A recent report from Boundless Immigration showed mounting barriers to citizenship.

Increased Obstacles in the Path to Citizenship

According to the report, the national average processing time for a citizenship application is currently about 10 months—twice the average processing time between 2012 and 2016. During the same period, the likelihood of denial has increased somewhat. In other words, applicants for citizenship nationwide are waiting longer for responses that are more likely to be negative.

Researchers aren’t optimistic about efficiency improvements in the foreseeable future since the government is facing a substantial backlog and is not processing those applications efficiently.

But, there is good news for Ohio immigrants seeking citizenship.

Cleveland Immigration Office Ranks #1 in Efficiency

Boundless Immigration ranked immigration offices in more than 100 cities, based on efficiency and speed of processing citizenship applications. The Cleveland office came in at number one, and an Ohio law professor called the office a model for how immigration offices are run. He attributed the difference, at least in part, to the efficiency and responsiveness of the Cleveland staff.

The Cleveland office processes applications for 40 counties in Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga and Lake counties.

Although Cleveland took top ranking, there’s good news for other Ohio immigrants as well. The Cincinnati office came in at number eight, and Columbus took eleventh place.

Cleveland Best Overall Metro Area for Immigrants Becoming Citizens

Cleveland didn’t just lead the pack in processing and efficiency but was also deemed the best overall metro area for immigrants becoming U.S. citizens. Two other Ohio metro areas—Columbus and Cincinnati—had the highest naturalization rates of eligible immigrants in the country.

Pursuing Citizenship in Ohio

The efficiency and high naturalization rates in Ohio bode well for local immigrants, who may be discouraged by national trends and uncertain whether the time is right to pursue U.S. citizenship. Eligible Ohio immigrants have good reason to be optimistic.

However, the process of applying for citizenship is complex, and small oversights and errors in applications and supporting documentation can bog down the process, or even result in a denial.

Working with an experienced local immigration attorney to assemble application materials and navigate the process can help avoid those pitfalls and keep the process moving forward as smoothly as possible.

Learn more about how we can help. Just call 440-946-7656 to schedule a free consultation with one of our veteran immigration lawyers.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change. Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

Immigration law is complicated for anyone, and all the more so for immigrants struggling to learn a new language and to adapt to civic traditions different from those in their native countries. These challenges make immigrants easy prey for unscrupulous actors claiming to offer immigration-related legal services.

In this blog post, we discuss some of the warning signs and red flags immigrants should watch out for in choosing who to trust with legal tasks relating to their immigration status.

About “Unauthorized Practice of Law”

Every state in the United States, including Ohio, sets its own rules for who may practice law and give legal advice to clients. The rules almost always require lawyers to have attended law school, passed a bar exam, and applied for and received a license from the state’s attorney-licensing body. Anyone holding themselves out as a lawyer who has not followed these rules is engaged in “unauthorized practice of law,” which is illegal.

Examples of Unauthorized Practice of Law in Immigration Matters

The Ohio Supreme Court has jurisdiction for deciding when the unauthorized practice of law has occurred. Two cases posted on its website illustrate the risk to immigrants of falling victim to unauthorized practice of law.

In 2012, an immigrant from Sierra Leone sought help from a company in Columbus called Immigration Associates, L.L.C., which promised to help him with an application for citizenship in exchange for a fee. None of the owners of Immigration Associates were lawyers and their filings on the immigrant’s behalf were full of errors.

In 2014, the Ohio Supreme Court levied hefty fines against a woman who distributed business cards advertising herself to the Cincinnati Latino community as an immigration lawyer. The woman claimed to have high-level government contacts who could help her clients in immigration matters. In fact, she was not, and never had been, a lawyer.

Avoiding and Reporting Unauthorized Practice of Law

It’s not hard to imagine how immigrants ended up trusting the false lawyers above. An organization claiming to represent the rights of immigrants, or a lawyer who speaks the immigrant community’s language and advertises directly to them, can seem completely legitimate to unsuspecting clients.

To avoid falling victim to unauthorized practice of law, immigrants in need of legal help can call the local “bar association” in their nearest city or town for help locating a qualified immigration attorney.

