Columbus is one of Ohio’s fastest-growing cities and home to a vibrant immigrant community. With its universities, healthcare centers, and expanding business opportunities, Columbus attracts individuals and families from across the globe. Yet navigating the U.S. immigration system here can be overwhelming, whether you are applying for a green card, seeking asylum, or defending against deportation.
At Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez, our attorneys provide full-service immigration representation for Columbus residents. From citizenship applications to removal defense in immigration court, we have the experience and resources to guide you through the process and protect your rights.
Immigration Challenges in Columbus
Columbus has one of the largest immigrant populations in Ohio, with more than 250,000 immigrants living in the metro area, according to the American Immigration Council. Immigrants contribute significantly to the city’s workforce, local businesses, and universities, but many face barriers when trying to secure lawful immigration status or defend against removal.
Some of the most common immigration challenges in Columbus include:
- Family-based immigration petitions: Many families in Columbus are working to reunite spouses, children, or parents who are separated by borders. These cases require careful documentation and legal strategy to avoid unnecessary delays.
- Citizenship and naturalization filings: Permanent residents applying for citizenship through USCIS in Columbus often face challenges related to paperwork, continuous residency, or past immigration violations.
- DACA renewals: Columbus is home to thousands of Dreamers who rely on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to live, study, and work legally. Renewal deadlines are strict, and missing them can put a person at risk of deportation.
- Green card and adjustment of status applications: Long-term residents pursuing permanent residency face complicated procedures that require strict compliance with immigration law.
- Employment-based immigration: Columbus businesses, especially in education, technology, and healthcare, depend on immigrant talent. Both workers and employers often need help with visas, labor certification, and green cards.
- Deportation defense: Many families in Columbus have members who are at risk of removal. Defending against deportation requires immediate action in immigration court and may involve bond hearings or appeals.
Because immigration laws are federal, your case may involve agencies and courts outside Columbus. However, working with a local immigration lawyer who understands the unique needs of Columbus’s immigrant community ensures you have support that is both accessible and effective.
Immigration Services We Provide in Columbus
At Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez, we provide comprehensive immigration representation tailored to the needs of Columbus residents. Our attorneys combine nationwide experience with local knowledge, ensuring clients receive skilled advocacy no matter the type of case.
- Asylum: We assist individuals fleeing persecution by preparing asylum applications, guiding them through credible fear interviews, and representing them before immigration judges. For denied claims, we pursue appeals to keep families safe.
- Citizenship and Naturalization: Our attorneys guide clients through the entire process, from filing Form N-400 to preparing for the naturalization interview. We also help resolve issues like prior arrests, immigration violations, or documentation gaps.
- DACA: We provide representation for Dreamers, handling renewals, filing new applications (when available), and developing long-term strategies for permanent residency.
- Criminal Defense for Immigrants: Criminal charges in Columbus can have devastating immigration consequences. We defend clients in both criminal and immigration courts, ensuring strategies are aligned to protect immigration status.
- Deportation and Removal Defense: Our firm represents clients in Columbus immigration courts, handling removal hearings, bond hearings, and appeals. We fight for relief such as cancellation of removal, asylum, or adjustment of status.
- Employment Immigration: We support Columbus businesses and employees with H-1B visas, PERM labor certification, and employment-based green cards. Our attorneys ensure compliance with labor laws and immigration regulations.
- Green Cards and Permanent Resident Cards: We help families and individuals secure lawful permanent residency, whether through family sponsorships, marriage-based petitions, or employment.
- ICE Detention Defense: For clients detained by ICE, urgent legal action is essential. We appear at bond hearings, challenge detention, and work to secure release while cases are pending.
- Immigration Appeals: If a case has been denied, we represent clients before the Board of Immigration Appeals and federal courts, challenging errors and fighting for reversal.
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS): We help minors in Columbus who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned secure SIJS findings in state court and pursue lawful residency.
- Visas and Waivers of Inadmissibility: For families facing barriers such as prior unlawful presence or deportations, we prepare hardship waivers and assist with visa applications to help keep loved ones together.
Why Columbus Clients Choose Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez
Immigration law is complex and constantly evolving, and Columbus residents need attorneys who combine knowledge, urgency, and compassion. Families choose Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez because:
- Local service with statewide reach: We represent clients throughout Columbus and central Ohio, offering legal services designed to meet the needs of the local immigrant community.
- Full-service immigration law: Our firm handles every aspect of immigration law, from family petitions and DACA renewals to employment visas, deportation defense, and federal appeals.
- Bilingual legal representation: We provide services in both English and Spanish, ensuring Columbus’s diverse immigrant population has full access to legal help.
- Decades of combined experience: Our attorneys have represented thousands of clients nationwide, bringing proven strategies and a history of success to every Columbus case.
- Focused on urgent cases: We move quickly in deportation and detention matters, understanding that every hour counts when a family member is facing removal or being held in custody.
Our combination of experience, urgency, and community-centered service makes us one of the most trusted immigration law firms serving Columbus and central Ohio.
Contact Our Columbus Immigration Lawyers Today
Immigration cases in Columbus require careful preparation and immediate action. Whether you are applying for citizenship, seeking asylum, renewing DACA, pursuing a work visa, or fighting deportation, the outcome of your case can affect your family’s future for decades to come.
At Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez, we are proud to serve Columbus’s immigrant community with dedication and compassion. Our attorneys understand the challenges you face, and we are committed to providing strong advocacy at every stage of your case. We treat every client as more than a file; we recognize the human story and the family behind each matter.
