Building a modern family in California can require navigating complex international legal systems. Whether you are pursuing international adoption legal services or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), your success depends on a seamless transition from state courts to federal agencies.
At Foster + Bloom, we specialize in bridging this gap to secure the lasting permanency and legal sovereignty your family deserves. Our advocacy ensures your local court findings and federal applications work in harmony to protect your family’s future.
Secure your family’s future. Schedule your consultation with Foster + Bloom today
How an Immigration Attorney Can Help You Build or Protect Your Family
In California, federal immigration benefits often depend on a specific “predicate order” from a local court before you can file with USCIS.
We specialize in the immigration and citizenship legal services required to manage this structural prerequisite. Our role is to curate the specific legal findings that act as the essential key to your federal application.
If local orders do not utilize the exact technical language required by federal agencies, families face avoidable delays or denials. We act as expert translators between local court requirements and the federal landscape.
We can ensure your family is legally protected by helping you with:
- Pathways to Citizenship: We handle everything from naturalization (N-400) and citizenship certificates (N-600) to documenting children born abroad (CRBA), ensuring your family’s status is officially recognized.
- Family Reunification & Green Cards: We help you bring loved ones to the U.S. through family-based petitions (I-130) and manage green card applications (I-485) to keep your family together throughout the process.
- Adoption & Protective Status: We provide specialized legal support for international adoptions (I-600/I-800) and secure permanent residency for vulnerable children through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).
- Expert USCIS Advocacy: From visa and passport assistance to navigating complex appeals and denials, we provide the steady guidance needed to manage the “ups and downs” of the immigration system.
How Can I Get Citizenship for My Child or Loved One?
Securing citizenship isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. We view these legal paths as essential safety nets designed to ensure your child never falls through a documentation gap. Each avenue has specific requirements, and we guide you through each one to ensure your family’s status is ironclad.
Securing Citizenship for an Adopted Child
For children adopted from abroad, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows for automatic citizenship. However, automatic status does not mean you have the necessary documentation.
Without a formal certificate, your child may face administrative friction later when applying for aid or a driver’s license.
Our team helps you secure this certificate as a proactive safety measure. Notably, as of the 2024 USCIS update, many intercountry adoptees are now exempt from the filing fee.
We stay ahead of these regulatory changes to finalize the legal shield around your child’s future.
Birth Abroad and International Surrogacy
If your child was born abroad through international surrogacy legal services, you must establish their citizenship through a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). This process requires proving a genetic or gestational link to a U.S. citizen parent.
We manage delicate medical-legal documentation, including DNA evidence and medical affidavits, to satisfy Department of State standards. This is vital in cross-border journeys where local laws in the birth country may not align with federal standards.
Family Sponsorship through Strategic I-130 Petitions
Bringing a relative into your family starts with an I-130 petition. Establishing a bona fide relationship is the most critical hurdle for approval. We curate an evidence-first filing designed to front-load your application and preemptively answer government questions.
By strategically organizing documentation—from financial intermingling to personal narratives—we help you bypass common hurdles.
This proactive approach is the most effective way to avoid a Request for Evidence (RFE) and move your case forward toward your family vision.
What is SIJS and Who Qualifies?
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a vital step for youth under 21 who cannot be reunited with a parent due to abuse or neglect.
The path to federal residency starts with a specific order from a state court. This order is the essential first step; without specific technical language from a California judge, the federal application cannot move forward.
We verify that a child meets the federal criteria, including dependency on the court and a finding that it is not in their best interest to return to their country of origin.
Our advocacy focuses on ensuring the factual basis presented is ironclad and curated for federal scrutiny.
How Much Does it Cost to Work With an Immigration Lawyer?
We believe you deserve a clear understanding of your investment, which is why we provide predictable flat-fee structures for defined milestones.
We encourage families to view these fees as a safeguard for your future security. Upfront transparency is a standard part of our practice.
A single administrative error in a court order can lead to years of additional legal fees and repeated government costs. Because Foster + Bloom handles both the state court prerequisite and the federal filing in-house, we provide an efficient model that protects your family’s story across international lines.
Why Choose Foster + Bloom for Immigration and Citizenship Law?
While many firms handle these areas separately, we specialize exclusively where these two worlds meet. We serve as your sole point of accountability, managing the entire lifecycle of your journey.
- Continuity of care: From the first local court appearance to the final federal oath, we provide a single, unified strategy.
- Family-first advocacy: We don’t see cases; we see parents and children. Our strategies are built to keep families together.
- Standing with every family: We celebrate all the ways families are made. Our advocacy is inclusive for families formalizing bonds through stepparent second parent adoption legal services or art gamete donor agreements legal services.
Your Path to Legal Sovereignty
You deserve a partner who carries the weight of the process until the state is no longer a factor in your daily life. By bridging the gap between California and federal law, we help you achieve the absolute autonomy your family deserves.
Secure your family’s future—Schedule your consultation with Foster + Bloom today