To check if someone is licensed to practice law in Ohio, they can also look up the lawyer by name at this website maintained by the Ohio Supreme Court. Every lawyer authorized to practice law in Ohio is listed on that site. If the person claiming to be able to help you file immigration documents does not appear there, that means that person is not an Ohio lawyer.

Finally, anyone who suspects they have fallen victim to the unauthorized practice of law in an immigration matter should file a grievance here. Instructions for how to file a grievance are provided in English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, French, Arabic, and Chinese.

Experienced Ohio Immigration Lawyers

If you need legal services relating to an immigration matter, it is critical to find a qualified, licensed attorney to help you.

At Dworken & Bernstein, we proudly represent Northeastern Ohio immigrants and businesses in a wide range of immigration law matters.

All of our lawyers are licensed to practice law in Ohio and provide sophisticated, accurate, and up-to-date advice about navigating immigration issues. Contact us today for help with your immigration law questions.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a four-year extension of its contract with CoreCivic early in 2017, just days after Donald Trump signed an executive order to increase deportations. While national news regarding the immigration debate tends to focus on border areas, particularly the border between the U.S. and Mexico, the heartland has deeply affected by the shift in immigration enforcement policy.

Michigan and Ohio Deportations of Non-Criminal Immigrants

In 2018, the Detroit Free Press reported a 117% year-over-year increase in the number of deportations of undocumented immigrants in Ohio and Michigan who did not have criminal records. During the same period, there was a 126% increase in ICE arrests of immigrants with no criminal histories. Though ICE says their objective is public safety, statistics provided to the Free Press by the spokesperson for the Michigan and Ohio branches of ICE aggregated those with criminal charges or convictions in with “immigration fugitives” and all of those who had re-entered the country illegally.

Overall, deportations in the Ohio / Michigan region increased by 36% year-over-year. And, according to Cleveland.com, the increase is much larger for those without criminal records than those who have been charged with a crime. From the fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017, the number of people arrested who had previous criminal arrests or convictions increased from 1,745 to 2,308—a 32% increase. But, non-criminal arrests jumped from 476 to 1,101 in the same period—a 131% increase.

Increasingly, arrests have occurred when immigrants appeared voluntarily at government facilities for check-ins or appointments they thought would help further their efforts to attain legal status. Others have been arrested in settings historically considered off-limits, such as schools. And, long-time residents have been abruptly arrested although the federal government has known where they lived and worked for years (or even decades).

Deportations and Local Economies

While it’s easy to look at the NEOCC facility in Youngstown and see job creation and an increased tax base associated with a growing rate of non-criminal deportations, Ohio deportations often take a toll on local economies. When one member of a family is deported, leaving dependents who are U.S. citizens to fend for themselves, the burden on society increases. And, in some cases, the economic impact is much larger.

One of the highest profile examples is Amer Othman Adi, who was deported to Jordan in 2018. Adi legally entered the U.S. in 1979, at the age of 19. Ten years later, after Adi had divorced and remarried, Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) charged him with immigration fraud and revoked his green card.

For nearly 20 years, Adi fought the decision. All the while, he was building a life, a family, and local businesses. At the time of his deportation, Adi employed about 60 people.

Know Your Rights as an Immigrant

With Ohio deportations increasing and the focus shifting to law-abiding members of the community, it’s more important than ever to be informed. In some cases, little-known immigration options are available. If you’re attempting to secure a green card or fighting to keep a green card or concerned about the prospect of deportation, give yourself the advantage of a knowledgeable advocate. Talk to an experienced immigration lawyer.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

According to the Columbus Dispatch, 10 people around the country were able to leave sanctuary and remain in the United States legally in 2018.

What is a Sanctuary Church?

Hundreds of churches across the United States have opened their doors to undocumented immigrants, typically refugees who have come to the U.S. seeking asylum. While there is no actual law prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from taking the undocumented into custody in places of worship, they have not historically done so.

A 2011 policy memo stated that ICE enforcement actions were not to be carried out at “sensitive locations” unless:

• exigent circumstances exist;
• other law enforcement actions have led officers to a sensitive location, or
• prior approval is obtained from a designated supervisory official

In addition to churches, “sensitive locations” generally include schools and medical treatment facilities.

