What Is the "10-Year Law"?

Have you heard that having more than 10 years in the United States automatically qualifies you for a green card?

The reality is that there is a form of immigration relief known as "cancellation of removal," but reaching 10 years in the country is only one of several important requirements.

To qualify, a person generally must show:
• Having lived in the United States for 10 years or more
• Good moral character
• No certain orders or immigration issues that would affect the case
• Currently being in proceedings before an immigration court
• And, most importantly: that a qualifying relative who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident would suffer exceptional and extremely unusual hardship if the person is removed

Every case is different, and this type of relief requires careful legal analysis before filing an application with an immigration judge.

If you have lived in the United States for many years and want to know if you might qualify for this or another form of relief, we invite you to contact us to evaluate your case and provide you with proper guidance.