8 Common Immigration Mistakes San Antonio Families Make (And How to Avoid Them)

These errors appear repeatedly in immigration filings across South Texas. Every one of them is preventable. 1. Filing the wrong form version. USCIS updates form editions frequently. Submitting an outdated version results in automatic rejection. 2. Missing the priority date window. For family preference categories, missing a current priority date means restarting the queue — sometimes years of waiting lost. 3. Failing to disclose prior immigration violations. Non-disclosure of prior overstays, prior applications, or removal proceedings is considered misrepresentation. It can permanently bar admission. 4. Not responding to an RFE within the deadline. A Request for Evidence gives you a fixed response window. Missing it results in denial with no automatic right to re-file. 5. Assuming a work permit and a green card are the same thing. An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) does not confer permanent residence. Many families conflate the two and make long-term decisions based on temporary status. 6. Traveling internationally before advance parole is approved. Leaving the U.S. while adjustment of status is pending — without advance parole — abandons the application and can trigger a 3- or 10-year bar. 7. Using a notario instead of a licensed immigration attorney. In Texas, only licensed attorneys can provide legal advice on immigration matters. Notarios operate illegally in the immigration law space and frequently cause irreparable damage to cases. 8. Waiting too long to get legal help. Deadlines in immigration law are unforgiving. The Echavarria Law Firm - Immigration Attorney in San Antonio offers consultations for families navigating green cards, deportation defense, waivers, and citizenship. Contact the office at (210) 320-5633 or visit stxlegalgroup.com to speak with Attorney Elizabeth F. Echavarria.