In November, Religion News Service reported that since the revival of the sanctuary network in 2014, not a single undocumented immigrant taking refuge in a church has been arrested on church premises. However, it has become increasingly common for ICE to arrest these immigrants if they step onto the street outside the church, even to keep an appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

How did Angelica Secure Legal Residence?

The U Visa & The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act

Angelica successfully petitioned for a U visa, a visa that may be issued to an immigrant who has been the victim of a crime in the United States and is cooperating with law enforcement. The U visa was created as part of the 2000 Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. However, U Visa issuance is capped at 10,000 per year, and there is a significant backlog. In 2017, USCIS received more than 36,000 applications for U visas.

Angelica’s first application was denied, which is not unusual. She had a right to appeal the decision, but found herself in an all-too-common position: filing an appeal doesn’t stop USCIS from initiating deportation proceedings. While she was fighting for the right to stay in the United States, she could be picked up, detained, and sent back to Mexico at any time. So, Angelica—like many others in similar circumstances—went underground, hiding in a variety of homes before entering the church in October.

The U visa can provide a path to citizenship, although it can take several years to secure a visa, then a green card, then qualify for citizenship and proceed through the citizenship process.

Give Yourself the Benefit of an Experienced Immigration Lawyer

The struggle to secure legal residence isn’t new, but in the current political climate, refugees and others seeking visas and green cards face even greater obstacles. It can be difficult to know what the best next step is, or where to turn for help.

A local immigration attorney can be your best resource for information about the options available to you, the risks and likelihood of success, and how to move forward in your circumstances.

You can schedule a consultation right now by calling 440-946-7656 or filling out our contact form.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

At first glance, a delay in immigration hearings may seem like a relatively small problem. But, the impact on both individuals and the system is significant.

Immigration Court Backlogs

Most immigration courts around the country were already backlogged when the government shutdown dramatically pared back their ability to process immigration cases. As of mid-January, tens of thousands of immigration hearings had already been delayed during the shutdown. That number is expected to top 100,000 if the shutdown continues through the end of the month.

Data gathered by CBS News suggests that Ohio courts will see a 15% increase in their immigration backlogs if the shutdown continues until March. That’s a significant increase that could take years to work through, but Ohio fares better than many other states. Some face potential increases of 30% or more in just 6-8 weeks.

The Impact of Immigration Hearing Delays on Individuals

While immigration courts continue to process those in detention, the shutdown leaves many others in limbo.

Asylum-seekers can’t get hearings, those with pending green card applications are on hold indefinitely, and many others are unable to clear obstacles that prevent them from working, obtaining driver’s licenses, or traveling internationally.

Most of us will begin to see relief almost immediately when the shutdown ends: government benefits will begin to flow again, federal employees will go back to work (or start receiving paychecks, if they’ve been working without pay, and government services will go back online. For those facing immigration hearing delays, however, the consequences may be much more serious.

It would be reasonable to expect that those delayed immigration hearings would be scheduled as quickly as possible after the courts get back up to speed, but that’s not how the immigration docket works. Rather, those cases will be bumped to the end of the line—a line that is currently about three years long. That means immigrants and applicants who may already have waited years to get a hearing date will be pushed back to 2022.

Immigration Courts are Operating with a Skeleton Staff

The toll on immigrants facing hearing delays is significant, but they aren’t the only ones affected by the stripping down of the immigration court system during the shutdown.

While courts are moving forward with a limited “detention docket,” they aren’t operating as usual.

The administrative staff has been stripped down, meaning that immigration judges have less support, more to manage, and less time available to hear cases and render decisions.

An Experienced Local Immigration Lawyer Can Help

The uncertainty created by the closure and scaling back of immigration courts during the shutdown and the impact of the backlog can be confusing and frightening.

An experienced immigration attorney can help you understand the impact of the delays on your case and can advise you as to how you can best protect yourself and your family during and after this period of uncertainty.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

But, most assume that those limitations won’t extend to family members who are U.S. citizens, legal residents, or participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

A recent lawsuit filed against the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles spotlights the type of complications the children of undocumented immigrants can face—even if they’re in the U.S. legally themselves.

