Atlanta Immigration Court

Form I-485

What is needed to file form I-485?

In order to obtain permanent residence in Atlanta, Georgia, or any other part of the United States, the I-485 form, along with supporting evidence, must be submitted to USCIS. Supporting evidence is requested documentation that will help USCIS approve the change in residency status.

Supporting Evidence

The supporting evidence required for any applicant between the ages of 14 and 79, includes two identical photographs of the applicant, a medical and immunization report (form I-693), and other supporting forms. Additional supporting evidence includes:

• Copy of a passport
• Birth certificate
• Police clearances
• Proof of lawful entrance into the U.S.

Application fee

Along with the Form I-485 and supporting evidence, the applicant must also send in an application fee, which may change depending on the applicant’s age and other factors. Without the fee, the application will not be processed.

Immigration Hearing Atlanta

The process of an immigration court hearing in Atlanta, GA, or elsewhere in the US is as follows:

Notice to Appear (an “NTA”) – This is a legal document given to a person suspected of entering the US illegally, remaining here past the expiration of their visa, or committing certain crimes (even if they are a legal citizen). It means that removal proceedings have been initiated against you.

Master Hearing – The respondent will enter a plea for the allegations. If they are eligible to apply for asylum or other relief from removal, they can request and apply for it. If denied, the immigration judge could order deportation.

Be aware that at your Master Hearing, the Atlanta Immigration Court must have an interpreter for you if you cannot speak and understand English well. If an interpreter is not present, you are allowed to request another hearing with an interpreter from the immigration judge. Similarly, if you do not have a lawyer, you are allowed to request that the immigration judge delays the hearing until you find an experienced immigration lawyer.

Immigration judges often allow respondents two weeks to find an attorney. Have in mind that immigration lawyers are not provided for the respondent in immigration cases as they are for defendants in criminal cases.

Merits Hearing – Also known as the Individual Hearing, the Merits Hearing is where the respondent may present evidence, testify to support their application, and call witnesses to testify on their behalf.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorneys argue against asylum for the respondent. During the hearing, witnesses will be cross-examined, and even the immigration court judge may ask questions. The Department of Homeland Security will ask questions and possibly call their own witnesses. When the hearing concludes, the immigration court judge will decide if they may stay, or they will be removed.

The immigration court judge makes the decision either orally during the hearing or in a letter sent to the respondent’s home. You have the option to appeal this decision. Immigration appeals must be filed within thirty days, in writing, and sent to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Agencies Involved with Atlanta Immigration Court

The EOIR has the responsibility to decide immigration matters in the Atlanta Immigration Court, and throughout the United States. The EOIR is a department within the Department of Justice that enforces federal immigration laws and is run by a director who reports to the Attorney General.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes petitions and applications for immigrants, such as visa petitions and asylum applications.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) eliminates border, economic, and security vulnerabilities. They are in charge of immigration enforcement and preventing terrorism by working with local and federal law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet of the U.S. government that focuses on public security. ICE falls under the jurisdiction of the DHS.