Who We Can Help 

We help families who wish to bring over their siblings, parents, children, and other relatives into the United States. We help families to stay together in the United States by helping U.S. citizens or residents to gain green cards for their spouses who are undocumented immigrants (See: waivers of inadmissibility). We help juveniles, refugees, and other individuals who feel they would be in danger in their country of origin and wish to remain in the U.S. by seeking asylum from their native country. We assist people facing possible deportation from the United States. We help non-profit organizations and businesses seeking to obtain employees from abroad or facing other immigration problems. We assist persons who wish to become a citizen of the United States.

We have represented clients from more than 70 countries of origins including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Vietnam, China, Nigeria, India, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Canada, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bosnia, Congo, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Iraq, Somalia, and Bangladesh. We help clients who speak over 50 different languages including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French Creole, Mandarin, Amharic, Oromo, Punjabi, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Hindi, French, and Italian. We communicate in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and will cooperate with the client to provide assistance in other languages.

No matter your immigration issue, Golden & Jernigan Law Firm can help!

Persons Who Wish to Remain in the United States Permanently

  • Applications to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident for Family Members
  • Asylum and Withholding of Removal
  • Relief under the Torture Convention
  • Employment-based Residency
  • Permanent Labor Certification and other applications for Employment-based
  • Permanent Residence through Processing at Consulates Abroad
  • Waiver of Inadmissibility including Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers
  • Special Immigration Religious Workers
  • Special Immigration Juveniles
  • U Visas and Adjustment of Status for Victims of Crimes
  • Victims of Violence against Women (VAWA)

Persons Who Wish to Remain in the United States Temporarily

  • Extensions of Stay for Non-immigrant Classifications
  • Students
  • Temporary Workers
  • Trainees
  • Visitors
  • North American Free Trade Agreement Workers
  • H1B Workers in a Professional Occupation
  • E1 and E2 Traders and Investors and L1 Transferees

Persons Who Wish to Bring Family Members from Abroad

  • I130 Family Petitions
  • Assistance with Visa Processing at Consulates around the Globe
  • Affidavit of Support
  • I730 Family Members of Refugees

Businesses and Non-profit Organizations

  • Labor Certification and Labor Condition Applications
  • Prevailing Wage Checks
  • I9 Immigration Audit Defense
  • H1B1 L and E Application
  • Religious Worker R Application

Deportation Defense

  • Defend against Charges of Deportability
  • Fight to Preserve Immigration Status of Permanent

Residents with Criminal Convictions

  • Challenge criminal convictions in state court which could lead to removal
  • Seek cancellation for removal for long-term, non-permanent residents with permanent resident or citizen family members
  • Apply for release on bond for detained immigrants eligible for bond
  • File applications for humanitarian relief in immigration court including withholding of removal
  • Asylum and Relief under Torture Convention
  • Employment Authorization during Deportation Proceedings
  • Cancellation of Removal for Permanent Residents with Criminal Convictions

Citizens and Naturalization Practice

  • Applications for Naturalization
  • Applications for Certificate of Citizenship of Persons Automatically Becoming Citizens
  • Passport Issues
  • Report of Consular Birth Abroad
  • Assessing criminal convictions of their consequences for naturalization
  • Resolve issues relation to improper voting or registration to vote

How We Can Help 

Jonathan Golden, the founding lawyer of Golden & Jernigan, began his immigration practice in 1986. To this day, immigration continues to be the most commonly practiced area at Golden & Jernigan. Through the years, our lawyers have acquired deep knowledge of the law and legal practice. We have developed very close working relationships with prosecutors and judges all over the state of Michigan. Our vast legal experience and in-depth knowledge of the law has allowed us to achieve an excellent reputation for winning cases for clients in the Hispanic, Vietnamese, and other ethnic communities in West Michigan. 

In particular, we are known for taking on clients with challenging situations such as those with lengthy criminal records who are in removal proceedings. Using our close connection to judges and prosecutors, we have found creative ways to work around these factors that would normally block clients from remaining in the U.S. We develop innovative and compelling arguments by leveraging the unique aspects of each case. 

We have also developed intimate knowledge of the current political climate and have discovered ways to work around negative political forces, to achieve visas, green cards, and citizenship for our clients. We will do everything in our power to keep your loved ones and family together in the United States!

In addition to our legal expertise, we offer a caring approach. Legal immigration issues can be a very confusing and frustrating process. We are honest and transparent – from the very beginning we will tell you if we see problems with your case. We pride ourselves on clear communication with our clients. We have staff who are fluent in Spanish and Vietnamese, and we will assist you in obtaining translators for any other language. We translate legal speak in a way that you can easily understand. Through our step-by-step process, we walk you through what you need to prove and the documents you need to provide. 

Going for interviews or appearing in court can be stressful. We carefully and thoroughly train you on how to present yourself and what to say, so that you can feel prepared and relaxed when walking into interviews or court rooms. We will fight and advocate for you and your loved ones every step of the way.