Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Immigration Lawyers in San Jose, CA
Daniel Shanfield Immigration Defense has dedicated decades to advocating for immigrants' rights and navigating complex U.S. immigration laws. Our firm combines deep legal expertise with compassionate representation, specializing in family-based immigration, deportation defense, citizenship, and humanitarian visa cases. With a proven track record in both routine and high-stakes matters, we prioritize personalized strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances.Our team's background includes federal immigration prosecution, offering unparalleled insights into case defense. We maintain transparent communication throughout the process, ensuring clients understand every step while fighting relentlessly to reunite families and protect individual rights. Decades of combined experience and a commitment to ethical practice have established us as a trusted resource for immigrants seeking lawful status and citizenship.
Services
Family Immigration
Deportation Defense
Citizenship Applications
Criminal Immigration Defense
Humanitarian Visas
VAWA Petitions
K-Visa Applications
Waivers of Inadmissibility
Asylum Claims
Board of Immigration Appeals
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of combined immigration law experience with prosecutorial insights
- Our team provides personalized case strategies for complex immigration challenges
- We guarantee transparent communication throughout the entire legal process
- Our attorneys have successfully handled thousands of family immigration cases
- We maintain a client-focused approach with multilingual support capabilities
What people say
Excellent service
Very professional
Exceptional experience
Instrumental support
Trustworthy representation
Services
Family Immigration
We specialize in uniting families through marriage-based visas, fianc petitions, and relative sponsorship. Our attorneys handle complex cases involving conditional residency and waiver applications. With deep knowledge of USCIS requirements, we prepare thorough documentation packages to minimize delays. Our team guides clients through I-130 petitions, adjustment of status, and consular processing while maintaining compliance with evolving immigration regulations.
Deportation Defense
Our firm provides aggressive legal representation for individuals facing deportation proceedings. We develop customized defense strategies using cancellation of removal, asylum claims, and prosecutorial discretion requests. Our experience includes bond hearings, immigration court representation, and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals. We protect clients' rights while navigating complex intersection of criminal and immigration law.
Citizenship Applications
We guide clients through the citizenship process including N-400 applications, English proficiency preparation, and criminal record rehabilitation. Our services cover residency requirement analysis, waiver submissions, and interview preparation. We address complex cases involving good moral character determinations and prior application denials while ensuring compliance with continuous residence requirements.
Criminal Immigration Defense
Our attorneys defend clients facing immigration consequences from criminal charges. We analyze potential deportation risks, negotiate plea agreements minimizing immigration impact, and file waivers for inadmissibility. Specializing in crimes involving moral turpitude and aggravated felonies, we represent clients in both criminal and immigration courts to protect residency status and pursue post-conviction relief.
Humanitarian Visas
We assist victims of crimes, domestic violence, and persecution through U-visas, VAWA petitions, and asylum applications. Our team handles special immigrant juvenile status cases and trafficking victim protections. We prepare comprehensive evidence packages demonstrating eligibility while coordinating with law enforcement and social service agencies to support clients' safety and immigration goals.
People
Daniel Shanfield
Founding Attorney
Award-winning immigration attorney with former federal immigration prosecutor experience. Served as Legal Services Manager with U.S. refugee program in Europe. Recognized for complex case strategy development and advocacy before immigration courts nationwide.
Miguel Melendrez
Senior Paralegal
Experienced immigration removal defense specialist with decade-plus track record of successful USCIS and EOIR cases. Provides critical case management support for family immigration and deportation defense matters while maintaining client communication.
Revital Shavit Barsheshet
Attorney of Counsel
Specializes in employment-based immigration and complex family cases. Handles visa petitions, green card applications, and deportation defense with focus on Eastern European and Israeli client communities.
Jennifer Bejar
Associate Attorney
Dedicated immigration practitioner supporting deportation defense and family-based visa applications. Focuses on client education and documentation preparation for adjustment of status and naturalization cases.
Questions
What's the difference between K-1 and K-3 visas?
K-1 fiancé visas allow entry for marriage in the U.S., while K-3 visas require existing marriages. K-1 typically processes faster but requires couples to marry within 90 days of entry.
How do I start the immigration process?
Begin with a consultation to determine eligibility. Our attorneys identify appropriate visa categories, prepare required documentation, and submit petitions while advising on evidence requirements and timelines.
Can criminal records affect immigration status?
Yes, certain convictions may lead to deportation or inadmissibility. We help clients obtain waivers, pursue post-conviction relief, and demonstrate rehabilitation to protect residency rights.
What are citizenship requirements?
Applicants must demonstrate 5+ years of residency, English proficiency, good moral character, and pass a civics exam. We assist with N-400 applications and interview preparation.
How does deportation defense work?
We represent clients in immigration court using strategies like cancellation of removal, asylum claims, and prosecutorial discretion requests while advocating for bond release and case dismissal.
Can men qualify for VAWA protection?
Yes, VAWA protections apply equally to men and women. Our team helps abuse victims file self-petitions without involving abusive family members.
