Immigration
Your status can shape your future. Good legal advice can help you understand your options.
Zavala Law Group helps individuals and families navigate complex U.S. immigration matters, including humanitarian relief, family petitions, deportation defense, citizenship, and immigration consequences of criminal convictions. Our attorneys are based in Los Angeles and represent clients nationwide in federal immigration matters, with bilingual support in English and Spanish.
Overview
Immigration representation grounded in experience and compassion.
Immigration cases are rarely just about paperwork. They can affect whether a family stays together, whether someone can remain in the country they call home, and what opportunities are available for the future. We take the time to understand each client's circumstances, explain the process in plain language, and develop a strategy based on the facts of the individual case.
Our immigration practice includes:
- Humanitarian Relief: U Visas, VAWA self-petitions, and T Visas
- Deportation & Removal Defense
- Family-Based Immigration
- Citizenship & Naturalization
- Crimmigration & Post-Conviction Relief
- Waivers and Other Immigration Relief
- Select Artist & Employment-Based Immigration
Looking for detailed immigration information? Visit ZavalaImmigration.com
Humanitarian Relief
Humanitarian Immigration Relief
Protection for survivors of crime, abuse, and trafficking.
Federal immigration law provides certain forms of protection for people who have experienced qualifying crimes, domestic abuse, or human trafficking. Depending on the circumstances, U nonimmigrant status, VAWA self-petitions, and T nonimmigrant status may provide immigration protection, employment authorization, and, for some eligible individuals, a potential path toward lawful permanent residence. Eligibility is highly fact-specific. We help clients understand which forms of relief may be available and what evidence may be required.
U Visas
Protection for certain victims of crime.
U nonimmigrant status may be available to victims of certain qualifying criminal activity who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and meet requirements relating to information about and helpfulness concerning the criminal activity. Qualifying criminal activity can include domestic violence, sexual assault, felonious assault, trafficking, kidnapping, stalking, and other offenses recognized under federal immigration law. A law-enforcement or other authorized certification is generally an important part of the process, but certification alone does not establish eligibility. USCIS ultimately determines whether an applicant qualifies.
VAWA
A path independent of an abusive family member.
The Violence Against Women Act allows certain abused spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens, and certain abused spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, to seek immigration benefits without relying on the abusive family member to file on their behalf. Despite its name, VAWA protections are not limited to women. Eligibility depends on the qualifying family relationship and other statutory requirements, including battery or extreme cruelty. For spouses, additional requirements generally include a good-faith marriage.
T Visas
Immigration protection for survivors of human trafficking.
T nonimmigrant status is designed for certain survivors of severe forms of human trafficking, including qualifying sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Eligibility generally involves showing that the person is a victim of a severe form of trafficking, is physically present in the United States or at a port of entry because of trafficking, meets applicable requirements concerning reasonable requests for assistance from law enforcement unless an exception or exemption applies, and would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed.
Crimmigration
When criminal and immigration law intersect.
A criminal case can have consequences long after the courtroom.
A criminal conviction that appears relatively minor under state law can sometimes have serious immigration consequences, including affecting lawful status, eligibility for immigration benefits, or exposure to removal. This intersection of criminal and immigration law is sometimes called crimmigration. Zavala Law Group evaluates the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and, where appropriate, whether post-conviction remedies may be available under California law. If you are not a U.S. citizen and are considering a criminal plea, or already have a conviction, understanding the immigration consequences can be critical.
Immigration is personal.
Behind every immigration case is a person, a family, and a future. Our role is to help you understand the law, evaluate your options, and make informed decisions about what comes next.
Get in touch
Talk with an immigration attorney.
Consultations are available in English and Spanish. Tell us a little about your situation, and our team can help determine the appropriate next step.