Immigration Lawyers in Santa Ana
Immigration cases are stressful and complex. Fontes Law Group gives Southern California families clear guidance and a strategy built around their long-term goals.
Serving immigrant families in Santa Ana and across Southern California
Maybe you are scared about losing your status, worried about a family member’s case, or unsure how to fix a problem with USCIS. Immigration issues hit close to home. They affect families, careers, and the future you have worked so hard to build.
Fontes Law Group understands what you are going through. Our immigration team supports individuals and families across Southern California, providing guidance that is clear, compassionate, and focused on protecting your future.
Whether you are applying for a visa, facing removal proceedings, or trying to bring your loved ones to the United States, you do not have to figure this out on your own.
We serve clients from our Santa Ana and Riverside offices, and our team is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. No matter where you are in the immigration process, we are here to help you move forward with confidence and peace of mind.
Experience. Compassion. Results.
Our immigration team is committed to protecting individuals and families with knowledgeable guidance and a client-first approach. With more than 20 years of combined experience, our immigration lawyers have protected the rights of immigrants throughout Southern California. We take the time to understand your story and tailor a legal strategy that fits your goals.
- Proven success helping clients navigate visas, green cards, citizenship, and deportation defense
- Every team member speaks Spanish
- Offices in Santa Ana and Riverside
- No fees for your initial consultation
- Trusted by immigrant families throughout Southern California
Attorneys who will stand beside you
Martin C. Fontes
Founded the firm in 2006 and has represented thousands of immigrants and their families before USCIS and the immigration courts.
Maria Campos Tello
Practices primarily in immigration law. A first-generation graduate raised in Anaheim, and the first attorney in her family.
Immigration services
From a first petition to a final hearing, we handle the full range of family, humanitarian and defensive immigration matters.
Green Cards for Family Members
Immigrant visa petitions for spouses, children, siblings and parents, and I-751 petitions to remove conditions on residence.
K-1 Fiancé Visa
Bringing a fiancé or fiancée to the United States to marry, and the adjustment of status that follows.
K-3 Spouse Visa
Visas for the spouses of U.S. citizens waiting on an immigrant petition, so families are not kept apart.
Removal & Deportation Defense
Bond hearings, removal proceedings, cancellation of removal and appeals before the immigration courts.
Adjustment of Status & Consular Processing
The two paths to a green card, inside the United States or at a consulate abroad, and choosing the right one.
Naturalization & Citizenship
Preparing the N-400, the interview and the civics and English tests, and correcting issues that affect eligibility.
Asylum & Humanitarian Relief
Asylum, U visas, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, DACA and Temporary Protected Status.
Hardship Waivers
I-601 and I-601A hardship waivers, and I-212 permission to reapply after a prior removal.
Appeals & Motions to Reopen
A fresh, strategic look at a denied petition, application or court case, and the arguments to reopen it.
Key legal areas in U.S. immigration
Immigration law is complex because it brings together federal statutes, agency regulations, court decisions, and presidential policies.
Every step you take, whether it is filing a petition or defending yourself in immigration court, rests on specific legal rules. Below are the major legal areas that affect most immigration cases and how they may impact you or your family.
What immigration law covers
U.S. immigration law governs who can come to the country, how long they can stay, and the pathways available for those seeking permanent residence or citizenship. These rules are created and maintained by Congress through the Immigration and Nationality Act. They control everything from family-based visas to employment sponsorships, asylum, deportation defense, and naturalization.
Our attorneys guide people through every stage of the process, including:
- Foreign nationals seeking to live or work in the United States
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents trying to reunite their families
- Employers who need to hire skilled workers from abroad
- People fleeing danger or persecution
- Individuals facing immigration detention or removal proceedings
Family-based immigration
Reuniting families is one of the most important parts of U.S. immigration law. Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor close relatives so they can come to the United States legally.
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens
These visas have no annual cap, meaning there is no waitlist once eligibility is established. They include spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older. Even though there is no limit, applicants must still meet eligibility requirements, and the sponsoring family member must show they can financially support their relative.
Family preference categories
Other family members fall under the family preference system, which has an annual cap and longer wait times. Eligible relatives include adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens, and spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents. Our team helps families prepare strong petitions, understand wait times, and avoid common issues that can cause delays.
Employment-based visas
Many industries across the country rely on skilled workers from abroad. Employment-based visas allow foreign nationals to come to the U.S. temporarily or permanently, depending on the category. Temporary non-immigrant worker visas (H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, L-1, O, P and Q) allow people to work for a specific employer and time period; some, like the H-1B, can be renewed and may lead to permanent residency. Each year the U.S. also issues a limited number of employment-based green cards in five preference categories:
- EB-1: Extraordinary ability workers, researchers, professors, executives
- EB-2: Advanced degree professionals or individuals with exceptional ability
- EB-3: Skilled workers and certain professionals
- EB-4: Special immigrants
- EB-5: Investors creating jobs in the U.S.
Whether you are an employer trying to sponsor a worker or an individual pursuing a professional immigration path, our lawyers can guide you through each step.
Asylum, humanitarian relief and citizenship
People fleeing persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group may qualify for asylum or refugee status. Refugees apply from outside the United States. Asylum seekers apply at the border or inside the U.S., typically within one year of arrival. Both groups must show a credible, well-founded fear of harm. If granted, they can apply for permanent residency after one year. Our attorneys help clients prepare strong, detailed applications and represent them in interviews and hearings.
Humanitarian relief options
Some immigrants qualify for protection through special humanitarian programs: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people unable to safely return to their home countries, Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) when a home country is unstable, and DACA for individuals brought to the U.S. as children who meet specific requirements. These programs change often. Our team stays updated on policy shifts so clients receive accurate guidance on eligibility, renewals, and next steps.
