Introduction: A Real Client, A Real Challenge
At O’Flaherty Law, we know that behind every case is a real person with hopes, worries, and a family counting on them. This is the story of Luis, a hardworking father and restaurant manager, who came to us when his green card application hit a significant roadblock. Luis thought he was doing everything right—he had married a U.S. citizen, filed his forms, and even attended his immigration interview. But then the process stopped cold. What happened next tested his patience, his faith, and his future in this country.
Background: The Legal Problem
Luis came to the United States almost 20 years ago. He built a quiet life, kept a steady job, paid his taxes, and eventually met and married his wife, a U.S. citizen. They have two kids born in the U.S. and in public school. After they got married, Luis applied for a green card so he could live and work here legally and stop worrying about his immigration status.
Things were going well until after his green card interview. A few weeks later, he got a letter saying his case was on hold. USCIS found an old voluntary departure order from when Luis first came to the country. Back then, he agreed to leave the U.S. but didn’t fully understand the paperwork or what it meant. He never left, and over time, he built a life here. But now, that old issue was coming back to haunt him.
Luis was scared. He didn’t want to be separated from his wife and kids, and he didn’t know how to fix the situation on his own.
Our Legal Strategy
When Luis came to us, we knew the first step was to get to the bottom of what happened in the past. We helped him get a copy of his old immigration files so we could see what was in his file. It turned out that the voluntary departure order from years ago was never closed. Even though he had been trouble-free and lived quietly since then, the old order was making it hard for USCIS to approve his green card. We came up with a plan. First, we filed a request with the immigration court to reopen the old case and cancel the departure order. At the same time, we worked with Luis to keep his green card application active. We gathered documents that showed he was a good person—tax records, pay stubs, letters from friends and family, and proof of how his kids would suffer if he had to leave the country.
While we waited for a decision, we made sure to stay in touch with the court and the immigration office so nothing got missed. We also prepared Luis for any interviews or hearings so he felt confident and ready.
The Result: Our Client Wins
After about nine months of work, good news finally came. The immigration judge reopened Luis’s old case and canceled the voluntary departure order. Once that was done, USCIS moved forward with his green card application and approved it.
Luis now has his green card. He can work without fear, travel freely, and, most importantly, stay in the United States with his wife and kids. The weight he carried for so long was finally lifted.
“I thought I had no chance. Every door felt closed until I talked to O’Flaherty Law. They explained everything and treated me like a person, not just a case. My family is together because of them.”
Why This Case Matters
Luis’s story is one we’ve seen before—someone who has lived here for years and built a life for themselves, but gets caught up in a complicated system because of something that happened long ago. This case mattered because it shows that even when things seem stuck, there are legal options. It also shows that having someone on your side who understands the law can make all the difference.
We stayed in close contact with Luis throughout the process, answered his questions, and kept him updated every step of the way. We took the time to understand not just the paperwork but the person behind it.
Is Your Situation Similar?
If you’re going through something like Luis did—maybe your green card is delayed, or you’re not sure how your past affects your immigration status—you don’t have to go through it alone. At O’Flaherty Law, we’re here to help you understand what’s going on and work towards the best possible outcome.