Minor Children of Undocumented Immigrants Can’t Get Driver’s Licenses

Most Ohio residents have little reason to think much about the requirement that a parent or guardian sign a teen driver’s application for a driver’s license, accepting responsibility for damages caused by the young driver.

However, if both of a teen’s parents are undocumented immigrants, or that teen is in the country with a single parent who is undocumented, there’s no one with the legal capacity to sign that guarantee.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the policy creates an obstacle for about 3,000 teens who would otherwise currently be eligible for learner’s permits, driver’s licenses, or state-issued identification cards in Ohio.

Obviously, the inability to obtain a driver’s license or state-issued identification can create significant roadblocks for teens, including difficulty in obtaining employment, pursuing educational opportunities, opening bank accounts, registering to vote and more. Some states that require a co-signer allow adults other than parents to take on that responsibility, while others allow undocumented parents to sign their minor children’s applications.

These handicaps aggravate other disadvantages children of undocumented immigrants already face.

Widespread Obstacles for Children of Undocumented Immigrants

Nationwide, about 18 million children live in immigrant families. About 88% of those children are U.S. citizens, and another 7% are legal residents. But, millions of these kids have at least one parent who is undocumented. About 200,000 of these children live in Ohio.

A report from the Migration Policy Institute shows that these children are less likely to be enrolled in pre-school and more likely to be isolated with caregivers who don’t speak English or have limited English skills.  Of course, these children face a host of additional practical and psychological issues when a parent is detained or deported.

Preparation is the Best Defense

The better educated immigrant parents and their children are about their rights and the potential obstacles they face, the better the opportunity to prepare for or circumvent roadblocks that could hold children back—even if those children are themselves legal residents or U.S. citizens.

Though it’s never too late to begin educating yourself about your rights and options, working with an experienced immigration attorney from the first application or petition creates the best opportunity to avoid unnecessary obstacles.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

Ohio Family’s Plight Spotlights Little-Known “Parole in Place” Immigration Option

Ohio resident Juan Carlos Moncada is facing deportation proceedings, but that probably could have been avoided if the family had been aware of legal provisions intended to help the families of members of the U.S. military. Now that deportation proceedings are underway, Moncada faces an uphill battle. Unfortunately, like many eligible people, he simply didn’t know the program existed until trouble arose.

What is “Parole in Place”?

Immigration law allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to temporarily parole an alien into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. When this privilege is granted to a person who is already within the United States but has not been legally admitted, it is called “parole in place.”

Although the grant of parole occurs on a case-by-case basis, the Secretary may designate eligible classes for consideration. In November of 2014, the Secretary issued a memorandum stating that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant parole in place to the spouse, widow(er), parent, or child of an active duty member of the U.S. military, a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, or an individual who previously served in either capacity and was not dishonorably discharged.

The grant of parole in place remains discretionary, but USCIS says that one of the listed familial relationships with a member of the military “weighs heavily” in the determination, stating that “Absent a criminal conviction or other serious adverse factors, parole in place would generally be an appropriate exercise of discretion for such an individual.”

Who is Eligible for Parole in Place?

Parole in place is not available to those who entered the U.S. legally but have overstayed their visas. However, parents, children, spouses, and widow(er)s of the same classes of current and past members of the military and Ready Reserve may be eligible to remain in the U.S. through deferred action.

What Happens When Parole in Place is Granted?

In this context, parole in place may be granted in one-year increments. Although a person who has been granted parole in place is not generally eligible to work in the U.S., work authorization may be granted if the parolee demonstrates economic necessity. Though parole in place is temporary, there is no limit on how many times the stay can be extended.

The Importance of Understanding Your Immigration Rights

It’s unclear how many undocumented residents of the United States would be eligible for the parole in place and deferred action programs, or other pathways to remaining in the U.S. legally. However, Moncada is not alone. Far too many people living and working in the U.S. without documentation or who are attempting to bring family members to the U.S. are unaware of the complex web of options that may be available to them.

The ordeal he and his family currently face might have been avoided if he had only been aware of his options and petitioned for parole in place before removal proceedings began.

If you or a loved one is currently undocumented, or you are hoping to bring a family member to the United States, don’t assume the worst. It is in your best interest to fully educate yourself about the options and protections that may be available to you.

