Because so many laws exist that govern immigration in the United States, it can seem intimidating to enter the country and try to live your life on the right side of the law. These days, it seems like any change could potentially put you and your family in jeopardy of detainment or deportation.

Of course, because you do want to make sure that you have the ability to stay in New Jersey, you also want to stay on top of any immigration issues that you could face. Fortunately, you can help yourself achieve that goal by following several good practices when it comes to addressing your immigration situation.

Tips and good practices

Understandably, you may feel a bit intimidated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Still, you should not let fear of officials keep you from taking the steps you need and should take for your process. Some tips to consider in efforts to keep your residency status or reach the desired status include the following:

• Plan for and expect delays: The USCIS has a backlog of applications to go over, and as a result, it could take years for your application to reach the right hands. Because your visa or green card could have an expiration date that falls within that period, you may want to prepare for that possibility and learn how you can handle it.
• Stay updated: Due to the potential for delays, it is important that you remain updated on your application status and retain copies of documents. Applications and other paperwork could get lost, and you do not want to lose your residency because of a clerical error.
• Contact USCIS: Though you may want to stay out of notice of USCIS until you have news of your application, you need to contact them when you experience certain changes. For instance, if you move or otherwise change addresses, you need to inform USCIS of that change within 10 days.
• Avoid tardiness: If you have meetings with immigration officials or have a court date scheduled, always be on time.

It can sometimes feel stressful to handle all the necessary steps along your immigration journey. Luckily, you do not have to try to navigate these avenues alone. Speaking with an immigration attorney could help you better understand what steps you can take to make the process go as smoothly as possible.