It is frequently a US Citizen or Permanent Resident spouse or parent. Notably, children are not usually included. But, hardships to children can be an important part nevertheless, because hardships to children are frequently hardships to spouses and parents. There is no clear definition of “extreme hardship” in U.S. law. Instead, USCIS adjudicators will take into account a range of factors in order to decide if extreme hardship exists in each case. In fact, USCIS must take into account all relevant factors in rendering this decision. Relevant factors to consider in determining if a waiver should be granted on the basis of extreme hardship include: The immigrant’s age at the time of entry into the United States as well as at the time the application for relief is filed The ages of the waiver applicant’s children The ability of the applicant’s children to speak the native language should they be forced to return The ability of the applicant’s children to adjust to life in the country of origin should they be forced to return The availability of medical treatment needed by a qualifying relative in the country of origin The applicant’s length of U.S. residency Contributions the applicant has made to the U.S. community Ties the applicant has to the U.S. community Not all factors will be given the same weight. It is within the discretion of the USCIS officer reviewing the application to determine whether or not a waiver pursuant to extreme hardship is merited. Do I Need A Lawyer for an Extreme Hardship Waiver? If you are interested in learning more about obtaining an extreme hardship waiver, Neils Law is here to help. We are well-versed in inadmissibility and waiver issues and will help you understand the hardship requirement and application process, work with you on the gathering of evidentiary documents, and draft and prepare a detailed waiver application based on your individual situation. To learn more how Neils Law can help you obtain an extreme hardship waiver, please call us at (415) 744-4721 or schedule a consultation online. https://www.neilslaw.com/u-visa daily 0.75 2022-06-06 https://www.neilslaw.com/naturalization daily 0.75 2026-02-11 https://www.neilslaw.com/employment-based-h1-b-o-and-p-visas daily 0.75 2026-02-11