Contact us and speak with an expert immigration attorney today!

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

It is important to note, though, that the K-1 “fiancé visa” isn’t a substitute for a marriage-based or other type of visa. A K-1 visa is not intended to allow the fiancé of a U.S. citizen to live in the U.S. without actually getting married, and is strictly time-limited. A K-1 visa automatically expires after 90 days and cannot be renewed. The K-1 visa holder who does not marry within the 90-day period and overstays his or her visa is subject to removal from the country and may face limitations on future immigration options.

The Fiancé Visa Process

The petition for a K-1 fiancé visa is initiated by the U.S. citizen. The process begins with the filing of Form I-129F. The petitioner must establish that:

• He or she plans to marry the applicant within 90 days of the fiance’s admission to the United States
• Both the U.S. citizen and the applicant fiancé are legally free to marry
• The couple has met in person at least once in the two years preceding the filing of the petition

The third requirement may be waived on the basis of longstanding cultural or social practice, or if the couple can establish that enforcing the requirement would cause extreme hardship.

The investigation that follows is similar to that associated with marriage-based immigration. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will investigate both the citizen and the applicant fiancé, and the petitioning citizen must submit proof that the relationship is authentic. When the petition has been approved, the non-citizen fiancé must schedule an appointment with the appropriate embassy or consulate, submit a visa application, and provide other supporting documents.

After the K-1 Visa is Issued

Once the fiancé visa is issued, the would-be bride or groom is free to travel to the United States for the purpose of marrying. However, the marriage must take place within 90 days of admission.

Since the approval timeline for a K-1 visa is somewhat unpredictable, it may be difficult for the couple to plan a large wedding. In order to comply with the 90-day restriction, it may be necessary to schedule a small ceremony to formalize the marriage promptly.

After the marriage, the non-citizen spouse may apply for a green card. Generally, he or she will be issued a conditional green card, which is valid for two years. Assuming that the foreign spouse is deemed eligible for permanent residence and the couple doesn’t make any mistakes or overlook any obligations in the process, the spouses may jointly petition to remove conditions near the end of the two-year period.

When the couple petitions to remove conditions, additional investigation is likely, and may include:

• Additional interviews with the couple and/or witnesses to the relationship
• Fingerprint collection and additional background checks
• Further investigation or requests for additional information

Seek Assistance with the K-1 Fiancé Visa Process

Small oversights and technical errors may result in significant delays in the visa process. When you’re planning a marriage, the last thing you want is to see your future spouse’s arrival delayed by months—or more—due to avoidable errors. Working with an experienced Ohio immigration attorney can help you avoid pitfalls and keep the fiancé visa application process moving forward efficiently.

The information presented in this post is not legal advice and does not form a lawyer/client relationship. Laws and circumstances can differ and change.
Please contact us for a personal review of your situation

Citizenship offers many benefits for those residing in the U.S., including:

• The right to vote
• The ability to obtain and travel on a U.S. passport
• Eligibility for government jobs that require citizenship
• Eligibility to run for and hold most elected offices
• Immigration advantages for family members
• Greater security in the ability to remain in the United States long-term

Foreign nationals eligible to pursue U.S. citizenship fall into several different categories, but the vast majority of naturalized citizens became eligible for citizenship through legal permanent residence or by serving in the U.S. military.

Establishing Eligibility for Naturalization

From Legal Permanent Resident to Citizen

To be eligible for naturalization, most legal permanent residents must have resided in the United States with a valid green card for a period of at least five years. For the spouse of a U.S. citizen, this waiting period is reduced to three years.

However, it is important that a legal permanent resident working toward citizenship be familiar with the additional requirements. For example, most may not leave the United States for a period of more than six months during the three or five year qualification period.

Of course, eligibility for naturalization involves more than simply having resided in the United States for a period of time as a legal permanent resident.

For instance:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct a background investigation, which will include fingerprinting and a “name check” through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• The applicant must participate in an interview with USCIS
• The applicant must take and pass a civics test, designed to ensure that those becoming citizens understand the history and legal structure of the United States

This process typically takes six months to one year from the time the permanent legal resident applies for citizenship.

