Individual Immigration
Bridgewood & Co.’s individual immigration practice delivers strategic, personalized solutions to the wide range of immigration challenges faced by foreign nationals residing in, traveling to, or relocating to the United States. As a full-service immigration law firm, our attorneys bring the depth and breadth of experience necessary to develop effective strategies—even in the most complex cases.
Our team regularly advises clients on a broad spectrum of individual immigration matters, including naturalization and citizenship, student and exchange visas, waivers of inadmissibility, status changes, and expatriation, among others.
To address the multi-layered nature of immigration cases, Bridgewood & Co. employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating our immigration, business, and wealth protection practices. This comprehensive strategy allows us to deliver thoughtful, practical, and results-driven immigration solutions for clients nationwide and around the world, including:
US Citizenship
At Bridgewood & Co., our immigration attorneys have extensive experience helping individuals obtain U.S. citizenship. Becoming a U.S. citizen provides important rights and privileges, including the right to vote, eligibility for federal government employment, and the security of permanent status in the United States.
U.S. citizenship may be obtained either by acquisition or derivation through a U.S. citizen parent, or through naturalization. Our immigration lawyers provide coordinated, effective guidance on every available pathway to citizenship, ensuring each client receives a strategy tailored to their background, history, and long-term goals.
Naturalization
If you have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for five years, you may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. For permanent residents who have lived in marital union with a U.S. citizen for three years, the residency requirement may be reduced to three years.
In addition to meeting residency requirements, naturalization applicants must satisfy:
Physical presence and continuous residence requirements
Good moral character standards
English language and civics requirements
Prior criminal convictions, tax issues, or immigration violations can complicate or delay the naturalization process.
Our attorneys have a deep and practical understanding of naturalization law. In addition to handling numerous naturalization applications, our firm brings personal insight into the process, allowing us to anticipate challenges and prepare strong, well-documented applications.
Bridgewood & Co. is known for developing effective strategies in complex naturalization cases, including those involving extended time abroad, outstanding tax obligations, or prior criminal history.
Certificate of Citizenship
If you were born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent, are under the age of 18, and are currently residing in the United States, you may be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship.
This process differs from naturalization and applies to individuals who:
Acquired U.S. citizenship at birth through a U.S. citizen parent (biological or adoptive), or
Derived U.S. citizenship when a foreign national parent became a U.S. citizen before the applicant’s 18th birthday
A Certificate of Citizenship is a critical document that serves as conclusive proof of U.S. citizenship. Our immigration attorneys assist clients in preparing and filing Certificate of Citizenship applications and represent them before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is issued to children born outside the United States to U.S. citizen parents and serves as official proof of U.S. citizenship.
To obtain a CRBA, parents must submit an application with supporting documentation to the U.S. Department of State, typically through the U.S. embassy or consulate in the child’s country of birth.
Bridgewood & Co. represents families before U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide and has extensive experience working with consular officers to ensure CRBA applications are properly prepared and efficiently processed.
How Bridgewood & Co. Can Help
Our U.S. citizenship services include:
Naturalization applications
Complex citizenship eligibility analysis
Certificate of Citizenship applications
Consular Report of Birth Abroad filings
Interview preparation and representation
Resolution of admissibility or eligibility concerns
At Bridgewood & Co., we are committed to guiding clients through the citizenship process with clarity, precision, and confidence, helping them secure their future in the United States.
J-1 Services
The J-1 visa is designated for exchange visitors coming to the United States to participate in programs administered by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). The J-1 program includes a wide range of categories, such as teachers, au pairs, trainees, professors and research scholars, short-term scholars, foreign medical graduates, specialists, international and government visitors, camp counselors, college and secondary school students, and participants in summer work travel programs.
At Bridgewood & Co., our immigration attorneys counsel clients on all aspects of J-1 visa status, providing strategic guidance for both straightforward and complex cases.
J-1 Visa Application & Change of Status
Our individual immigration practice advises clients seeking to apply for a J-1 visa or change status to J-1 from another nonimmigrant category.
Before applying, J-1 applicants must obtain Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status) from an approved program sponsor. Applicants must also demonstrate that they maintain a foreign residence and intend to return abroad upon completion of the exchange program. Additional requirements vary depending on the specific J-1 category.
Bridgewood & Co. is deeply familiar with the regulatory requirements across all J-1 program categories and is known for achieving successful outcomes in complex J-1 cases, including those involving prior visa denials or immigration violations. Our focus is always on developing practical, effective immigration solutions tailored to each client’s circumstances.
J-1 Visa Waiver (INA § 212(e))
Certain J-1 visa holders—and their dependents in J-2 status—are subject to the two-year home residency requirement under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This rule requires individuals to return to their home country for two years before they may apply for permanent residence or change to another nonimmigrant status, such as H-1B or L-1.
Instead of returning home, eligible individuals may apply for a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement. If the waiver is approved, the applicant may remain in the United States and proceed with a change of status or adjustment of status.
Our immigration attorneys represent clients seeking J-1 waivers under all five statutory waiver bases, including:
No Objection Statement from the applicant’s home country
Request by an Interested U.S. Government Agency
Fear of Persecution if required to return home
Exceptional Hardship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child
Conrad 30 Waivers for foreign medical physicians
Coordinated J-1 Waiver Strategies
Bridgewood & Co.’s individual, employment-based, and family-based immigration practices work collaboratively to advise J-1 waiver applicants, their employers, and U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members. This integrated approach allows us to design comprehensive immigration strategies that address both professional objectives and personal circumstances.
With extensive experience navigating complex waiver cases, our attorneys are well-positioned to help clients overcome the two-year home residency requirement and move forward with their long-term plans in the United States.