Naturalization and citizenship
Becoming a U.S. citizen is an important milestone. Most lawful permanent residents can apply after five years, or after three years if they obtained a green card through marriage or VAWA. Applicants must also show good moral character, pass English and civics tests, and meet residency requirements. We help clients:
- Prepare forms and documents
- Study for interviews and tests
- Correct issues that may affect eligibility
Removal defense, inadmissibility and waivers
Facing deportation is frightening, but you may have options. Immigration judges can consider waivers, asylum, cancellation of removal, or other relief depending on your history and circumstances. Our team represents clients in bond hearings, removal proceedings, appeals, and motions to reopen or reconsider. We fight to keep families together and protect your rights at every stage of the process.
Immigration court and due process rights
Immigration court is a real courtroom, and your rights matter. People facing deportation have the right to a hearing, an interpreter, the chance to present evidence, legal representation (paid by you, not the government), and to appeal certain decisions. At Fontes Law Group, we guide clients through every part of the process: bond requests, master calendar hearings, individual hearings, and appeals. We help you understand the judge’s requests, the government’s evidence, and the legal options available to stop your removal. You can review general courtroom procedures on the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) website.
Immigration status and legal eligibility
Every immigration benefit requires that you meet certain eligibility rules under federal law. Your “status” refers to the legal category you fall under today: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, visa holder, asylum seeker, or undocumented person. Status matters because the law limits who can petition for relatives, who can work, who can adjust their status inside the U.S., and who must return to their home country to process a visa. Changes in status, overstays, or certain criminal convictions can affect your rights. We explain these consequences clearly so you can make informed choices.
Grounds of inadmissibility
Federal law lists several reasons why a person may be denied a visa or denied entry at the border, called “grounds of inadmissibility”: certain criminal convictions, prior immigration violations, misrepresentation or fraud, health-related concerns, public charge concerns in limited cases, and prior deportation orders. These rules are strict, but waivers may be available. A waiver is a legal request for forgiveness that explains your situation, your family ties, and the hardship you or your family would face without relief. We prepare the documentation carefully because a strong waiver can change the outcome of an entire case. Learn about admissibility rules on the U.S. Department of State website.
Adjustment of status vs. consular processing
Getting a green card can happen inside or outside the United States. Adjustment of status is the process for people already in the U.S. who qualify to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country. Consular processing is the path for people who must complete their case outside the U.S., usually at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. Which option you qualify for depends on your status, how you entered the country, your family relationship, and your immigration history. Choosing the wrong path can lead to long separations, bars from reentry, or avoidable delays. Our team helps you understand which option fits your situation and your goals.
The public charge rule
The “public charge” rule determines whether a person entering the U.S. is likely to rely on government support. While these rules have changed over time, the current policy focuses mainly on whether a family has enough financial resources to support the immigrant. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents must submit a legally binding affidavit of support, a contract with the government promising that they can financially support their relative. Confusion about public charge rules causes many families unnecessary fear. We explain what benefits are safe to use, which ones may cause issues, and how to prepare a strong financial packet. More details can be found on the USCIS public charge page.
Criminal consequences, waivers, work permits and appeals
Even minor criminal offenses can have major consequences in immigration law. Some convictions can trigger deportation, block you from applying for a green card, or permanently bar you from returning to the U.S. This area of law is called “crimmigration” and is one of the most complicated parts of the entire immigration system. If you have any criminal history, even old cases or dismissed charges, we review the records carefully. The smallest details can make the difference between eligibility and denial.
Waivers and humanitarian exceptions
Some people face legal barriers but still qualify for relief. Common waivers include the waiver for unlawful presence, the waiver for misrepresentation, waivers for certain criminal grounds, waivers for spouses of U.S. citizens, humanitarian reinstatement, and extreme hardship waivers. These require extensive evidence, strong legal arguments, and deep preparation. We work closely with families to build the story behind the hardship, not just the paperwork.
Work authorization and legal employment
Many immigration benefits include the right to apply for a work permit, called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). People may qualify if they have a pending asylum application or adjustment of status, hold certain visas, have DACA or TPS, or are in certain humanitarian programs. Working without authorization can harm your immigration case, so we help clients determine when they qualify and when it is safe to apply.
Appeals and motions
If your petition, application, or court case is denied, that does not always mean the fight is over. The law allows appeals, motions to reopen, and motions to reconsider. These require legal arguments that show the government made an error or that new evidence has surfaced. Many clients come to Fontes Law Group after a denial because they want a team that will take a fresh, strategic look at their case.
Helpful resources
FAQs about immigration law
What is the difference between a visa and a green card?+
A visa lets you enter the United States for a specific purpose and period of time. A green card gives you lawful permanent resident status, meaning you can live and work in the country indefinitely. Many people first enter with a visa and later apply for a green card.
Can I work in the U.S. while my immigration case is pending?+
Many applicants can apply for a work permit, known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Eligibility depends on your specific application type, such as asylum, adjustment of status, or certain humanitarian programs.
What rights do undocumented immigrants have?+
Even without legal status, you still have constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney in criminal cases, and the right to due process in immigration court. A lawyer can help protect these rights.
Can I apply for asylum after one year in the U.S.?+
There is a one-year filing deadline, but there are exceptions for people who can show extraordinary circumstances or major changes in their situation. An attorney can help determine whether you still qualify.
Do I have to attend an immigration interview?+
Most green card and naturalization applicants must attend an interview. A lawyer can help you prepare, gather documents, and understand the types of questions you will be asked.
Let’s discuss your case
Confidential and in your language. Tell us a little about your situation and we will reach out within one business day.