The process can be complicated, even for those who have already successfully obtained green cards, and small mistakes can seriously delay or completely derail the process. Working with an experienced immigration lawyer throughout the process can help to avoid pitfalls, lost time, and unnecessary denials.

Citizenship for Members of the Military

Eligibility for citizenship operates somewhat differently for present and past members of the U.S. military.

For example, those who were in the military for less than one year or who were discharged more than six months prior to applying are subject to the five-year period as a permanent resident with continuous residence.

However, those currently serving in the military who have served for at least one year need only be a legal permanent resident when they appear for the USCIS interview, and those who served in certain U.S. wars are not required to be permanent residents at all.

A local immigration lawyer can assess your military service record and advise you as to which requirements apply in your situation.

Other Types of Eligibility for Naturalization

While permanent residence and military service account for the majority of U.S. naturalizations, there are other paths to eligibility.

For example, the minor child of a U.S. citizen may qualify for U.S. citizenship even if he or she is not a legal permanent resident of the United States.

And, non-citizen U.S. nationals may become citizens if they have become residents of any U.S. state and fulfill other requirements for eligibility for naturalization.

Get Advice on Eligibility for Naturalization Early

Some of the requirements for naturalization, such as the three or five year period as a permanent legal resident and the continuous residence requirement for most applicants, require careful observance of rules long before the naturalization process commences.

The earlier you obtain complete and accurate information about eligibility for naturalization as it applies in your case, the less likely you will be to inadvertently disqualify yourself or delay the process.

Give us a call and speak to an experienced immigration lawyer to review and discuss your options.

In Lake County, call 440.946.7656 | In Cuyahoga County, call 216.861.4211

While more than 27% of California residents are foreign-born and New York and New Jersey follow closely at 23% and 22.5%, Ohio’s population is 95.6% U.S.-born.

But, a recent report from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University concludes that Ohio immigrants nonetheless play a key role in the workforce and economic environment of the state—and that their importance is likely to increase in the coming years.

Snapshot of Ohio Immigrants

Ohio Immigrants are Disproportionately College Graduates

Though Ohio ranks near the bottom of the country in the percentage of the population made up of immigrants, the state leads the nation in the educational level of its immigrant population.

Ohio shares the top slot with Maryland: in each state, just over 42% of immigrants have a four-year degree or higher. That’s more than 215,000 of Ohio’s 513,592 foreign-born inhabitants.

Three Ohio cities—Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland—are in the top 1/3 among the largest 40 metro areas in the country. In both Cuyahoga and Lake Counties, foreign-born residents are more likely to have a Bachelor’s degree or higher than are native-born residents. These highly-educated immigrants work primarily in management, business, science, and the arts, including education, health, computer systems services, and legal services. 43.6% work in the professional services sector, and nearly 25% in teaching and personal/medical care.

The Value of Ohio Immigrants in the Workforce

According to the report, the last category described above is particularly important.

The state has experienced a decline in overall health, falling to 40th in the nation in the annual rankings set forth by the United Health Foundation. At the same time, the population is aging: 16.3% of Ohio residents are aged 65 and older.

Declining health and an increasing elderly population mean an increased demand for health care workers and personal care workers. However, the combination of hard work and low wages makes many of these jobs undesirable to native workers.

The relatively low percentage of working-age adults in the native population further limits the pool. The most populous age group for U.S.-born Ohioans is 55-59. Foreign-born residents, on the other hand, cluster more heavily in the mid-twenties to late thirties, meaning that they will be in the workforce for much longer.

Other Characteristics of Ohio Immigrants

62.2% of Ohio immigrant households are made up of married couples with children.

Their divorce rate is just 9.1%.

23% speak only English, and another 39% speak English very well. Just 17% are unable to speak English well.

Experienced Ohio Immigration Attorneys

The immigration attorneys at Dworken & Bernstein have extensive experience in assisting people with the immigration process, including visa petitions, responses to requests for evidence, citizenship applications, and more.

They understand both the important role immigrants play in the state and the challenges the immigration process presents.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help ensure that your visa petition or other immigration process is successful.

In Lake County, call 440.946.7656 | In Cuyahoga County, call 216.861.4211